Best Air-Ride Pin Box to Replace Stock Unit on 35-Foot 5th Wheel with 11,300-lb Dry Weight
Question:
I have no experience towing a fifth wheel. From what Im reading on line Im thinking I will want an air ride pin box of some sort. What I gather is that trail air with tri glide is the only pin box that will reduce chucking and the up and down banging. Am I correct in this assumption? I will be towing a 35 foot fiver dry weight 11,300 pin weight 2115lbs. towing with a gmc 3500 dually. What would you recommend? My primary concern is to eliminate possible frame damage over rough roads. Thank You
asked by: Mark S
Expert Reply:
An air-ride pin box such as the 5th Airborne unit you referenced, part # 5AB-E510-710, will provide a substantial improvement in ride quality as compared to standard rigid pin boxes without an air bag and shock absorber. This will be especially true for a large trailer like yours.
Replacement pin boxes must be chosen based on the part number of the existing pin box. This will ensure simple bolt-on installation of the replacement. The linked article includes a table with a pin box cross-reference to allow you to find the correct replacement. If you cannot locate the brand and model number of your pin box you can take measurements to identify a replacement. The other linked article covers this process in detail.
One thing to keep in mind also is that your 5th wheel hitch will also have some bearing on ride quality, though not as much as the pin box. For example, if you are using an entry-level hitch that has only a single slide-bar jaw, as opposed to a hitch with a double jaw and cushioned pivot this may be an additional upgrade path for consideration.
