Air ride pin box question

[Mmaxed]

In some pictures it looks like the king pin part of the pin box is pointed down. Is it hard to get hooked up with these systems?

[Mmaxed]

Thanks for the help everyone!

[Cummins12V98]

CoMoCo wrote:
Mmaxed - I have one of these Trailairs on my 2022 Cedar Creek and shared the same concern about the angle of the lower jaw. I have no problems hitching and unhitching.

There are 2 things I don't like about the Trailair - it looses air pressure and forces me to carry a compressor to ensure it is filled with air. And I don't like how it sits on my Curt Q24 hitch - this hitch is articulating and the head does not sit level when hitched up - it tilts slightly downward, towards the front of the truck.

Lippert says both of these things are normal, I disagree. I have had the airbag in the Trailair replaced once under warranty due to leakage and the replacement is just as bad. Maybe my dealer is the culprit and didn't install it correctly. I am working with my dealer to get the current air bag replaced.

Have you applied 100psi to the bag? That can help with air loss. The CURT design is the issue not the TrailAire. The heads pivot point being several inches below the kingpin connection is. This can lead to chucking, a common complaint against the CURT. B&W pivot point is right at the level of the kingpin.

[CoMoCo]

Mmaxed - I have one of these Trailairs on my 2022 Cedar Creek and shared the same concern about the angle of the lower jaw. I have no problems hitching and unhitching.

There are 2 things I don't like about the Trailair - it looses air pressure and forces me to carry a compressor to ensure it is filled with air. And I don't like how it sits on my Curt Q24 hitch - this hitch is articulating and the head does not sit level when hitched up - it tilts slightly downward, towards the front of the truck.

Lippert says both of these things are normal, I disagree. I have had the airbag in the Trailair replaced once under warranty due to leakage and the replacement is just as bad. Maybe my dealer is the culprit and didn't install it correctly. I am working with my dealer to get the current air bag replaced.

[Cummins12V98]

I have the TrailAire pictured but with the TRiGlide front-back cushioning. It sets to whatever the top of the hitch is at.

I love mine along with my factory rear Air Ride.

[BB_TX]

As long as you set the bottom of pin box height just a little below the top if the hitch plate height, the pin box will easily ride up the hitch plate leveling the hitch and the pin box. And protect against high hitching. After a few times it becomes an automatic part of your procedure.

[Rigdon]

We have had a air ride for 9 years, no issues with the hitching due to the air ride but our autoslider in the truck in finicky compared to a b&w non slider

[Mmaxed]

opnspaces wrote:
Are you talking about a picture like this where the kingpin is tilted backwards? I would assume that it would lift up and level out as you back the truck under the trailer.


Click For Full-Size Image.

Yes, like that, only some in some pics it looks even more tilted.

[Bionic_Man]

I have had the same trailer since new - back in 2002. Probably 10 years ago I added a Trail Air to it. My experience is it was a waste of $.

I added it to try to smooth out some chucking when I tow my boat in tandem, and I notice no difference in performance before adding it vs after.

Hitching up is the same as before. Unhitching can be a pain as it does change the angle. It was bad with both a Superglide in my short bed and a Reese elite. To unhitch, I’d have to lower the landing gear, take weight off the hitch, get back in the truck and let it back up just a touch, then it would release.

I’m now using an Anderson hitch with my new truck and I no longer have the issue I had with the prior two hitches.

My experience is I’d not buy this again. Maybe a true air hitch works better. This one was a waste.

[Durb]

I have an air hitch, same issue only backwards, the hitch plate slopes upwards during hitching. I find it important to set the trailer pin box height so that when backing into the hitch the trailer weight compresses the hitch some so that is flat against the pin box. No big deal once you get used to it as my hook/unhooks always go smoothly.

[opnspaces]

Are you talking about a picture like this where the kingpin is tilted backwards? I would assume that it would lift up and level out as you back the truck under the trailer.


Click For Full-Size Image.

[Mmaxed]

Guess I worded it wrong. In some pics it looks like the front of the king pin plate is tilted down. The king pin itself angled back.

[JKJavelin]

I've had an AirRide for 4 years. Hitching and unhitching is fine, just a little different cuz it can pivot vs being a solid piece. One of the best upgrades I've made.
JK

[BB_TX]

Here is a 5th Airborne air ride hitch and similar to other brands. The king pin points straight down to slide easily into a 5th wheel hitch.

[CarnationSailor]

I don't understand why you think this might be a problem. All king pins point downward regardless of type of pin box.