Air hitch vs Air Pin Box

[kohai]

I'm new to the RV world so I've got a 5th wheel on order and I'm also getting a truck (long bed) and need a hitch.

I figure if I'm going to be buying a hitch, I should consider all options.

In researching hitches and pin boxes to death, I've come down to this question...

Many of the pin boxes are designed to handle forward/back movement (lateral / horizontal movement) like the Mohr Ryde pinb ox. One, the trailair tri-glide handles forward/back movement plus up and down movement using an air bag.

On the air hitches, like the Trailer Saver DB3 or the Airsafe Airbox, I think they are only addressing the up/down movement. Some people seem to be adding pin boxes that address the forward/back movement to go along with the air hitch (like a Mohr Ryde pin box).

This is kind of a debate between the Trailair Tri-glide vs. air hitch.

If my analysis is right, it seems the Trailair Tri-glide is the cheapest way to get both up/down movement and forward/back movement tamed down. An air hitch plus a pin box is more expensive than a fixed hitch plus a tri-glide.

What input do you all have? Have I missed something?

[Cummins12V98]

kohana wrote:
I have the Morryde pin box. Frestone airbags on the truck and the Trailer Saver BD3 air ride hitch in the truck. The ride is smooth.
Starting over I might go with the Trailair air bag pin box and a solid hitch and the truck air bags, much less money if the pin box works as advertized.
The truck air bags keep it from smacking the bumpers on a bridge crossing type of bump, the bags replace the bumpers and are much smoother. they also allow some leveling adjustment. The BD3 air hitch is truly very effective at allowing the 5th wheel to float rather than flex its frame to absorb these bumps. It's expensive but now that I have it I love it.

If someone could pry my cold dead fingers away from my B&W I would go with your combo.

[kohana]

I have the Morryde pin box. Frestone airbags on the truck and the Trailer Saver BD3 air ride hitch in the truck. The ride is smooth.
Starting over I might go with the Trailair air bag pin box and a solid hitch and the truck air bags, much less money if the pin box works as advertized.
The truck air bags keep it from smacking the bumpers on a bridge crossing type of bump, the bags replace the bumpers and are much smoother. they also allow some leveling adjustment. The BD3 air hitch is truly very effective at allowing the 5th wheel to float rather than flex its frame to absorb these bumps. It's expensive but now that I have it I love it.

[Lantley]

I have a Trail Saver BD3. I have no first hand experience with any other pin box but my BD3 Works great.

[neal10a]

My Trail Air is great and hardly know the 16Kgvw trailer is back there. I don't have the triglide part and can't justify the expense to upgrade my TrailAir to add it.

[Atom_Ant]

I always thought the Trailair was kind of ugly - but...

This new tri-glide gives a dreamy ride! Compared to my previous 5th airborne, there is no comparison. I've never had an air hitch, and after getting in front of this tri-glide, I don't think I ever will 🙂

I actually got a little freaked one day watching the trailer in the side mirror - it moves completely independent, to the point I almost thought I had unhitched. It just floats back there.

[ependydad]

Man, you guys are killing me. I got a line on a killer deal for the TrailAir/TriGlide pin box. Might have to pull the trigger and spend some money that I don't got.

[christopherglen]

I wasn't thrilled with the ride of the steel pinbox, but even the DW is impressed with the ride of the tri-glide. The truck rides like it is loaded heavy, not loaded with a bucking bronco..

[C_Schomer]

I've been VERY happy with air bags and Rancho 9000s on my last 2 trucks and I never gave much thought to an air hitch or pin. We got this 5er last summer and the first owner said he did the research and put on a 5th airborne and he also order his new 5er with one. Every time we went to a bigger, heavier 5er the ride got exponentially worse. This 5er is half and again the empty and gvw (15K) as our previous 5er and it rides better than the lighter one. I'd get a conventional rocker hitch for your LB and go from there. Air bags and shocks next and an air pin as the last resort.

[hammer21661]

I had 2 previous 5ers with fifth airbornes on them and I like the morryde I installed on this one. I also like the morryde SRE/4000 in the suspension. The b&w hitches are very nice. I have a pullrite but If I were to get another it would probably be the b&w hooked to the turnover ball to keep the bed clear when not in use.(the pullrite came in the truck)

[Cummins12V98]

Peg Leg wrote:
I have the B&W Companion and with one leg and some back problems I can still get it in and out by my self. I use the plastic covered edge of the tailgate to tip and slide the base in and out. Works for me.

I replaced the pin box on my 5er with the Demco Ride-Glide. After a couple of hours with out the DW commenting on the jerking I knew I had made the right move.

A guy in the park here just bought a new dually and had a hitch installed. Even though it's rated higher than my 18,000 lb B&W he commented on how much thicker the jaws were on my hitch.

I have always thought B&W under rated their hitches.

[okiejoe]

I have both, nothing like overkill, Love the way it pulls and rides.

[Peg_Leg]

I have the B&W Companion and with one leg and some back problems I can still get it in and out by my self. I use the plastic covered edge of the tailgate to tip and slide the base in and out. Works for me.

I replaced the pin box on my 5er with the Demco Ride-Glide. After a couple of hours with out the DW commenting on the jerking I knew I had made the right move.

A guy in the park here just bought a new dually and had a hitch installed. Even though it's rated higher than my 18,000 lb B&W he commented on how much thicker the jaws were on my hitch.

[msjdbman]

Even though our 5er is only 10,000 lb loaded, we chose to add the standard TrailAire pin box. The difference towing compared to the OEM standard pinbox is considerable. If I had to make this choice agin, I would do it in a heartbeat. I do have airbags on the truck too by the way.

[chevor]

I would choose airbags under the truck. With on the hitch or trailer you limit yourself to just that. With under the truck can be used when hauling stuff in the bed, with a 5th wheel, and with a bumper pull trailer.