Community Forums

Vette Racer · 03-30-2006, 09:46 AM

Has anyone moved their pin box down on the 5th wheel trailer and noticed any problems doing that? I moved mine down but noticed that by doing that, it didn't leave as much of the box up in the frame and was wondering about strength of the hitch by doing this.

Vette Racer · 03-30-2006, 09:46 AM

Has anyone moved their pin box down on the 5th wheel trailer and noticed any problems doing that? I moved mine down but noticed that by doing that, it didn't leave as much of the box up in the frame and was wondering about strength of the hitch by doing this.

Hitchhiker · 03-30-2006, 10:45 AM

Tom,

It should be OK unless you moved it so far as to eliminate the use of any of the bolts. Most use at least a 4 bolt pattern, if someone were to try to use the bottom two bolts, eliminating the top to attain extra bed rail clearance I'd think they'd have some issues.

Frankenstien · 03-30-2006, 03:53 PM

Moved mine down to add clearence for the Bed... used factory holes, no issues... probably put 50K on it since... (at least one set of tires worth...

TXiceman · 03-30-2006, 03:59 PM

You should be Ok as long as you maintain the same number of bolts and bolt pattern as the original position.

Ken

Vette Racer · 03-31-2006, 05:58 AM

Thanks for the answers, this one only has 4 bolts, two on each side. Guess when I tow it this weekend I'll find out, I'll be sure to keep a close eye on it. 4" over the bedrails just wasn't enough to make me feel comfortable, this should give me close to 6".

RustyJC · 03-31-2006, 06:33 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Vette Racer:
Thanks for the answers, this one only has 4 bolts, two on each side. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Wow!! That doesn't sound right!

Being at work, I can't run out to the storage lot and eyeball our 5th wheel pin box, but on all of our 5vers, I remember a lot more than 4 bolts being used in that application!

Rusty

charliez · 03-31-2006, 08:05 AM

I think you should be using 8 bolts. 4 on each side. Can you move the hitch in the truck up any instead?

TXiceman · 03-31-2006, 08:29 AM

Mine has 4 bolts on each side of the box....

ken

FiverBob · 03-31-2006, 09:28 AM

4 on mine - - six is max, but never used that I have seen.

Vette Racer · 03-31-2006, 09:33 AM

The side plate coming down from the frame has 4 holes, two above and 2 below on each side but the pin box (the moveable part) only has two holes on each side and two bolts each side, so I assume that the other set of holes on the frame section are for the pin box adjustment. The is on a 98 Terry made by fleetwood, 34.5 model.

As for moving the hitch, I need it set where it is for pulling my toyhauler so thats why I'm trying to adjust the pin box on this one.

Don (W5IT) · 03-31-2006, 09:37 AM

I have seen some with twelve, eight, six total and a FEW with four.... As long as it is as the MFG built it you should be fine.

For those who are worried four is not enough......

Just remember that most bed rails that are mounted in your trucks use four "Pins" to hold the hitch to the rails. These pins are usually quite a bit smaller in diameter than the bolts on the pin box.....

RustyJC · 03-31-2006, 10:26 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Vette Racer:
This is on a 98 Terry made by fleetwood, 34.5 model.

As for moving the hitch, I need it set where it is for pulling my toyhauler so thats why I'm trying to adjust the pin box on this one. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Oh, I thought we were talking about your toyhauler!

I couldn't imagine only 4 bolts with the pin weight of a fully loaded toyhauler.

4 bolts total still sounds light to me, but if (as you say) that's the way the Terry is built and has been towed for 10 years, what can I say?

Rusty

Vette Racer · 03-31-2006, 12:07 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RustyJC:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Vette Racer:
This is on a 98 Terry made by fleetwood, 34.5 model.

As for moving the hitch, I need it set where it is for pulling my toyhauler so thats why I'm trying to adjust the pin box on this one. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Oh, I thought we were talking about your toyhauler!

I couldn't imagine only 4 bolts with the pin weight of a fully loaded toyhauler.

4 bolts total still sounds light to me, but if (as you say) that's the way the Terry is built and has been towed for 10 years, what can I say?

Rusty </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Ha, good one there Rusty. The good/bad news is, this puppy hasn't been towed more than 7 or 8 times and hasn't been used any more than that either. The inside still smells like new. Well, We'll hook her up tomorrow morning and give it a 100 mile test pull and see how it goes.

Thanks for all the words of wisdom. Now you know "the rest of the story." (Well, almost)