Can Lippert 1716 Pin Box be Replaced by Lippert 1116 to Prevent King Pin from Hitting Bed Rails

Question:

I have a forest river 5th wheel. On tight turns on an upward angle the back of the pin box hits the bed frame rails. Can I switch to a medium pin box for my application? Are these long pin boxes meant for short bed trucks? Which stock replacement do you recommend? And what aftermarket pin box would you recommend, for a better ride? Thanks Currently have Lippert 1716 pin box.

asked by: Ray C

Helpful Expert Reply:

I spoke with my contact at Lippert regarding the existing Lippert 1716 Pin Box # LC1324791 on your trailer. He stated that you can actually replace the pin box with the Lippert 1116 Pin Box # LC1270271, which is shorter than what you have but uses the same mounting bolt pattern. The distance from the back row of bolts to the king pin on this model is 23-3/8 inches, making it shorter than your current pin box by about 6-3/4 inches. You can take a quick measurement on your truck to see if this difference will provide you with enough additional clearance to prevent the king pin from hitting the frame rails.

Otherwise, an easier solution will be to simply take a look at your existing fifth wheel hitch to see if it can be adjusted in terms of height. Adjusting it to its highest possible setting may give you the additional clearance you are needing to prevent the pin box from hitting your bed rails.

Lastly, if you determine that replacing the stock pin box on your trailer is not going to give you the additional clearance you need, the best option is to go with the Reese Sidewinder King Pin. This is going to actually move the trailer's pivot point an extra 22 inches toward the rear of your truck, eliminating the possibility of the king pin turning inside your bed rails and making contact during sharp turns. For your trailer, I recommend the Reese 5th Airborne Premium 5th Wheel Air Ride King Pin w/ Sidewinder # RP61412. This will provide you with the clearance you need along with an enclosed air spring that will absorb road shock for a smoother and easier ride.

I have attached a short video demonstration on this product that you can also take a look at.

expert reply by: Chris R