How to Lock-Out your Sidewinder Pin Box

Updated 05/28/2019 | Published 05/24/2019

Question:

I am a novice..first camper, first 5th wheel. Need to lock out my sidewinder..got the bolts needed. Where and what are the wedges I need to remove? Thanks

asked by: Blaine R

Expert Reply:

Since you are looking to lock-out your Sidewinder pin box # RP34FR, the bolts you need to add are at the rear through the rotating turret and the base. Then the wedge you need to remove is on the underside near the king pin. You simply remove the two bolts so there is movement at the hitch head at the king pin and you can store the wedge in another location shown in the lockout picture attached.

Since you are new to Sidewinders, I want to make sure you know why you'd want to lockout your Sidewinder because this takes an advanced pin box with increased turning clearances and makes it operate like a standard pin box. Even if you have a long bed truck, you can use a Sidewinder to increase your turning clearances. It simply moves the pivoting point of the trailer back 22 inches which almost always is a benefit for travel and turning. I've attached some articles to assist. There are only a few 5th wheel hitches that aren't compatible, so you may want to research before changing its valuable function.

expert reply by: Jason S