Reese SideWinder pin box

flyinjake wrote:

My concern is moving the pivot point back 22 inches. One of the benefits of the fifth wheel is having the weight and pivot over the axle. Has anyone noticed a debit in stability?

Thanks

Weight remains over the axle, only the pivot point moves.

I will be purchasing a fifth wheel in the near future and I have been researching the different hitches that provide extra clearance for short bed trucks. I plan to buy a trailer where the nose is designed to provide more relief to the cab but would still like a hitch that provides more.

My concern is moving the pivot point back 22 inches. One of the benefits of the fifth wheel is having the weight and pivot over the axle. Has anyone noticed a debit in stability?

Thanks

I'm new to all of this too - took my first trip this spring. Jayco with a Sidewinder - so I have little to compare to. I too have issues hitching up. To get the hitch to lock, you have to back in to the pin almost perfectly straight on. And that means straight on to the Sidewinder, not the trailer! Even two or three degrees off is asking for trouble. And if the sidewinder is angled right or left a bit, watch out for punching the trailer with your tailgate corner! My repair looks pretty good.....
Releasing also is a challenge, but one made easier by following directions. Read the manual about where to grease the pin. Mine came ungreased, and it was horrible - but after getting it lubed correctly, things got easier.
That said, I do like how it tows and backs very much. I'm sure it has already saved me from a crunched truck at least twice. And the weight/cost savings as opposed to a slider is a big plus.
So, as I get time, I'll play a bit with the adjustments and see if moving the wedge back a hair will alleviate the problems above.

N-Trouble wrote:
Curious why many of you guys went this route as opossed to a slider hitch (either manual or auto)? I would imagine the cost of the sidewinder combined with a standard non-slider hitch is going to cost just as much or not more than a even an auto slider.

For me its because the sidewinder comes standered with the new rockwood.

I would like to thank everyone for the feed back. I should have my new trailer next week and will be sure to make sure it's set up corectly before hitting the road.
6Gun

Shadow_Grey wrote:
For half ton trucks it really is the only whay to go because the weight of a slider will eat payload up real fast.

X2... And it's a no brainer

This is the third season with my Sidewinder. It's been from the Black Hills to Myrtle Beach and I wouldn't want to be without it. As you can see by the photos, I had no issues getting it level.

For half ton trucks it really is the only whay to go because the weight of a slider will eat payload up real fast.

Curious why many of you guys went this route as opossed to a slider hitch (either manual or auto)? I would imagine the cost of the sidewinder combined with a standard non-slider hitch is going to cost just as much or not more than a even an auto slider.

I installed a sidewinder and used it for three years/16,000 miles of towing with no problems. It is a simple, cost-effective way of ensuring that you have maximum turning capability while towing your 5ver with a short box truck.

I just traded for a long box truck and swapped over to a standard pin box setup. I was able to sell the Sidewinder for what I paid for it new.

I do agree that hitching up is a bit more of a challenge, due to the need to properly align the "key" with your hitch. Minor angle corrections can be made by simply moving the pin manually left or right, but only a few degees. In actual practice, I did not find this to be a problem.

I've had my Sidewinder for two-three months. I love it. Pulled about six times, no hitching issues.