For those of you that have a pin box with an air bag, do you pressurize after hooking up to the PSI you like and then release the air before unhooking or do you just leave it pumped up to the PSI you like all the time and just check to make sure the pressure is where you want it before you tow again. The reason I ask is because I have a Reese elite airborne Sidewinder that has an air bag. If I try to connect with it pumped up, I can't get the jaws on my B&W Patriot to close tight without some effort. If no pressure in the air bag, it hitches up fine. Being new to having an air bag, I'm not sure when I'm supposed to inflate/deflate the bag. Reese recommends 40 PSI Minimum and 70 PSI Maximum Thanks.

I've had the AirRide pinbox for almost a year now leave it inflated all the time. I've found it's a little trickier to unhitch mine compared to a standard pinbox because of the pin's angle when it's inflated. Perhaps if you start with the trailer a little lower so that it can ride up onto the saddle(?) a bit.JK

RobWNY - I don't have an air spring "pin box" but have B&W 5th wheel. Are the jaws not closing because the pin is too far out of "plumb" (vertical "level") with the jaws? Does the air spring in the pin box force it nose down? This is an unnatural angle for a pin and 5th wheel to try to hitch. If yes then you need to adjust whatever so the upper 5th (pin and plate) are in a reasonably close plane with your 5th wheel ("hitch"), or tilt the 5th wheel front down a bit with a bungee or something so it planes to the pin box as you back in. Don't strap it solid let it rock. Also making sure you are backed in with a bit of pressure on the front of the pin allows the jaws to close freely. Set some weight on the truck and push on the trailer gently.As you know the B&W does not need to be slammed into the pin to lock up. The lever & pin locks it.

I have had a 5th Airborne air ride pin box for 10+ years. I air it up to the line after I first hookup in the spring and never let air out. I may have to add a little a time or two during the travel season to get back to the line.I have a Reese Elite hitch with the wrap around jaw and there is never a problem hitching or unhitching with the pin box aired up. Had a Pullrite Super 5th hitch on my previous truck, also with wrap around jaw, and never a problem with that one either. The pin box plate rocks forward and aft and self aligns with the pin box plate as I back into it, or when I pull out to unhitch. The pin box plate should be an inch or so below the level of the hitch plate so that the pin box rides up on the hitch plate to ensure that self alignment and easy hitching. Or down off of when unhitching.

noteven wrote:RobWNY - I don't have an air spring "pin box" but have B&W 5th wheel. Are the jaws not closing because the pin is too far out of "plumb" (vertical "level") with the jaws? Does the air spring in the pin box force it nose down? This is an unnatural angle for a pin and 5th wheel to try to hitch. If yes then you need to adjust whatever so the upper 5th (pin and plate) are in a reasonably close plane with your 5th wheel ("hitch"), or tilt the 5th wheel front down a bit with a bungee or something so it planes to the pin box as you back in. Don't strap it solid let it rock. Also making sure you are backed in with a bit of pressure on the front of the pin allows the jaws to close freely. Set some weight on the truck and push on the trailer gently.As you know the B&W does not need to be slammed into the pin to lock up. The lever & pin locks it.Yes. What happens when the air bag is filled to the desired PSI, the pin itself gets cocked forward on an angle. So when you hitch up, the jaws don't completely close naturally like they do with a standard king pin. Here's a crude drawing that shows what I mean.

I have an air hitch with a standard pin box so I have the same issue only in reverse. I approach my hitch and stop before the jaws hit the kingpin. I then raise my front landing gear which lowers the front of the trailer and compresses the hitch so that the ride plates marry. I then back completely into the kingpin and the jaws snick into place. I adjust my air pressure at the beginning of the season and don't deal with it until the following year.

Pin Box with Air | Good Sam Community

larry_barnhart
Explorer
Aug 18, 2020
I just removed our airhitch from our truck and it was heavy. Rails were hard to remove also but an awesome experience having it and the air pin is also great.

chevman
RCMAN46
Explorer
Aug 17, 2020
RobWNY wrote:
C Schomer wrote:
I have the same thing as the OP and by the time the pin is into the hitch far enough to close the jaws, the plates are pressed together, parallel. This summer I started plugging in the cord while hitching and unhitching and manually holding the trailer brakes, so not to slide the rv off the leveling blocks and that makes jaw closing very positive and no worries about pressure in the hitch bag. 80 psi keeps my hitch plates horizontal, traveling. Craig

That's good to know Craig. I've never plugged in before hitching up so if I continue having issues, I'll give that a try.

If you leave your chocks in place there should not be a need to use the trailer brakes.
Also should have chocks in place when doing the tug test and before unhitching.

The standard electric trailer brakes will not be active until a tire rotates about 1/4 turn.
RobWNY
Explorer
Aug 17, 2020
C Schomer wrote:
I have the same thing as the OP and by the time the pin is into the hitch far enough to close the jaws, the plates are pressed together, parallel. This summer I started plugging in the cord while hitching and unhitching and manually holding the trailer brakes, so not to slide the rv off the leveling blocks and that makes jaw closing very positive and no worries about pressure in the hitch bag. 80 psi keeps my hitch plates horizontal, traveling. Craig

That's good to know Craig. I've never plugged in before hitching up so if I continue having issues, I'll give that a try.
C_Schomer
Explorer
Aug 16, 2020
I have the same thing as the OP and by the time the pin is into the hitch far enough to close the jaws, the plates are pressed together, parallel. This summer I started plugging in the cord while hitching and unhitching and manually holding the trailer brakes, so not to slide the rv off the leveling blocks and that makes jaw closing very positive and no worries about pressure in the hitch bag. 80 psi keeps my hitch plates horizontal, traveling. Craig
RobWNY
Explorer
Aug 16, 2020
ACZL wrote:
Rob,

I too have the B&W Patriot along w/ the 5th AirBourne pin box. I, like others, air it up and don't touch it for rest of season except to top off once in awhile. Like others as well, I make sure there is some weight going onto the B&W (doesn't need to be a lot) when hooking up and never have had a problem. When unhooking, I raise the 5th just so it comes off the B&W, release handle and pull away.

BTW, those some darn good "crude" drawings!!!

AC

Thanks for the compliment. All the credit goes to the computer drawing program I used. How was your vacation?
ACZL
Explorer
Aug 16, 2020
Rob,

I too have the B&W Patriot along w/ the 5th AirBourne pin box. I, like others, air it up and don't touch it for rest of season except to top off once in awhile. Like others as well, I make sure there is some weight going onto the B&W (doesn't need to be a lot) when hooking up and never have had a problem. When unhooking, I raise the 5th just so it comes off the B&W, release handle and pull away.

BTW, those some darn good "crude" drawings!!!

AC
RobWNY
Explorer
Aug 16, 2020
Splashers3 wrote:
Rob - I have a trailair and the B&W Patriot....and as been said, I put some weight on the plate and let her slide up and in....she locks with no problems.

I also leave the airbag inflated, but usually add some air before I head out - especially if she sits for a few weeks.

Thanks! I get rails installed in my new truck on the 18th so I'll be giving that a try this coming week to see if it solves my issue.
Splashers3
Explorer
Aug 16, 2020
Rob - I have a trailair and the B&W Patriot....and as been said, I put some weight on the plate and let her slide up and in....she locks with no problems.

I also leave the airbag inflated, but usually add some air before I head out - especially if she sits for a few weeks.
RobWNY
Explorer
Aug 15, 2020
Thanks everyone. I'll give that a try. Hopefully that solves my issue!
noteven
Explorer III
Aug 15, 2020
Rob - BB_TX and Durb describe what works - get some weight on the 5th wheel from the pin as you couple up so the upper and lower plates plane out.

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