Can Reese Sidewinder Replace Lippert Rota-Flex Pin Box

Question:

The fifth wheel I am looking at comes with a Rota-Flex Suspension Pin Box. I have a short bed 6.75 F-350 and need a rotating pin box like the Sidewinder or Revolution pin box that Jayco was using a few years back. Can the Rota Flex be easily removed and the Sidewinder installed in its place? This would also allow me to go from a 289# autoslide to a 75# fixed hitch. I previously had an F-150 with a 5.75 foot bed and a fifth wheel with a Revolution and simple lightweight hitch that could make 90 degree turns with plenty of clearance. I would think the extra 1 foot of bed length would work just as well. What are the pros and cons of doing this?

asked by: Scott

Expert Reply:

You can absolutely remove your Rota-Flex pin box and replace it with a Reese Sidewinder without any issue. It will work superbly on your standard bed F-350 and allow you to go from a sliding hitch to a fixed hitch.

The pros are the convenience the Sidewinder offers, being able to go to that lighter fixed hitch and not having to use the slider function of a hitch. The only con is the Sidewinder doesn't have the rubber compound in the front of the pin box to absorb as much road shock as the Rota-Flex.

In order to get the correct Sidewinder, you need to know the Lippert model the Rota-Flex is, which you may be able to find on the pin box itself, via the 5th wheel dealer, or you can take some simple measurements as outlined in the help article I linked below. Once you know, that you will need one of the following:

- Trailair Rota-Flex 5th Wheel Pin Box for Lippert 1621 or 1621HD - 328330 (18,000 lbs) or 328329 (21,000 lbs): Reese Sidewinder 5th Wheel King Pin with Rotating Turret # RP34FR

- Trailair Rota-Flex 5th Wheel Pin Box for Lippert 1116 - 176440 (19,000 lbs): Reese Sidewinder 5th Wheel King Pin with Rotating Turret # RP77FR

expert reply by: Kyle S