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Best Fifth Wheel Pin Box...or at least your ideal preference
I am thinking of upgrading my fifth wheels pin box for the purpose of giving myself a weekend project. If it improves the already impressive pulling experience, then great, if not then it probably reduces stress on the trailer and frame regardless.
I'm looking at the Morryde PB but have also seen great reviews on the Air Ride and the Flex Air PBs. Any significant differences other than price? The Morryde is around $550 on Amazon and seems like a good deal.
How difficult to install?
Any pinbox is easy to change out, but they are a bit heavy and awkard. A few 2x's and a floor jack in the pickup bed helps a lot. Not impossible to do without, just tougher. Once you have the first bolt centered, it is easy.
Be sure that you get the right weight rating pin box and that it does not "extend" forward beyond 5er's mfg's recommendation. Too much extension ("extended") causes 5er frame flex.
When swapping out the box is a great time to evaluate and correct any out of level running that your current setup exhibits. The hitch goes up and down in 1 inch incremenrs, most pin boxes in 1.5 to 2 inch increments. Keep pickup siderails clear by at least 4 inches; 5+ is better.
I like the MorRyde. An extra coat of good paint when it is newly installed is well worth the effort.
Originally Posted by IronCobra
I am thinking of upgrading my fifth wheels pin box for the purpose of giving myself a weekend project. If it improves the already impressive pulling experience, then great, if not then it probably reduces stress on the trailer and frame regardless.
I'm looking at the Morryde PB but have also seen great reviews on the Air Ride and the Flex Air PBs. Any significant differences other than price? The Morryde is around $550 on Amazon and seems like a good deal.
How difficult to install?
My mobile suites came with the trailair system. It is a 2009 model trailer, so should be better options today. Mine was installed at the factory, in addition to bolting the trail air to the trailer hook up point, it was also welded. If I would ever want to remove, I would have to do a lot of extra work. No welding or cutting equipment in my shop anymore. The people that I have met with the morryde system have felt that it did a good job for them. I have always been happy with my TrailAir system.
Great advice! Thanks for all pointers. How do I determine the model of lippert frame I have to ensure I get the correct pinbox?
The Lippert pin boxes should have a decal with model number on it. Ours was a 1621 and MorRyde didn't build it until we arrived at the plant because there are so many different ones.
There should be a model # on you current one, then its just cross referencing. The Morryde does not take off much stress on the trailer framing like the Trailair with the Roto Flex, they due cost more, for sure.
I ran a MorRyde on my last 5th wheel and had no issues or complaints with it. Decided to go a different route on the new camper and went with the Flex Air based on a recommendation from a friend. Definitely rides smoother with less jarring transferring to the truck. Install was pretty simple, took about 2 hours using the forks I have for the front end loader on the tractor. I also replaced a Lippert 1621 pin box and upgraded to Grade 8 hardware while it was easy to do.
They are having this same discussion on the Montana Owners forum. Here's a post from a long-time, many-mile user who has tons of real-world experience. Hope it helps, as I just have factory pin:
Mor Ryde mainly addresses chucking (back and fort movement ) Trailair mainly addresses bounce (up and down movement)IMO it is the bounce that destroys the front of the 5th wheel. We just went with the trailer saver BD 3 hitch in the truck to reduce front end damage.
I use the Reese Goosebox and I really like it. It has shocks and an airbag integrated into it and it allows me to just have a gooseneck ball in the bed of my truck.
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