I have a weird pin box- tilts side to side

Keith Rock wrote:
Just bought first 5th wheel. Not knowing anything about pin boxes.

Has anyone seen a pin box that pivots side to side vs. front to back?

It doesnt act right with my Pullrite auto slide hitch. Not sure what I can do to remedy.

There is no brand/model that I can find.

Wondering if I should try a home mod to just make it stop pivoting at all and let the Pullrite do all the swiveling and titling.

Thoughts?? Even the rv dealer who installed my hitch was stumped.

Can you take a photo? Does it use the standard bolt pattern so maybe you can just replace the pinbox with a conventional unit?

Fuel tankers used to oscillating fifth wheels all of the time, I don't know about anymore. Having the fifth whl pivot both directions prevented the tanker from twisting, or torqueing putting undue stress on it when the tractors wheels were tilted one direction and the wheels of the tanker were tilted the opposite direction. It made the fifth whl a little higher because it had to have room for the second pivot point, but it served its purpose on rough roads and un-even entrances into businesses.

Holland oscillating fifth wheel

Bill

You are saying the actual pin box pivots side to side? Not the hitch plate itself? If so, I have never seen one.

Pin box should be stationary. The hitch normally tilts front to back, with optional side to side tilt.
If pin box is moving, either it is loose or there is a trailer frame issue.

Sidewinder pin box rotates but haven't ever heard of a pin box that articulated


Need photos...........

Please take some and post.

If you can't post let us know. Get the pics and someone will get them posted.

Really would help

What 5th wheel?

Might be a Demco Glide Ride. It would be worth an internet search to maybe rule it out.

Sorry about no pics. Didnt know how.

So. See what is happening? The hitch tilts, but also the weird tilting pin box attachment tilts. It works. I've towed it for several miles to the storage lot and all. But, in town the issue is that when I make a turn one way, like a hard right... there's a loud bang from the device tilting that way. And then when my next turn is a hard left the device has to tilt the other way and due to the relation to the hitch it makes another loud bang.

Like I said, it's functioning, but those loud hard bangs can't be good for the attaching parts, I'd think.

I'm working on a plan to add some hard metal blocks under those wedge areas so that it can't tilt any more. So that it would act as a solid, untilting, pin box.

What do you think?

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.

Here's un attached pin box front angle

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.

Side view

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.

How to post pictures.

Bill