Eliminating the Fore and Aft Jerking of a Fifth Wheel

[HBarlow]

I found this video on an RV industry news website and thought it might be interesting to some of you who tow fifth wheels. It is also on HitchHiker's website. I own a HitchHiker fifth wheel and it has a Demco Glide Ride king pin assembly but I have no financial interest in NuWa, HitchHiker, or Demco and receive no compensation from either company or product. I am, however, impressed with the Demco product. It was standard equipment on HH 5ers when I bought my trailer and I think it works exactly as claimed. As an RV transporter I pulled hundreds of fivers 200k to 300k miles and, in my opinion, a trailer equipped with the Demco king pin assembly does remove the jerking and makes towing more relaxing and enjoyable.



RV Industry News | Video Player > Demco's Glide Ride takes shock out of fifth wheel towing

 

[DonTX]

Thanks, I think I like that system. A good seat in a class 8 truck (semi truck) uses the same system. I thought it was silly until I unlocked it one day and never locked it again!

I had considered the Mor Ryde rubber pin box that does about the same thing.

I found this video on an RV industry news website and thought it might be interesting to some of you who tow fifth wheels. It is also on HitchHiker's website. I own a HitchHiker fifth wheel and it has a Demco Glide Ride king pin assembly but I have no financial interest in NuWa, HitchHiker, or Demco and receive no compensation from either company or product. I am, however, impressed with the Demco product. It was standard equipment on HH 5ers when I bought my trailer and I think it works exactly as claimed. As an RV transporter I pulled hundreds of fivers 200k to 300k miles and, in my opinion, a trailer equipped with the Demco king pin assembly does remove the jerking and makes towing more relaxing and enjoyable.



RV Industry News | Video Player > Demco's Glide Ride takes shock out of fifth wheel towing

 

[GAmes]

It's too bad there isn't a hitch that employs that system. Only having it on my personnal trailer would just spoil me.

 

[CumminsPower98]

Interesting. I have towed trailers with the MorRyde pinbox and they do help but this Demco box looks like it has a lot more movement.

 

[HBarlow]

The old Travel Supreme that I previously owned had a standard pin box. It was the first fiver I owned and it towed fine when I owned it and didn't know better.



My son in law bought it for one of his job superintendents to use on a job site. It was heavily damaged by hail earlier this week and I had to go get it and pull it back for an RV service department to repair it. It was a short pull, less than 100 miles.



After owning and towing a new fiver with a Demco king pin assembly about 15k miles the unpleasant jerking motion created by the old TS, of similar size and weight as my HH, was very unpleasant. The difference was very obvious now that I've towed with the Demco. It works! Standard disclaimer applies.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

I have a Trailair pin box which works excellent for up/down movement but does nothing for the for/aft jerking. I did find that if you adjust the tightness of the hitch around the pin you will eliminate a lot of the for/aft thing. My Hijacker hitch has a pin tightness adjustment and snugging it up eliminated completely my for/aft jerking,... ... ... ... . FYI... ... ... ...

 

[HBarlow]

Jack in Alaska,



Thanks for the suggestion but Reese hitches don't need adjustment. I don't know the differences between the various types of couplers but when I was transporting I talked to several who used brands other than Reese and complained of slack between coupler jaws and kingpin. A friend of mine bought a less expensive brand hitch against my advice then later quietly replaced it with a Reese.

 

[DonTX]

Well help me out guys! There are Demco and MorRyde boxes on EBay heavily discounted (new ones). I just cannot make up my mind which one to buy.

 

[Bjewell]

There are many out there that will help but before making a decision you need to check out the " fifth airborne" air ride pin box. Outstanding unit.

 

[RJOL]

All I can tell you is that I've been towing 5th wheels since 1990, with a standard king pin. I installed a Demco Glide Ride last year and it has pretty much taken all the "chucking" and "jerking" out of my towing. There may be better systems out there, but this one works...

 

[DonTX]

The fifth airborne seems quite secretive on how exactly it works, although raves about what it does, apparently it has nothing whatever to do with the jerking that Demco and MorRyde deal with, am I correct?

There are many out there that will help but before making a decision you need to check out the " fifth airborne" air ride pin box. Outstanding unit.

 

[HBarlow]

Don,



That is also my opinion. The fancy air cushioned hitches were initially developed to cushion the shock and prevent damage to large, heavy fifth wheel RVs being towed by MDTs with very stiff suspension.



Like you, I don't think they will remove the fore and aft jerking which is so common when towing a fifth wheel TT. I have towed a few trailers with MorRyde but didn't notice the significant improvement I have noticed from a Demco.



I don't sell either and it is not my business what others prefer and buy but I can testify, with absolute certainty, that the Demco kingpin assembly works.



The Demco was standard equipment on my HH so I didn't know what it cost but out of curiosity I looked on their website a few months ago. I don't remember now exactly what the price was, seems like it was around $600, but it is well worth the price IMO.

 

[CUMMINZ]

I have TrailAir on my DayDreamer. I added a second shock which helped a little. I just towed 6000 miles thru the Rockies and I am looking for another 5er hitch. Some roads it goes well. Some roads with short expansion joints it can be hell.

 

[HBarlow]

Cumminz,



An interesting report for someone who is considering one.

 

[Grizzly]

I found this video on an RV industry news website and thought it might be interesting to some of you who tow fifth wheels. It is also on HitchHiker's website. I own a HitchHiker fifth wheel and it has a Demco Glide Ride king pin assembly but I have no financial interest in NuWa, HitchHiker, or Demco and receive no compensation from either company or product. I am, however, impressed with the Demco product. It was standard equipment on HH 5ers when I bought my trailer and I think it works exactly as claimed. As an RV transporter I pulled hundreds of fivers 200k to 300k miles and, in my opinion, a trailer equipped with the Demco king pin assembly does remove the jerking and makes towing more relaxing and enjoyable.







I was sold on the Demco GlideRide when I was considering a HichHiker. I believe it's the best out there. I also believe the HH is the best 5er, however it was too big for what I want.

 

[DonTX]

OK guys, I think you swayed me enough, I am ordering a Demco. I just like the method in which it works best of all.

The Mor Ryde has different rubbers for each weight and it is hard to get them right for your particular trailer.

If anybody has anything bad to say about the Demco, speak now - or forever hold your tongue! (sorry, that just slipped out, pun intended)

 

[DonTX]

Well rats! Seems like Demco don't make a hitch for my fifth wheel! I am waiting final determination, but Mor Ryde DOES make one for my trailer, so may be that I have no choice.

 

[HBarlow]

Don,



See if you can obtain the dimensions of the Demco kingpin online and compare the actual build dimensions against the frame of your 5th. If you can't get them online let me know and I'll measure mine later today.

 

[DonTX]

Thanks, but Demco says they do not make one for my hitch. I have a RBW 7027 which is a "telescoping" hitch, their mechanism will not fit them they claim. Rats.

 

[Cattletrkr]

Dad has one of the Demco units for GN trailers. Looks pretty much the same. Very nice ride. A little goofy for stop and go stuff, but once on the road they're great.