Upgrading a LeLand 7910 Pin Box for Additional Turning Clearance on a Short Bed Truck  

Question:

Expert Reply:

We have exactly what you are needing to give you additional clearance for your short bed truck!

The Reese Sidewinder moves the pivot point of the trailer from the king pin to the turret of the pin box which will give you an additional 22 inches of turning clearance. This specific Sidewinder is a direct upgrade for your Leland 7910 and is rated for 16,000 lbs. A step up from the Sidewinder is the 5th Airborne Premium # ST400-5AS16K which is the exact same Sidewinder just with an added enclosed air spring in the pin box which makes the ride a little more smooth by absorbing road shock.

There are a few things to keep in mind when adding a Sidewinder to your setup though. If you currently have a sliding 5th wheel hitch it will need to remain in the forwardmost locked position so as not to create multiple pivot points. There is a universal wedge that is included with the Sidewinder so the the king pin can be locked into place in the 5th wheel hitch but some models require the use of a custom wedge. Also, if your 5th wheel hitch has a lot of cushioning, like the Curt Q5, then the Sidewinder will not be compatible with it because there is too much movement.

If you let me know what 5th wheel hitch you have I can verify if it is compatible with the Sidewinder and what (or if) custom wedge might be needed.

expert reply by: Jon G

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Phil G.

8/16/2017

Thank you for the re-ply and the information. I currently have a Draw-Tite (Part # 6000) ----14,000 Gross Trailor weight fifth wheel hitch.

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Jon G.

8/16/2017

I spoke with my contact at Cequent (who owns both Reese and Draw-Tite) and they said that your Draw-Tite 5th wheel hitch is very much like the Reese 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # RP30047. This means that the Sidewinder # ST400-5AS16K is compatible with it. The custom wedge that you will need can be found with part # SWW-03 on our site.

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