Solution for Allowing Trailer to Sit Level that is Currently Nose High

Question:

I installed a 5th Airborne Sidewinder pin box and I cannot set it at the same pin height as my old pin box and it still be able to rotate. There are holes to set the pin box higher, but if I use those holes the bracket on the camper will be lower than the part of the pin box that rotates. I have a BandW 5th-Wheel companion Hitch for Ford puck system that is 16.5 inches above my bed. When hitched that puts king pin at 8 inches high and 12.5 inches of clearance between my bed rails and camper. What is the lowest height fifth wheel hitch that is compatible with both the sidewinder and uses the ford puck system? I have a 2016 short bed crew cab F250 and would like to be able to use the sidewinder. But when hitched the camper is not level enough for us to sleep in and we really don’t want to have to unhitch for just a night at a rest stop.

asked by: Bobby K

Expert Reply:

Sounds like you are using the lowest height setting of the B and W Companion Hitch part # BWRVK3300 that you have installed in the bed of your 2016 Ford F-250 so typically the other solution needed would be to raise the pin box in the frame of the trailer but it sounds like your frame brackets would then hang too low to allow the pin box to pivot. The last option would be to raise the height of your trailer so that it can sit level and not require the nose to move down. You can do this with an over-under axle kit.

The diameter of your trailer axle will determine the size of the parts that you will need to order. If your axle is 3 inches diameter, the Dexter Trailer Springs Over-Under Conversion Kit, # K71-385-00, would be a great choice and if your axle is 2-3/8 inch diameter you could use the Over-Under Kit, # K71-384-00. These kits can be installed without welding but the manufacturer strongly recommends having the new spring seat tacked in place on the other side of the trailer axle.

Some refer to this process as "flipping the axles," but since axle has a slight bow to it you can't just flip them and reinstall them under the springs using the same spring seats. You have to install new spring seats on the opposite side of the axle so that it can be moved below the spring.

As long as your trailer matches the following three criteria an over-under kit would work well:

The trailer leaf spring stack is currently mounted under the axles
The trailer uses double-eye springs
And the trailer has 2-3/8 inch or 3 inch diameter round axles