Troubleshooting Bushing Wear On A Curt Q24 5th Wheel Hitch And Trailair Air Ride Pin Box

Updated 12/20/2023 | Published 12/06/2023

Products Featured in This Question

MORryde Cushioned 5th Wheel Pin Box for 14K to 18K Trailers w/ Lippert Rhino

(278)

$799.99

B&W Patriot 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch - Dual Jaw - 18,000 lbs

(768)

$799.00

Question:

Hello! I have a 2022 Cedar Creek 345IK with a Trailair pin box. I believe it is a Rhino box - hopefully the picture confirms it. I have a Curt Q24 hitch in my truck and I believe the Trailair is not working well with the Curt Q24. In the pictures, you can see that the hitch leans forward when I am connected and as a result the Curt Q24 bushings are taking a beating. In the bushings picture, the bushing on the left is 7 years of use with the Curt Q24 and my previous trailer - a Lifestyle 36FW with a Morryde pin box. The bushing on the right is 2 years of use with the Cedar Creek and its Trailair pin box. I believe the cause of the bushing wearing so quickly is due to the Trailair leaning forward and the bushing is absorbing the weight. I have had the same truck - 2015 GMC Sierra DRW long box - for both trailers. Would switching to a Morryde pin box level the hitch and pin box and reduce the forward leaning stress on the bushing? And is it the Morryde Rhino pin box that I would require? Or would it be better to switch hitches? What hitch to keep the hitch and pin box level? Thanks!

asked by: Todd G

Expert Reply:

The Curt Q24 # C16245 has had issues with pivoting pin box heads like your Trailair Air Ride pin box, and especially the Trailair Rota-Flex pin box. The pivoting action works against the pivoting action in the head of the hitch and wears the bushings down to a failure point. MORryde pin boxes are great, but you honestly already have one of the best pin boxes on the market so I would keep your current pin box and swap out the hitch. I recommend the B&W Patriot 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # BWRVK3255 for your setup.

The pin box isn't going to sit fully level because the air spring and king pin plate allow for movement to help absorb road shock. I would verify that the trailer itself is level while coupled to the hitch. If not then you'll need to adjust the hitch head height. The # BWRVK3255 has a hitch head height range of 16" - 19", whereas your Q24 has a 13" - 17" height range. I'd verify where you're currently at to make sure that the new hitch can sit at the correct height for your trailer.

Take a look at your hitch height and how level the trailer is and let me know what you find and we can keep troubleshooting further. Also, I did confirm with Lippert that you have a Lippert Rhino bolt pattern thanks to the pictures you provided.

expert reply by: Kevin C