Recommended 5th Airborne Sidewinder for Arctic Fox 27-5L

Question:

I have on order an Arctic Fox 27-5L 12,000 GVWR and working to have them install the 5th Airborne Sidewinder in place of the standard pin box. I will be using a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD with the standard 6.5 box. I have the following questions: 1 which model number of the 5th Airborne Sidewinder is the right one? 2 what would be the typical price difference between this and a standard pin box 3 what would be the weight difference between this and a standard pin box? 4 what is the typical maintenance actions and frequencies required for this pin box? 5 Comparing a manual sliding or automatic sliding hitch to this pin box, which has less maintenance ? Thanks!

asked by: Scott O

Expert Reply:

In order to direct you to which model Sidewinder you need, I would need to know the manufacturer and model number of the OEM pin box on the 5th wheel you have ordered. The manufacturer or dealer should be able to provide this information.

As we do not sell OEM pin boxes, I cannot speak to their pricing or weight, but by using the link to our Sidewinder FAQ page and scrolling toward the bottom of the page, you can see the various Sidewinder models offered and their current pricing and weights. The actual weight of the Sidewinder will depend on which model you need to replace the OEM pin box. For example, the Lippert 1621 is a common OEM pin box. The 16K capacity Sidewinder for that pin box weighs around 150 lbs. The 19K capacity weighs about 180 lbs.

Other than keeping a thin coating of grease on the underside of the Sidewinder to ease the hitching operation, applying a small amount of white lithium grease to the wear discs is necessary during initial assembly. Additional applications may be necessary if the Sidewinder turret shows resistance to turning.

The necessary maintenance of the Sidewinder versus a sliding 5th wheel hitch would be a wash. On a sliding 5th wheel hitch, the rail slides would need to be kept lubricated for easy operation.

I have provided a link to our Sidewinder FAQ page, as well as lubrication guidelines and an instruction link to a typical Sidewinder for you to look over.

If you would care to reply with the manufacturer and model number of the OEM pin box, I would be happy to provide more specifics.

expert reply by: Mike L