Flex Air Pin Box

[JWalker]

Just installed a FlexAir pin box today. Wanted to start a thread to review. Didn't have the chucking issue. We had more of the up and down movement. They claim this will dampen both. Anyone tried this pin box.

 

[JohnD]

I saw one of those today at the Colorado HOC Rally in Central City, Colorado . . .

It looks pretty sweet, but our Prowler seems light enough that we probably don't need to upgrade our pin box from the stock one.

So far we haven't had any issues with our setup.

 

[JWalker]

I saw one of those today at the Colorado HOC Rally in Central City, Colorado . . .

It looks pretty sweet, but our Prowler seems light enough that we probably don't need to upgrade our pin box from the stock one.

So far we haven't had any issues with our setup.

Our last 5er had no issues. It was a bit lighter and shorter. Our standard pin box worked great. This one seems to have more up and down motion. Maybe because there is more weight behind the rear axles, with the second bedroom and kitchen. It's not bad but could be better.

We were in a few Prowler fifth wheels at the Hershey RV show last week. Very nice. Congrats on your rig.

 

[JohnD]

Our last 5er had no issues. It was a bit lighter and shorter. Our standard pin box worked great. This one seems to have more up and down motion. Maybe because there is more weight behind the rear axles, with the second bedroom and kitchen. It's not bad but could be better.

We were in a few Prowler fifth wheels at the Hershey RV show last week. Very nice. Congrats on your rig.

Thanks!

We love it so far!

Come on out this way next year and join us at one of our HOC Rallies (Colorado or Arizona).

Believe me . . . we are a wild bunch and you'll have a blast . . . gauranteed!

 

[JWalker]

One thing, it is a heavy sucker. Around 230lbs. Thank goodness for the old frontend loader. Still took some engineering to install myself.

 

[GOTTOYS]

I installed my own Tri-Glide. Load it on the tailgate of the truck. Block it up with some boards. Back under the trailer. Raise or lower the trailer front jacks to get the right height. Bolt it in place. Not hard at all but I did have to have my wife lift it onto the tailgate for me.....Don

 

[rxbristol]

Installed one recently, but have not been on the road to try it out yet. Yours looks good.

 

[nfa1eab]

When I was having issues with my truck-trailer-pinbox setup when new, I actually drove around several campgrounds around Sturgis looking at other fifth wheel setups. I was using a Fifth Airborne Sidewinder, and wanted to see how others were making this work. I saw lots of rigs equipped with the Flex Air pinbox and none with the Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder. I think you have made a good choice. I went back to a stock pinbox and it seems like the airbags on the truck control the up and down pogo stick action pretty well on mine. I don't get much chucking that is irritating. Wish I had tried the FexAir initially instead of the Fifth Airborne, but being new to fifth wheels I took the dealers advice.

 

[JWalker]

Just an update on the FlexAir. Finally got everything adjusted. Had to raise the pin up another set of bolt holes and lower the hitch down a set also. Should be close to original height. Finally getting ready to hook up and the wife notices that one of the bolts holding the lower jaw was not tight. Grabbed a socket and was ready to torque it down but it was stripped out.


I will say, Lippert and the guys at Happy Camper RV stepped up without hesitation. 1 phone call and 3 pics later, a new steel rod insert was here with a service tech and installed right at the house. Ready to go. Hopefully first pull will be this weekend.

 

[Bones]

Wow that sucks and good that it was fixed. The could have been a huge oh S*#t moment. Let us know how it works out. I am itching to get out camping this weekend myself. Too bad it is only for the weekend. This school and work thing puts a kink in my camping style.

 

[JWalker]

Well, finally got a chance to take the trailer out with the new FlexAir pin box. Had to make several different adjustments to get it to ride level. Ended up with the pin box at its highest level and the hitch in the truck at its lowest level. But it rides almost perfect.

There are two different options when you purchase a FlexAir. A long jaw, and a short jaw. We have the long jaw unit and It is around 8 inches longer from front to rear compared to the original pin box. This created some concern with clearance on a tight turn with it hitting the inside of the bed rails. Fortunately, we have about an 1.5" to spare.

There was a noticeable improvement in ride. Barely noticed some of the smaller road imperfections and the larger bumps we hardly felt any rebound from the trailer. It was a very short 20 mile trip. But we got to try it out. Next trip will be in 2 weeks to the storage facility for the winter.

 

[Bones]

Glad it smooths out the ride.

- - - Updated - - -

I'm still thinking about changing out my pin box since I now have the 8 foot bed. Would it be worth me doing that or should I just lock out my current unit so it does not pivot like it does now.

 

[murry135]

Well, finally got a chance to take the trailer out with the new FlexAir pin box. Had to make several different adjustments to get it to ride level. Ended up with the pin box at its highest level and the hitch in the truck at its lowest level. But it rides almost perfect.

There are two different options when you purchase a FlexAir. A long jaw, and a short jaw. We have the long jaw unit and It is around 8 inches longer from front to rear compared to the original pin box. This created some concern with clearance on a tight turn with it hitting the inside of the bed rails. Fortunately, we have about an 1.5" to spare.

There was a noticeable improvement in ride. Barely noticed some of the smaller road imperfections and the larger bumps we hardly felt any rebound from the trailer. It was a very short 20 mile trip. But we got to try it out. Next trip will be in 2 weeks to the storage facility for the winter.

My advice to you here is WATCH OUT FOR WHEN TURNING AND THE TV AND UNIT PITCH WHEN ANGLED. I had clearance but it disappears quickly when on uneven ground and then the AH S*#T moment happens.

 

[Garypowell]

Jwalker,

can an you tell me how many inches from the top of the trucks bed rail to the bottom of the RV? In your second picture it seems very close.

Thanks,

 

[nfa1eab]

I had about 6" from rail to cap on my 305RW with Ford F250 and a Reese Fifth Airborne Sidewinder pinbox. It was not enough clearance. Entering and exiting my driveway is a little steep and slightly angled. Right rear corner of rail cap would rub as truck dropped down left side first with trailer still level. I removed the pinbox and went back to stock for two reasons. The trailer could not be leveled with the Reese 18k Elite hitch at lowest position and pinbox at highest adjustment into cap. Trailer road 8-9" higher front to back and handled poorly. Stock pinbox with Reese hitch one hole from bottom leveled out trailer and gave additional clearance at rails. Rig drives nice now. Air bags provide cushion to the ride as well as control the bridge compressions well.


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[nfa1eab]

With the long jaw pinbox, I would think that would increase the leverage and cause the up down movement of the front of the trailer to be more difficult to control. On good roads you don't notice it, but hit some whoops like on I- 80 in South Dakota and it can get scary real fast. I don't think the airbags and cushioned pinbox worked well together at all. Each setup is different though, just have to figure it out

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[JWalker]

My advice to you here is WATCH OUT FOR WHEN TURNING AND THE TV AND UNIT PITCH WHEN ANGLED. I had clearance but it disappears quickly when on uneven ground and then the AH S*#T moment happens.

Definitely trying to avoid the AH S*#T moments.

- - - Updated - - -

Jwalker,

can an you tell me how many inches from the top of the trucks bed rail to the bottom of the RV? In your second picture it seems very close.

Thanks,

the picture is sort of deceiving. There is about 7.25 inches between the bed rails and the trailer.