Best Fifth Wheel Pin Box Replacement to Reduce Chucking

Updated 04/24/2012 | Published 04/23/2012

Products Featured in This Question

Trailair Air Ride 5th Wheel Pin Box - Lippert 0719 - 18,000 lbs

(85)

$1262.11

Curt Air Ride 5th Wheel Pin Box - Lippert 1621 & 1621HD - 21,000 lbs

(89)

$1432.19

Question:

Witch hitch will work the best,I have a 30 Ft 5th wheel Ian d a short box 250 GMC,I have a lot of chucking, Maybe the 719 or621,I should say king pin set up thanks

asked by: Mike E

Expert Reply:

Your correct set-up would depend on the length of your truck bed.

If you have a 6-1/2 foot bed and a sliding hitch, the Ultra-Fab Trailair you referenced, part # LC179879 would dramatically improve your ride quality. This pin box is a direct replacement for the Lippert 0179. If you had the Lippert 1621 king pin, you would need part # LC158778.

If you have the 5-1/2 foot bed, you would need to use a 5th Airborne Air Ride with Sidewinder to provide additional clearance between the fifth wheel and the back of the truck cab. Part # RP61422 is compatible with the 0719 or the 1621 pin box. This unit combines the additional clearance with the air ride system to improve ride quality.

The Sidewinder will change the pivot point between the hitch and the king pin rearward by 22 inches to provide more clearance between the fifth wheel and the truck cab.

I have linked you to the products I recommended as well as an FAQ article that fully explains how the Sidewinder works.

An air ride pin box will go a long way towards reducing the chucking you're experiencing, but the quality of the fifth wheel hitch used also has an effect. If you're using a hitch with a slide bar jaw, chucking will always be an issue because the hitch jaws don't grip the king pin very tightly. Using a hitch with a dual jaw like the Reese Titan # RP30866 or the # RP30869 sliding model will hold the king pin much more tightly, reducing chucking.