Question/help with pin box

[mrad]

We will be picking up a new to us toy hauler in two weeks. Right now it is has a standard, no flex/rotation kingpin on it. The hitch in my truck bed is a pullrite superglide. When I asked the salesman about upgrading the pin box to a MOryde or trail air, the salesman suggested using the kingpin it has on it and upgrade later if I felt it was needed. After doing some research last night and watching some you-tube videos, I'm not sure that I want to wait. After watching the videos, I'm not sure I want to wait. Although the superglide may b prevent some of the chucking, the videos indicate that bumps can cause more wear to the TV and Toy hauler if I don't have some rotation or flex on the pin box. This will be our first fifth wheel as we are moving up from a TT, so I really have no experience with a fifth wheel.

What are the suggestions from those of you with experience?

[mkirsch]

You are not going to destroy, or even cause undue wear, on anything in the first few trips.

Wait. Find out if you have a problem first. If you don't, you have the money in your pocket. If you do, you can install a solution.

[MikeRP]

Going through this myself. A couple of things I have learned. I changed out the standard Lippert 1621 HD w the flex air pin box. I got it traded and installed for $500. The head guy at Cedar Creek had used it on a new model.

It is very nice, with zero chucking. It’s a bit longer, from back to front which helps with my b&w slider when in the maneuvering mode. I can have the tailgate down when in maneuvering mode and that helps the hitch not touch the top of the tailgate when I’m on a site that has the front of the truck pointed down and the back of the fiver pointed down(in other words high in the middle).

However it has made the front my trailer sit high. I have another bolt hole to lower the front 2 inches but I have to figure out how to modify the air valve as it sits where it can gouge the bottom of the fiver cap at that position.

So really study what you are asking for. A couple inches here and there can affect the setup more than you think. I’m currently looking at a GenY replacement as it helps and can bring the trailer down 3 inches. But it’s 4 inches shorter.

So height over the bed rail is important, length is important depending on your fiver and truck so that you don’t hit the cab when jackknifed, also does your fiver sit level. Truck height from ground to top of tailgate is important.

Study all that compared to the standard pin box ( if that has everything good) before you buy.

[JIMNLIN]

You may be spending big bucks for a problem you may not have. Hitch brand does not mean the combo/any combo will or will not have a chucking issue. Use what you have and make a trip or two and then decide if more bucks need to be spent.

[Slownsy]

I do not believe the rotating pin box is recommended with the Super glide hitch.
Frank.

[lenr]

My opinions--yours will vary:
Cushioned pin boxes will help reduce chucking transmitted to the truck. A cushioned suspension will reduce shock to the trailer and reduce chucking to the truck. In our experience adding the MORRyde pin box reduced checking 50% and their SRE4000 rubberized equalizer reduced it to a total of 98% gone. I suspect that the equalizer first would would have had a dramatic effect by itself. I strongly believe that reducing the shocks to the trailer will help it last longer before shaking apart. Pin boxes with vertical motion dampening may help reduce the shock felt in the truck--I have no experience.

[TenOC]

Saw this on morryde web page

[Durb]

The MORryde pin box is a good design and will help keep trailer generated chucking forces (fore and aft) from reaching your truck. They aren't so great at mitigating bouncing forces (up and down). I agree with the suggestion to make very sure any after market pin box will function well with a capture plate and your hitch. I know the Pullrite is finicky regarding hook up and backing straight onto the hitch. I would be leery of a pivoting type device.

[mrad]

TenOC wrote:
I do not want to hijack this posting but we have a similar problem.



I would suggest that MRAD talk to the technical support at both Morryde and Pullrite.

Great suggestion. Thanks. I can't believe that idea did not cross my mind.

[TenOC]

I do not want to hijack this posting but we have a similar problem.

We have the Demco AutoSlide hitch. The new to us 5th wheel came with a MORryde pin box. On the first trip of 400 miles we noticed that there was movement with both the pin box and the hitch. I do not know if this was good or bad but I was concerned that the hitch and the pin box may be working against each other and not as a team. After searching the Internet there was a recommendation from people who had the same combination to add a special plate to the hitch. In a discussion with the autoslide hitch technical support they suggested a different wedge plate to reduce the side-to-side motion from the pin box. We have not installed this new wedge plate but is my understanding that this plate will still allow front-to-back motion by the morryde pin box.

I would suggest that MRAD talk to the technical support at both Morryde and Pullrite.

Does anyone have experience with the Demko autoslide hitch and the morryde pin box, if so what has been your experience after adding the wedge plate.

[southernsky]

We have the Reese 5th Airborne air ride pin box. Pulled for years combined with the Pullrite Super Glide auto slider. Great combination with no problems once you figure out the Pullrite.

[valhalla360]

I think you found an honest salesman.

If he was just after money, the minute you suggested it, he would have added it to the bill and told the service shop to install it. They are expensive and I'm sure there is a nice profit margin on them.

We've only had the standard pin box and never experienced chucking. So it would have been a waste to throw a bunch of money at a non-problem. The swap is just a few bolts, so not a big deal to replace later.

[schlep1967]

First a question, are you going to travel long distances pulling this 5th wheel? Most of our trips are an hour or less and the interstate we generally travel on is smooth enough that the chucking is not an issue. If traveling for a month and driving 6-8 hours a day across unfamiliar roads every week or so, I might spend the money for the upgrade.

Second, unless Pullrite changed something since we got our superglide 10 years ago, you will need a capture plate installed on the pinbox. And there are different sizes depending on the pinbox installed. I would also verify with pullrite if the superglide can be used with the flexing/rotating pinboxes you are thinking of.

Third, "the videos indicate that bumps can cause more wear to the TV and Toy hauler if I don't have some rotation or flex on the pin box." Most of these video's are made by companies trying to separate you from your money. Your towing vehicle will still feel the bump and your trailer will still feel the bumps. The suspension will be taking the brunt of the force regardless of what pinbox you have.

For once I will have to agree with your horrible salesman. (Horrible in the dealerships eyes as he is missing a chance to sell you something you may not need). Try it for a while with what is on it. You can decide then if you want to upgrade.

[ACZL]

Although I have a B&W Patriot and Reese 5th AirBorne, my $.02 is to go w/ a air ride pin box of your choosing before or just after you get the coach. This is our 2nd RV and ran w/ standard solid pix box for a few years before getting the 5th AB for that one. When we bought the 2nd RV, I bought online and had sent to dealer a new 5th AB and had them install it before we picked it up. Folks have their likes about "X" air ride pin box they have, but bottom line is they are worth it.