Sidewinder as Replacement for Fifth Wheel Trailer King Pin

Question:

Is the sidewinder a replacement for the kingpin on the 5th wheel or is it added to the existing kingpin and extends its length?

asked by: keith K

Expert Reply:

The Sidewinder replaces the pin box which also includes the king pin. The Sidewinder is an extended pin box, but it gains the extension not just by being longer in length. The Sidewinder relocates the pivot point between the hitch and the trailer from where the king pin locks into the hitch to the point where the pin box attaches to the trailer. The king pin will no longer rotate in the hitch jaws.
This relocation will gain you an additional 22 inches of clearance between the front of the trailer and the rear of the truck cab.

expert reply by: Mike L