Community Forums

GC45 · 10-22-2010, 05:12 PM

Looking for opinion/experience re pin box replacements and airbag cushioned hitches for 5th wheels. A few names: Air Safe Hitches, Trailair Air Pin, MOR/ryde pin box system, Glide Ride Pin Box Replacement by Demco, Air Ride 5th wheel Hitch.
Is it better to upgrade the hitch, pin box, both, or are there other solutions?

SuperGewl · 10-23-2010, 11:28 PM

Need info about your TV and 5th wheel you are going to tow. The tV is really important exspecially the bed length.

KTM Guy · 10-23-2010, 11:38 PM

I use a Glide Ride pin box. It's great. It takes a big dip in the highway to produce perceptible chucking.

Everything else is solid mounts. I see no reason to change any of it.

I did add Timbren Aeon springs. Although they produce a permanently stiff ride when unhitched, they add stability and a feeling of control when towing.

RustyJC · 10-24-2010, 06:44 AM

I'm satisfied with the results we get with the Demco Glide-Rite pin box. The "solution" you choose would really depend on what specific problem you're trying to solve. In our case, fore-and-aft surging and/or chucking in the horizontal plane was the complaint - a device that cushions vertical motion wouldn't have helped us.

Rusty

GC45 · 10-24-2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperGewl

Need info about your TV and 5th wheel you are going to tow. The tV is really important exspecially the bed length.

I haven't bought anything yet. Doing my homework first. I'm leaning toward Dodge 3500 5.9 Cummins long box, 5er 14000-15000 GVWR

GC45 · 10-24-2010, 10:19 AM

KTM GUY
Curious about the Hydralift on your 5er. I'm considering same.

tworootless · 10-24-2010, 01:46 PM

Love our 5th airborne. Makes a world of difference on the ride of the fiver since our tow vehicle is actually heavier.

FiverBob · 10-24-2010, 07:07 PM

Why you are considering a different setup should determine what you buy. If you are trying to solve chucking, you need something that will cushion the fore/aft motion of truck versus fiver. If you are trying to cushion the impact of the road shock to the kinping framing, you need something that cushions that up and down movement. If you want something that does everything and want to keep it simple, you need an air hitch, and not just any air hitch.

Air pin boxes will definitely cushion the shock of the truck to the fiver, but it only moves up and down. Anything that uses only one or two air bags must have a pivot point. A pivot point is a solid connection not allowing any movement fore/aft or sideways, only up and down. A four bag air hitch such as the Air Safe moves up, down, fore, aft and sideways. The hitch head floats in all directions on the air bags. This then will protect the framing and will dramatically improve the ride in the truck. And, since the hitch is attached to the truck, it will stay with you when and if you sell the fiver or pull another rig. We have been very impressed with the performance of the Air Safe hitch.

Bob

KTM Guy · 10-24-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19gc45

KTM GUY
Curious about the Hydralift on your 5er. I'm considering same.

The Hydralift works great. It's super stout. PI installed it. I added the Hydralift Sports Adapter so I can carry one street bike or two dirt bikes. Lemme know if you're interested and I'll send you pics of the modified unit.

PI also installed a rear camera. It's reassuring to be able to see what the bikes are doing back there. You can also watch traffic behind your rig. And the camera is a big help when backing.

GC45 · 10-25-2010, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTM Guy

The Hydralift works great. It's super stout. PI installed it. I added the Hydralift Sports Adapter so I can carry one street bike or two dirt bikes. Lemme know if you're interested and I'll send you pics of the modified unit.

PI also installed a rear camera. It's reassuring to be able to see what the bikes are doing back there. You can also watch traffic behind your rig. And the camera is a big help when backing.

Thanks. Only planning to haul a Vegas 8 Ball.
So... no handling issues with 1000(+-) lbs hanging on the back? Do you do anything to balance the load?
If you don't mind me asking, what was the price tag for the camera?
I spent a lot of time looking at toy haulers. There are very few with a simple 5' bike garage across the back & side entry ramp. New Horizons has the perfect solution: small garage with 2 ramps. Ride on ride off. I could maybe buy one if I didn't buy the truck to haul it or the bike to put in it.
The Hydralift -- unlike others -- can be mounted on a fifth wheel with an adequate frame. Seems like a better solution for my purposes than a toy hauler. Allows for a smaller 5er with superior accommodations. But maybe you know all that.

GC45 · 10-25-2010, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiverBob

Why you are considering a different setup should determine what you buy. If you are trying to solve chucking, you need something that will cushion the fore/aft motion of truck versus fiver. If you are trying to cushion the impact of the road shock to the kinping framing, you need something that cushions that up and down movement. If you want something that does everything and want to keep it simple, you need an air hitch, and not just any air hitch.

Air pin boxes will definitely cushion the shock of the truck to the fiver, but it only moves up and down. Anything that uses only one or two air bags must have a pivot point. A pivot point is a solid connection not allowing any movement fore/aft or sideways, only up and down. A four bag air hitch such as the Air Safe moves up, down, fore, aft and sideways. The hitch head floats in all directions on the air bags. This then will protect the framing and will dramatically improve the ride in the truck. And, since the hitch is attached to the truck, it will stay with you when and if you sell the fiver or pull another rig. We have been very impressed with the performance of the Air Safe hitch.

Bob

Thanks. I was leaning toward such a hitch.

KTM Guy · 11-02-2010, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19gc45

Thanks. Only planning to haul a Vegas 8 Ball.
So... no handling issues with 1000(+-) lbs hanging on the back? Do you do anything to balance the load?
If you don't mind me asking, what was the price tag for the camera?
I spent a lot of time looking at toy haulers. There are very few with a simple 5' bike garage across the back & side entry ramp. New Horizons has the perfect solution: small garage with 2 ramps. Ride on ride off. I could maybe buy one if I didn't buy the truck to haul it or the bike to put in it.
The Hydralift -- unlike others -- can be mounted on a fifth wheel with an adequate frame. Seems like a better solution for my purposes than a toy hauler. Allows for a smaller 5er with superior accommodations. But maybe you know all that.

I don't notice any handling problems at all with the Hydralift loaded with two dirt bikes. I haven't carried a Goldwing. My 5,500-watt Onan generator in the front might provide some counterbalance.

The rear camera ran about $800 installed. I must say it works great!

The reasons you mention are pretty much what steered me to the Hydralift. A garage seemed overkill for a single street bike or two dirt bikes. I know many people consider toy haulers the cat's meow, but their interiors are less attractive to me. There can be issues with gas smells. And I wanted to keep the rig as short as possible.

A downside is that in a rainstorm you're going to get some road grime on your bikes. Somebody makes a wrap for motorcycles, but I haven't been able to find it yet.

All in all, I'm extremely happy with my choice.

Good luck!

GC45 · 11-02-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTM Guy

I don't notice any handling problems at all with the Hydralift loaded with two dirt bikes. I haven't carried a Goldwing. My 5,500-watt Onan generator in the front might provide some counterbalance.

The rear camera ran about $800 installed. I must say it works great!

The reasons you mention are pretty much what steered me to the Hydralift. A garage seemed overkill for a single street bike or two dirt bikes. I know many people consider toy haulers the cat's meow, but their interiors are less attractive to me. There can be issues with gas smells. And I wanted to keep the rig as short as possible.

A downside is that in a rainstorm you're going to get some road grime on your bikes. Somebody makes a wrap for motorcycles, but I haven't been able to find it yet.

All in all, I'm extremely happy with my choice.

Good luck!

HI & thanks.
I was thinking about perhaps having a solid fiberglass cover made but I don't know if it would prevent enough road wash from getting underneath.
I have also seen somewhere a wrap.