Hitch Pin Help

[ldmc]

Just bought a new 33IK Silverback and using a Curt Q25 hitch.

Trailer is 37' total length and a GVWR of 14K. Pulling with a 2017 GMC 1 ton SWB Diesel.

On the way home I noticed chucking. I'm thinking about either a Morryde or a Trail-Air hitch pin.

I'm looking for real world experience and not opinions.

Thanks for your input.

[rhagfo]

ldmc wrote:
Update,

I loaded the trailer and made sure I was level. I still have chucking not as bad but enough that the wife does not like it.

I don't have the money to spend for a Trailer Saver right now, so I'm looking at changing the Pin box and maybe shocks for the trailer.

Has anyone used a Flex Trail Air pin box or a Morryde with a Curt Hitch?

Do the shocks first! When you go over a rough section, or bad bridge transition watch the trailer bounce in your mirrors. After shocks the 5er just for lack of a better term, walks over them with minimal bounce.

[RollandB]

X2 on getting weighed, I'd weigh both the truck by itself, then connect and see where the pin weight is to make sure it's not too light.

That being said, on another fifthwheel I changed from the stock pinbox to the Morryde and saw a noticeable difference. A year or so later I changed fifthwheels to an Arctic Fox which came with a Morryde pin box on it, the distance to the wheels on the fifth wheel are about 3' shorter which also improved things. About 6 months ago, I went from a Extended Cab 2500 Short Box to a Crew Cab 3500 long box which improved it some more. I rarely get any chucking on a road that isn't all beat up.

[padredw]

I will soon have a much fuller response to your last question, but a few remarks before that.

We have been towing fifth-wheels (four different units from four different brands), over 160,000 miles, all over the USA. We have had nothing but Reese hitches (just happened that way) and on the last two trailers have had the TrailAir hitch ed: PIN BOX (the basic model). We have never had "chucking" to the extent that we were bothered by it, but the TrailAir does smooth out the rough places. Glad we have it, though it does require frequent airing up.

Now, the reason I respond. We recently bought a new truck with came with a Curt hitch already installed. We have made only one short trip, but it seemed to tow exactly like our old hitch--no problem.

We have a trip planned to go from East Texas to Banff, Alberta in July/August. After that trip I will be able to give you a more complete answer, but it looks good at the beginning.

[ldmc]

Update,

I loaded the trailer and made sure I was level. I still have chucking not as bad but enough that the wife does not like it.

I don't have the money to spend for a Trailer Saver right now, so I'm looking at changing the Pin box and maybe shocks for the trailer.

Has anyone used a Flex Trail Air pin box or a Morryde with a Curt Hitch?

[Durb]

My advice based upon personal experience: Keep your existing pin box and sell your Curt hitch. Put your hitch proceeds and pin box savings towards the purchase of TrailerSaver TS3 hitch. Load your trailer how you like, tow with empty tanks and forget about trailer and truck modifications. Let the hitch dissipate 95% of the bouncing and chucking energy generated by the trailer and enjoy your smooth towing experience. In the long run you will be money ahead and will be free to think about other things.

[ldmc]

Doing my research on the different type of Hitch pins, I contacted Curt about their product. They stated not to get any of these as it counter acts the hitch head mechanics.

Has anyone who is using a Curt Q product ever heard this before?

Also, if you are using a Curt hitch what type of hitch pin are you using?

I'm just doing all my research, in case the loading of the trailer and leveling does not not help.

Thanks for the replies.

[filrupmark]

We had chucking " fore and aft" jerking and bridge transition "bouncing" issues when our rig was new. I think I started in the wrong order . Address leveling , loading and suspension issues before changing pinbox. The Trail air Tri glide was a big improvement in chucking. Maybe 50% . Next was leveling and adding shocks to our trailer. That helped even more. We still had that bouncing and chucking at bridges and large bumps. I went with Bilstein monotube 4600 shocks on our truck. Wow ! Big improvement with bouncing.
With all that said we now have a very comfortable ride with no bouncing a only very slight soft chucking motion at times. Overall I would say we have an excellent ride. Hope this helps.

[USA_in_a_Chevro]

I have Morryde pin box & IS suspension. The pin box is reasonable at about $800. Try this first. IS suspension & hydraulic over electric disc brakes about $5500. But it's the best suspension on the market.

[TankerDude]

I have had both Mor-Ryde and Trail Air pin boxes. Both worked equally well when combined with a Pull Rite 18klb fully articulated 5th wheel hitch in the bed of a long bed crew cab.

I don't believe you can ever eliminate ALL chucking, but you can do some simple things to help minimize it.

Have both TV & 5r level when fully loaded and hooked up. My rig has height adjustments in both the pin box and the hitch. Most pin boxes and hitches do, these days.
Remember to allow for clearance between the top of bed rails and the underside of the 5r. This won't do squat for chucking, but it will save damage $.

A good suspension system on the 5r helps. Morryde makes some excellent suspension components that can be installed by any competent suspension mech in a just a few hours. I've used their components on three different rigs and they all work great.

The wheelbase of the TV, the wheelbase of the 5r, and the length of each slab on those concrete roadways has everything to do with the chucking getting started in the first place.

Loading can be a big factor in how the rig rides overall. As with any towed vehicle, you never want more weight behind the axles than on the tongue.

[TankerDude]

rhagfo wrote:

B.O. Plenty wrote:
Try loading the trailer first and haul it to see if it gets better before you start throwing money at it.

B.O.

X2!.... Then see if you have shocks on the 5er, they will help with the total towing experience.

And shocks are a relatively ez install with a great benefit in return.

[RustyJC]

If, after getting your 5th wheel loaded and level, you still need to address the chucking problem, the Demco Glide Ride pin box reduced the chucking we were experiencing with our previous 2004 Mobile Suites which came with a solid pin box by probably 85% to 90%.

Rusty

[oldbird1965]

Mor/Ryde helps a lot with forward and back motion. The up and down 'chucking' is taken care of with a Hensley air hitch. Great combo! GoPackGo said it perfect above!

[rhagfo]

goducks10 wrote:

donn0128 wrote:
So much of what your experiencing is generated by the difference in wheel bases creating two or three different sets of harmonics. Good luck trying to get rid of it. BTW,if you need to add suppliments to your truck, you need more truck.

What truck should he have? He's not adding anything to the truck. He's changing his pin box.

OP's list a 3500 GMC SRW
2018 Ceder Creek Silverback 33IK
Specs.
GVWR 14,067 lbs.
Hitch Weight 2,067 lbs
UVW 10,939 lbs.
CCC 3,128 lbs.
Exterior Length 36' 11"

unless the 3500 GMC is like 10 year old, it should be fine with this 5er.

I think OP needs to get it loaded and see how it weighs out, and how it tows. then start looking at options.

[goducks10]

donn0128 wrote:
So much of what your experiencing is generated by the difference in wheel bases creating two or three different sets of harmonics. Good luck trying to get rid of it. BTW,if you need to add suppliments to your truck, you need more truck.

What truck should he have? He's not adding anything to the truck. He's changing his pin box.

[greende]

Real world experience. My Cougar had some mild to moderate chucking when loaded using the standard Lippert pinbox. The DW objected to it so I bought a Mor Ryde. It works very well and I'm glad I got it. Probably will not have another 5er without some type of Mor Ryde, Trail Air or such.