Troubleshooting Sidewinder Pin Box that Makes Noise Around Corners

Published 08/17/2018

Products Featured in This Question

LubriMatic White Lithium Grease - 14 oz. Cartridge

(77)

$10.25

LubriMatic LMX Industrial Strength Grease - 14 oz. Cartridge

(274)

$10.77

Question:

Hi, We have had our Sidewinder installed on our fifthwheel for 3 yesars now, about 6 months ago it started making a horrible groaning sound when we were turning. It was quiet as long as we were pulling straight. We tried spraying grease, lubed the hitch parts...still really noisy. Then I noticed screws on the hitch where the pinbox attaches under the body backing out a couple turns, tightened those back down, the noise lessened but still there. Any idea why this would start after 15000 miles of towing without a problem? What could be causing it. The hitch we have is a Pullright 20K ISR Super Fifth series.

asked by: Nancy F

Expert Reply:

Groaning noises typically is the sound of friction between too metal surfaces that have quite a bit of weight between them. Are you using the correct Sidewinder wedge for your Pullrite hitch part # SWW-09? If not that would be the first thing I would check.

You will need to grease the skid plate and around the wedge on the Sidewinder too if you haven't. I have included a picture from the instructions for Sidewinder # RP34FR showing where the grease needs to go. You can use grease # L11390.

I attached a picture that shows the areas of the turret that you should apply white lithium grease to like part # L11354.

Try greasing all of those areas to see if that stops the noise.

expert reply by: Jameson C