Determining The Correct Gen-Y Gooseneck Pin Box For A Jayco Seismic Fifth Wheel Trailer

Question:

The luxury 5th wheel trailers my wife and I are looking at are in the 19k to 23k GVW range. We are very specifically ZEROED in on the Jayco Seismic 4113 model years between 2018 to 2021. They are coming in just under 21k (ex. 2021 model 20,695 GVW). The B&W Item # BWRVK3500 has a GTW of 20k. Is there another item like this one that can handle, say, upwards of 25k GTW? —providing a little wiggle room in that area.

asked by: Paul W

Helpful Expert Reply:

Until you know the bolt pattern of the pin box on your trailer I HIGHLY recommend not purchasing the replacement. You could end up getting the wrong one or find that the pin box is not replaceable. I field a ton of questions where the person purchased a trailer assuming they could just throw whatever pin box on there and have found that they can't replace the pin box and end up not being able to haul the trailer at all.

The Gen-Y Hitch Shock Absorbing 5th Wheel-Gooseneck Pin Box # GY36FR you were looking at will fit a 1621 bolt pattern so there is a good chance that it will fit because it's one of the most used bolt patterns, but it's still best to check beforehand. Manufacturers don't always use the same pin box for their specific models, especially from year to year, so there is no one size fits all here.

The # GY36FR has an approximate weight of 175lbs so you will need to use a lift or engine hoist to install this pin box.

If you plan on hauling the trailer around using the original pin box you will need to use a hitch that is compatible with your B&W gooseneck hitch, which would be the Companion # BWRVK3500. Building your own frame and strapping it down really tight is completely unsafe and not recommended at all. You could put your life and other's in danger n the event of a breakaway.

The best course of action here is to confirm the bolt pattern of the trailer with the seller beforehand and then purchasing the correct replacement pin box.

expert reply by: Kevin C

Paul W.

2/18/2022

Kevin C.

2/18/2022

B&W's Companion line of gooseneck-to-fifth wheel hitches are only rated for up to 20,000lbs. Their line of Companion OEM hitches, which utilize an underbed mounting system, are rated for up to 25,000lbs. For your 2014 Chevy Silverado 3500 to be able to accept a Companion OEM you would first need to remove your current hitch and then install the Elite Series Under-Bed Gooseneck Complete Hitch # RP30158-68. This gooseneck hitch has Ford puck spacing so you'll be able to drop the B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch for Ford Super Duty Prep Package # BWRVK3305 right down into the pucks. Since this is a gooseneck hitch you'll also be able to tow a gooseneck trailer without having to swap back to another hitch.