Rota Flex Pad Coming Out!?

[Kar and Heather]

This is the second time that my Rota Flex pad has slipped out of my kingpin box assembly, had anyone else experienced this issue? It's a real PITA to take apart and reposition it after a 800-1600 mile trip!

[JCR GD]

Yikes! If that is the angle your hitch plate is sitting at it looks like it is trying to squirt it out. Hitch should be much flatter.

[Kar and Heather]

Yikes! If that is the angle your hitch plate is sitting at it looks like it is trying to squirt it out. Hitch should be much flatter.

I know! After ~800 miles of driving it starts squeezing out the back.

[LCBoyer]

Why does ride at such angle?

[Kar and Heather]

Why does ride at such angle?

It's like that due to the hard rubber pad squeezing/sliding out the back of the assembly. I had to get the serial # for Lippert so I decided to take it apart and put it put it back together correctly for travel for warranty work and will post more pictures when I get to my computer.

[JCR GD]

I looks to me like even if the rubber was were it is supposed to be, and accounting for the angle change, it would still have a significant angle.

[Kar and Heather]

I looks to me like even if the rubber was were it is supposed to be, and accounting for the angle change, it would still have a significant angle.

It's pretty level when the pad is in there correctly.

I contacted Lippert this morning and they got back to my website "contact us" inquiry within 5 minutes...I was very surprised. They asked for the serial # so I decided to go to storage and take some more photos and take it all apart and reposition the pad correctly for taking it in for warranty work. This was my second time taking it apart and I'm getting pretty good at it, took about 10 minutes with photos and all.

You are able to see there is about a 1/4" tall by 5" square welded into the top of the kingpin plate and the pad has a 1/4" by ~2.5" square recess in it.


The recessed hole that is in the rubber pad is slightly smaller than the ~2.5" round weld for the kingpin.


In the 10 minutes it has taken me to type this, Lippert has already responded and approved my warranty claim and is sending my dealer a new pinbox, I'm impressed!

[JCR GD]

Good to hear... I'll have to take a closer look at mine just to be sure, but no "slippage" yet that I have seen.

[Dick 641]

Having the same problem with mine after pulling 1100 miles. Will it hurt pulling like this? We are on vacation an I am worried about pulling it. It looks just like Kar's pic"s in the above photos rubber pad hanging out the back an the head tilted as above

[Kar and Heather]

Having the same problem with mine after pulling 1100 miles. Will it hurt pulling like this? We are on vacation an I am worried about pulling it. It looks just like Kar's pic"s in the above photos rubber pad hanging out the back an the head tilted as above

It is bad to ride with it like that as it allows the kingpin plate to rock back and forth which puts a tremendous amount of strain on the hitch and kingpin. It's not hard to take apart and put it back in place. I simply used a 2x4 that was about 48" long to lower the kingpin plate on to slightly to compress the rubber pad to allow the plate pin to be removed. Raise the trailer slightly then reposition the pad and reassemble, lower the trailer a little onto the 2x4 again to compress it enough to reassemble. It will come out again. When you have it apart, take pictures of everything to include the serial number off the pinbox assembly. Go onto Lippert's contact us website page and let them know you're having this issue.

I was seriously surprised how quickly they got back to me (during regular business hours)! I'm sure your pinbox is the same as mine was. Does your pad look like this?

Where the pad isn't completely flat on the top and bottom? If so then you too have the wrong pad installed in your Pinbox. My new pinbox's rubber pad is completely flat on the top and bottom.

From the day I submitted everything to Lippert, 6 days latter my pinbox was here. Needless to say I am very pleased with there prompt customer service and no questions asked warranty backing!