Have you changed your pin box - to what?

[82alaska]

I'm going to buy a Solitude 300GK. I have a short bed tow vehicle. I'll need a slider hitch, and only want to have an AUTO slider. That leaves me with 2 choices, the Reese superglide or the Demco auto slide. I'm pretty sure the math says I'll need about 20"of extra room for a90° turn. Either of those only provide 14".

I asked GD if I could change the pin box to either a side winder or an extended length box, and they said it voids the warranty.

What is everyone using out there? And had anyone had problems breaking you're tow vehicle back window?

 

[bertschb]

I changed my pin box to a MORryde to eliminate chucking on the southern California roads. Haven't tried it yet though. I have a 6.5' bed and haven't broken the rear window yet. I just move really slow when making sharp turns.

 

[matt & correen]

I went Trailair to smooth out the chucking. Runs great and really keeps the truck from bucking, just don't like having to add air every trip.


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[southernsky]

I have the Pullrite Super Glide hitch and 5th Airborne pin box, no problems here.

 

[mbaker]

...I asked GD if I could change the pin box to either a side winder or an extended length box, and they said it voids the warranty...

Well, it would void the warranty on the pinbox but you would be changing it anyway. I installed a Airborne Sidewinder and it all works great. No chucking, more than 90 degree turns with a 6½' box, 6000 miles so far.

Ben

 

[grampscamper]

I also have a Morryde pin box to reduce chucking. I have a short bed Ford and use a standard hitch. Haven't had a problem towing or backing up our Reflection. Not sure if the front cap is the same on a Solitude.

 

[Second Chance]

I also have a Morryde pin box to reduce chucking. I have a short bed Ford and use a standard hitch. Haven't had a problem towing or backing up our Reflection. Not sure if the front cap is the same on a Solitude.

The caps are similar on Solitudes and Reflections - but the Solitudes are wider which may cause more of a problem with a corner approaching the cab of the truck on a tight turn.

That said, we replaced our stock Lippert pin box with a Demco Glide Ride pin box and use it with an Andersen Ultimate Fifth Wheel Connection (standard rail mount). With a 6' 6" bed on a GMC crew cab and a non-sliding hitch, I've not had any problems with the corner of the cap approaching the rear of the cab - and I've backed into some pretty tight places.

Rob

 

[82alaska]

Well, it would void the warranty on the pinbox but you would be changing it anyway. I installed a Airborne Sidewinder and it all works great. No chucking, more than 90 degree turns with a 6½' box, 6000 miles so far.

Ben

From the email I got from GD i assumed I would be voiding the warranty on entire frame. Guess I better clear that up.
You know what they say about assuming. .

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[82alaska]

Rob. Did you make your changes to a new unit? Still under warranty?

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[grampscamper]

I think a sidewinder or extended pin box may put additional stress on the frame. I think that is why they may void the warranty.
I've had my Morryde pin box since I picked ours up. I can't imagine why it would void the warranty. The Morryde doesn't give you any additional clearance though.
Bob

 

[Second Chance]

Rob. Did you make your changes to a new unit? Still under warranty?

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Relatively new (< six months when we switched out the pin box). Still under warranty. Demco Glide Ride suggested by our (Grand Design) dealer. Switching to a dampened pin box actually lessens the stress and shock on a frame and should increase its longevity.

Rob

 

[mbaker]

From the email I got from GD i assumed I would be voiding the warranty on entire frame. Guess I better clear that up.
You know what they say about assuming. .

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GD's warranty says any change you make to a COMPONENT voids the warranty on the COMPONENT, not the entire trailer. As Rob says "Switching to a dampened pin box actually lessens the stress and shock on a frame and should increase its longevity." Chucking would be an indication of 'shocks in the system', no pun intended.

Ben

 

[82alaska]

OK, good info. Does lippert say the same thing?
Because I really like the idea of the side winder pin box.

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[82alaska]

Thanks to all for the info. And to second chance Rob, do you own the Solitude or the Reflection? That extra couple inches in width make a difference.

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[mbaker]

OK, good info. Does lippert say the same thing?
Because I really like the idea of the side winder pin box.

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Lippert says 'why would you ever want to replace our wonderful, best-in-the-world, top quality stuff with anything else'

 

[grampscamper]

Today I decided to bring our Reflection home from storage. I wanted to wax it and to a couple of other things to it. When I backed into our driveway I came within 1" of hitting the cab. I was at a good angle but not close to 90 degrees. Our driveway has a good uphill slope. I'm not sure if the trailer got twisted a little different than usual but I sure learned a lesson. At least it wasn't costly. I usually have a few inches of clearance between the cab and the trailer.
The only thing I did differently was I didn't inflate my air bags. Maybe a few pounds of air would lift the front of the trailer enough to increase the gap.
I have a manual sliding base for my hitch but haven't used it for years. Maybe it's time to reinstall it.

 

[cb1000rider]

It doesn't matter what any of them says.
Magnison-Moss says that they can't drop your warranty unless the component you install can be shown to be the direct cause of whatever the subsequent problem is....

In terms of hitting the cab, I paid the auto-slider premium....

 

[Cate&Rob]

grampscamper makes a good point . . . you can check your clearances on level ground and think you are OK without a slider . . . but this will look a whole lot different on a twisting campsite entrance/exit. I have a Reese manual slider and use it whenever backing up. I have posted about this before. It takes 30 seconds to throw the lever and move the slider back . . . not a big deal (to me). In addition to the trailer/cab clearance, putting the trailer pin 10" behind the rear axle (rather than on top of it) makes it more like a bumper pull and much more reactive to steering inputs when backing.

Rob

 

[82alaska]

That brings up another? . If I put in the side winder, the pivot point is 22"back .. I know that changes my turning abilities, but what about normal Norton towing? Does or get better or worse? More like a bumper tow is imagine, and less like a 5th wheel.

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[minnow101]

It doesn't matter what any of them says.
Magnison-Moss says that they can't drop your warranty unless the component you install can be shown to be the direct cause of whatever the subsequent problem is....

In terms of hitting the cab, I paid the auto-slider premium....

The Magnison warranty only pertains to motor vehicles.