5th wheel pin box/bed rail clearance issue

[CThomsen]

Bought a new 2013 Jayco 31.5FBHS last fall. I didn't have my new truck yet so a friend hauled the camper home for me. Got new truck in late Sept. with B&W companion hitch. Planning a trip next Thursday so I hooked up for the first time today (first 5th wheel for me too). Had to raise hitch to highest level and drop pin box down all the way to get 6" clearance above tailgate. Trailer is close to level and I thought I was good to go. Started to pull out of the driveway & I realized that on a sharp turn, the back of the pin box would hit my tonneau cover rails that stick into the bed a couple of inches. I really don't want to lose the cover. I'm out of adjustment options on the hitch and current lippert extended pin box. Called RV dealer and they will check with Jayco on Tuesday. Searching online I see some people notching the back corner of the pin box-probably not a good option from a warranty standpoint. If I get a shorter pin box will the camper be too close to the tailgate when it is down to hitch up? Are there other options for pin boxes? I don't want to change to gooseneck if possible. Any opinions are appreciated. BTW--Center of kingpin to back of pinbox is ~28.5". Bed width with tonneau cover rails is only 55.75". Thanks.

 

[Powder Extreme]

I see you are pulling with a long bed? If so get rid of the stupid extended length pin boxes all the manufacturers put on them. Works good for a short box, pointless for a long bed. The trailer will ride better and you will get better mileage with the 5th wheel closer to the truck. I will post a pic of my truck pulling my jayco. I went to a "short" pin box and have my B&W set as far forward as possible. My truck is setup with the absolute minimum distance it can be from truck to trailer and still have room to turn.

 

[Powder Extreme]

As you can see, I am considerably closer to the truck than your Jayco is. The truck and trailer ride MUCH better this way, not too mention I'm about 2' overall shorter which helps when pulling the 24' boat behind the 5th wheel. I have about a foot of clearance at the closest point from trailer to back window and about 5" from bumper to trailer. I can't fully open the front generator compartment but I can open it far enough to fuel it up. You have to be conscious of the tailgate, I cannot drop the tailgate and simply hitch and unhitch. I have to back part way under and raise the tailgate and then back fully into the kingpin. Small price to pay for the added ride and fuel economy.

Cheers!

 

[CThomsen]

That's much closer than mine. I'll have to hook up again and measure. For some reason the sticker showing what make/model pin box I have is partially gone so I cant order a new one until I can talk to Jayco on Tuesday. Thanks for the pic.

 

[Powder Extreme]

Do you have a Morryde hitch or just a standard pin box? Your Jayco uses a Lippert frame. Morryde model RPB72-0719-04 is a medium length, rubber cushioned pin box rated for 11,500 - 14,000lbs. (They have higher and lower gvw). If you've never used a Morryde, they are definitely worth it. Www.morryde.com Takes a lot of the shock and chucking out of the ride. I bought mine here for $550 shipped. Dealer wants over $800. Not too hard to change if you have a buddy to help. They are pretty dang heavy.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/17125662865...em=&sspagename=ADME:X:AAQ:MOTORS:1123&vxp=mtr

 

[Powder Extreme]

You can measure your bolt pattern and compare to the fitment chart on morrydes website. I am pretty confident the model I listed is the one you need, however a few minutes with a tape measure would verify that.

Good luck!

 

[CThomsen]

Thanks for the info. I have standard lippert but the model # is missing from the tag. My dealer said the morrydes weren't any shorter but I'm definitely going to look into it. Just a few inches would make all the difference for me. Thanks for all your help.

 

[CThomsen]

I tried to measure yesterday and my box didn't seem to match any of the lippert extended boxes. I'll call jayco Tuesday and find out for sure

 

[Cummins12V98]

I have the extended Lippert pin box with the air bag. I like that I can walk between the RV and tailgate with it down. I have no clearance problems.

I did move someones RV for them once and did not notice the air bag was deflated and I had to swing the RV to near 90 and hit the plastic bed side cap. Learned a good lesson make sure the bag is inflated!

 

[Powder Extreme]

The dealers are usually pretty clueless. Morryde DOES make a shorter pin box. I absolutely 100% guarantee it! Measure the bolt pattern where the pin box mounts to the trailer and match it up on morrydes site. Jayco won't be much help either, I just tried to get them to install a shorter pin box on mine that I picked up two weeks ago, no dice. They will only tell you what the trailer shipped with. But you could use that and look up the bolt spacing.

 

[CThomsen]

I remeasured the pin box today. I think it's a dexter 221-0031. I'll confirm with jayco tomorrow then call morryde and see what they have to offer.

 

[CThomsen]

I do have the dexter pin box. Morryde has nothing shorter that will fit the bolt pattern. Still waiting for lippert to call me back. The only thing I've found that May work is a demco universal glide ride. It comes with no holes drilled in it but is 6" shorter than my current box. I'd have to put it in place then mark holes and drill. Looks like a good box similar to morryde.

 

[Powder Extreme]

Good grief! It looks like you have about the only hitch that Morryde only makes a direct replacement for and doesn't offer a shorter version. I'm surprised Jayco uses different frames on the different models. You could also buy a Morryde "lower unit" and have a welding shop fabricate the upper portion.

 

[CThomsen]

It's a lippert frame. They bought dexter a couple years ago. I guess they were using up old stock when my camper was built.

 

[CThomsen]

Anyone ever use a glide ride pin box?

 

[RustyJC]

I do have the dexter pin box. Morryde has nothing shorter that will fit the bolt pattern. Still waiting for lippert to call me back. The only thing I've found that May work is a demco universal glide ride. It comes with no holes drilled in it but is 6" shorter than my current box. I'd have to put it in place then mark holes and drill. Looks like a good box similar to morryde.

The Demco GlideRide is an excellent pin box. I used one for many years on my 2004 Mobile Suites 36RE3. It eliminates 90% or more of the fore/aft "chucking" and surging.

Jayco used Leland Engineering frames for many years, but Leland was purchased by Dexter who was purchased by Lippert. It seems this is happening with more and more RV component manufacturers these days.

Rusty

 

[CThomsen]

I ended up trimming the back corner of the pin box since I'm leaving tomorrow. I'll probably order the demco when I get back next week

 

[CThomsen]

I'm still running the trimmed pin box with no trouble so far. Now for my next question. Trailer came with 225/75R15 tires. I just upgraded to 235/80R16 today. I was a little nose high before but had to be for clearance. Hitch in highest spot and pin box in lowest setting. Now that I have taller tires, should I raise the pin box or lower the hitch first to check for level and bed rail/tailgate clearance?

 

[surfbeetle]

Other options are to raise the trailer up either by moving the axles below the leafs or building a subframe at the leaf spring perches.

 

[IndyDan]

View attachment 88624

As you can see, I am considerably closer to the truck than your Jayco is. The truck and trailer ride MUCH better this way, not too mention I'm about 2' overall shorter which helps when pulling the 24' boat behind the 5th wheel. I have about a foot of clearance at the closest point from trailer to back window and about 5" from bumper to trailer. I can't fully open the front generator compartment but I can open it far enough to fuel it up. You have to be conscious of the tailgate, I cannot drop the tailgate and simply hitch and unhitch. I have to back part way under and raise the tailgate and then back fully into the kingpin. Small price to pay for the added ride and fuel economy.

Cheers!

Hey Powder Extreme, does that Dually have a 8 foot box ? That picture sure makes it look short.

Do you have a slider hitch ? Or does it clear the cab way it is ?

That package just looks like it rides good !!