Air ride pin box ??

deanl · 02-21-2020, 11:34 AM

Considering putting an air ride pin box on our trailer, 2014 Eagle HT 26.5 RLS, is this worth it? If so, which is the better pin box, the flex head or the regular with the air bag?
In your opinion which is better, the air ride pin box or the air ride fifth wheel truck hitch?
Any suggestions/opinions appreciated. Thank you.

diver6 · 02-21-2020, 02:35 PM

If your truck has the factory prep look into a Reese goose box. I put one in and love it, no more big hitch in my truck 200lbs gone and no chucking from the hitch. They are air ride with a shock in them also.

deanl · 02-21-2020, 03:49 PM

Thank you, hadn't even considered a goose box. Have you had any problems while making sharp turns with it hitting the sides of your truck bed? Any difference in height of trailer over truck bed? Thanks

Lake Huron · 02-21-2020, 07:33 PM

I replaced my stock solid pinbox on my previous trailer with a Flexair. It's an air bag with the bottom kingpin plate that pivots to help absorb the back and forth chucking. I had a few fitment issues with it as far as the air valve coming in contact with the front cap, but I made up a flexible air hose to fix that issue. The performance of it was pretty good. It took care of the up and down quite a lot but it didnt do so well on the chucking. My Moryde does a better job of that.
Good friend of mine has a Trailair on his Cedsr Creek. I've rode with him towing his trailer and was pretty impressed how well that works and the minimal amount of chucking it has. Mu h less than the flexair I had.

deanl · 02-21-2020, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lake Huron

I replaced my stock solid pinbox on my previous trailer with a Flexair. It's an air bag with the bottom kingpin plate that pivots to help absorb the back and forth chucking. I had a few fitment issues with it as far as the air valve coming in contact with the front cap, but I made up a flexible air hose to fix that issue. The performance of it was pretty good. It took care of the up and down quite a lot but it didnt do so well on the chucking. My Moryde does a better job of that.
Good friend of mine has a Trailair on his Cedsr Creek. I've rode with him towing his trailer and was pretty impressed how well that works and the minimal amount of chucking it has. Mu h less than the flexair I had.

Between the Moryde & the Trailair, which would be your preference?

Lake Huron · 02-21-2020, 09:07 PM

I knew youd ask that. Lol! That's a tough question to answer. I'm asked myself that numerous times before and.... I guess it depends on the roads you travel. Some give more chucking and others give more up and down bounce. The Trailair is a bit more money than the Moryde.

If I HAD to make a choice between the two, I think the Trailair would get the nod. Dont get me wrong, the Moryde is in a very close 2nd. I haven't travelled very far compared to others on this site, but travelling all over Michigan, and our roads suck, we overall have more of a bounce issue than a chucking issue with our roads.
And if your wondering why I wouldnt or haven't switched mine out from the Moryde to a Trailair is because the Moryde is doing a good job keeping my ride smooth and my truck being a 3500 dually handles the up and down pretty well.

Hope this helps and didnt confuse you or make your decision any harder.

deanl · 02-22-2020, 08:05 AM

Lake Huron LOL, thanks for your help - I think!

Lake Huron · 02-22-2020, 09:05 AM

I know. Lol!
I'll add some more info.
My truck is a 2015 Silverado 3500 crew cab long bed dually Duramax. I have a B&W hitch.
My previous trailer was a 40' Forestriver Sierra 317TRIP. The Sierra had a standard solid pin box and the ride was BAD. a lot of chucking and bounce. Trying to eliminate as much of both as possible I went with a Flexair pinbox. It's a Trailair pinbox but the bottom plate the kingpin is attached to pivots to help eliminate the chucking. That setup worked pretty well in the bounce but I wasnt very impressed with the shu king that was still there. I spoke with a tech at etrailer and B&W and they both said the same thing. The pinbox and hitch are fighting each other on the chucking. The hitch head sits on big rubber pivot pads. That combined with the pivoting of the kingpin on the pinbox are not getting along. That trailer was a total dogpile plagued with problems and I got rid of it.
My current trailer is a 44' 2017 Northpoint 375. It's a bit heavier in total weight and pin weight compared to the Sierra. The Northpoint came with a Moryde pinbox. The Moryde has a big rubber pad it sits on and actually slides back and forth to eliminate the chuck. Theres a good 3" - 4" of front to back travel in it. I think because it slides instead of pivot is why it works well with my hitch. As far as the bounce, the Sierra had the standard solid equalizer in the center of the axle suspension. My Northpoint has a Moryde CRE3000 equalizer. Because the Sierra had the solid equalizer in it I think it was transferring the bounce to the front (pinbox) and the CRE on the Northpoint is taking care of a lot of the bounce right there because it has like 3" of up and down travel. I just dont get a lot of bounce with this Northpoint.
I have a buddy that has a 2016 Silverado 2500 crew cab standard bed Duramax with B&W hitch. His trailer is a 40' 2016 Cedar Creek and it has a Trailair pinbix on it . I've rode with him in his truck and he doesnt get much chucking with it and the bounce is very minimal. I was pretty impressed with how his rig rides. I've watched the Trailair pinbox in action back there and like their video shows that thing absorbs a LOT of bounce. You can see the trailer going up and down quite a bit but dont feel it in the truck. I think that pinbox is actually taking the back and forth chucking and transferring it into an up and down movement and is being absorbed by the airbag. We've gone down roads that will give a fair amount of chuck to a trailer and his you dont feel a lot of it but you can see the Trailair working
the up and down. I'm also pretty sure his trailer just has a solid equalizer in the axle suspension too.
Now that I've made things clear as mud for ya,... lol!
I'm sure others will chime in here with their experiences too.

deanl · 02-22-2020, 09:26 AM

Lake Huron: thanks for the additional info. Lots to think about now!

deanl · 02-25-2020, 05:27 PM

diver6 & Lake Huron, thank you both for responding. I have ordered a TrailAir air ride pin box. Being as I have just replaced 5th wheel hitch in my truck, I decided against the goose box.

Lake Huron · 02-25-2020, 05:34 PM

Nice!
What hitch did you put in your truck?

deanl · 02-25-2020, 05:52 PM

Lake Huron: I put in a Reese 16k with Ram puck system.

Lake Huron · 02-25-2020, 07:46 PM

If you plan on doing the install of the pinbox yourself, rent a transmission jack. It makes the job a WHOLE LOT easier. Trust me. I borrowed one from work when I installed that Flexair. Pinboxes are heavy and it made life much better. I also swapped out the factory grade 5 for grade 8 bolts and nuts.
Keep us posted on the install. Should be a great install project with great end results.

billcf7 · 02-25-2020, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diver6

If your truck has the factory prep look into a Reese goose box. I put one in and love it, no more big hitch in my truck 200lbs gone and no chucking from the hitch. They are air ride with a shock in them also.

Your warranty may be void by some rv manufacturers. Check with manufacturer before installing

deanl · 02-25-2020, 08:19 PM

We are hoping for great results! Will certainly look to see what grade bolts are included. Fortunately I have a couple of options to get the pin box hoisted up.
I will update group when I've gotten the box installed. Thanks for your help.

jasum · 04-03-2020, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deanl

We are hoping for great results! Will certainly look to see what grade bolts are included. Fortunately I have a couple of options to get the pin box hoisted up.
I will update group when I've gotten the box installed. Thanks for your help.

Did you get the Trailair installed yet??

jasum · 04-03-2020, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deanl

diver6 & Lake Huron, thank you both for responding. I have ordered a TrailAir air ride pin box. Being as I have just replaced 5th wheel hitch in my truck, I decided against the goose box.

You are going to love the Trailair pin box

Lake Huron · 04-03-2020, 06:58 PM

Details, details. We need updates AND pics or it didn't really happen. Lol!

deanl · 04-03-2020, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lake Huron

Details, details. We need updates AND pics or it didn't really happen. Lol!

Still can't get the pics right side up, installed the hitch last month. Now we wait to be able to leave our yard!

Lake Huron · 04-03-2020, 07:27 PM

Very nice! I think you're gonna love the way it rides now.

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