pin box mfg query

[illapah]

Who makes the standard pinbox for the 2007 versions on Montana? How to tell?

Guess a little leg work works wonders. I went outside and looked at the hitch. Written right on it - Hitch Vision. That doesn't mean anything to me that I understand as relates to anything. But... now I know more than I did.

[DONnANNIE]

As I understand it, Hitch Vision is nothing more than the reflective mirror above the hitch that allows you to see(via your TV rear-view mirror)the pin and hitch as you back up to connect your Monte & TV.

[sreigle]

Mine has a sticker on the pinbox itself. It is made by Lippert and is rated for either 19,000 or 19,500 lbs (would have to look but I know it's one of those two). I don't know if all models have the same pinbox.

[bsmeaton]

Illapah,

The Hitchvision sticker was added by Montana to show off the mirror. The pin box is manufactured by Lippert, as Steve says, and should have two white stickers. One I believe is the weight rating and the other is the Lippert model number (mine is a LP1116).

Keep in mind, the weight rating is not the pin box rating, it's the rating for the entire frame as determined by Lippert, and each model is different. The pin is actually much higher.

[MIMF2]

Gentlemen,

Depending on the model of Montana and weight ratings, your unit will have an 1116 or a 1621 model pin box made by Lippert. Most are 1621's.

However, now is about as good a time as ever to announce this. A couple weeks ago Lippert Components Inc. announced to all of their share holders via e-mail, of which I still am one, that they have purchased TrailAir, lock stock and barrel.

So, don't be surprised if you see Monty's, Everest's and maybe Challenger's coming off the production lines real soon with TrailAir air ride pin boxes and the Equa-Flex equalizer suspension on them as an available factory option. Several of the other manufacturers already are doing it such as Cedar Creek, Day Dreamer and I think, Cardinal.

I know that both of these things do a really nice job on the Challenger for me!

[bsmeaton]

MIMF2 -

Trailair was working on a prototype pin box that had both vertical and horizontal motion. They were supposed to announce it in November, but it never happened. Do you know if this is still pending or was the whole project a failure?

Brad

[illapah]

Well, showing my ignorance pretty well here today. Went out and re-checked, I have LCI260602805?? That is what I see on the Lipert sticker under the name and address.

[bsmeaton]

Illapah,

Looks like thats the frame serial number. There should be another sticker, or it got covered or peeled off. Someone else with the same year/model may be able to give you the number.

[Cat320]

On my 07 3400 the sticker says it is a 1621, with a "pin box rating of 15,500." I just checked since it is sitting in my garage because the new 5th Airborne is on the Montana!

[rldriver]

A first for keystone and Montana. The new Big Sky now has an optional pin box. You can order a Mor/Ryde pin box at about $700.00, not sure of the exact price as when I called Keystone they told me to call Mor/Ryde. I said "I don't want want Mor/Ryde's price, I want Keystones". They told me again to call Mor/Ryde. Very interesting!!!

[sreigle]

quote:Originally posted by Cat320

On my 07 3400 the sticker says it is a 1621, with a "pin box rating of 15,500." I just checked since it is sitting in my garage because the new 5th Airborne is on the Montana!

I just dug out the flashlight and went and doublechecked ours. The pinbox on our '07 3400RL is model number LIPP1116 with a rating of 19,000 lbs. I wonder why the difference with the same year and model as Cat320's? The build date for ours was 8/18/06 with delivery on 8/29/06.

Brad, I didn't know that weight rating is for the entire frame. Dale didn't comment so I guess he agrees. Good info to know. Thanks.

Illapah, the sticker on ours is on the top horizontal plate just a couple of inches back from the front lip.

[H. John Kohl]

Our 3295 07 model has the same LLIP 1116 with a 19000 rating.
Good luck and tow safe.
Cheers,

[bsmeaton]

CAT - That is really strange!! All of the 3400's I looked at on the lot had the 1116 pin box, which is shorter than the 1621. My 2955 had the 1621 but was a much lighter trailer.

Steve - That's what I was told by Keystone, but not Lippert. I also heard from Trailair that they were asked to remove the 20,000 lb. sticker from units shipped to the manufacturer for factory installs, as the rating contradicted the actual frame rating they were being installed on and it was misleading to the consumer.

[Connorsmom]

"Misleading to the consumer".....nah, I can't believe they would EVER allow that to happen!!ROFLMAO.

Jan

[illapah]

my sticker probably got painted over when they welded on the Pullrite adapter and re painted the hitch (with a bit of overspray on the nose).

[MIMF]

Brad,

You are absolutely correct. Lippert is trying to develope a pin box that does do that. However, they build one and take it to some high pressure hydraulic press that pulls the pin in every direction imaginable. The last I heard, they had it to withstand several hundred thousand lbs of pull but they weren't satisfied with the low number of cyles it took until the thing blew apart. So, I don't know where that project stands.

Everybody, If I recall correctly, the 1116 pin box is a few inches shorter than than the 1621, Therefore, it will withstand higher weight ratings because, the 1621 is more of an extended pin box. I don't know why they are using them for these Montanas. The 1621 would be a better deal in my opinion.

Illapah, If that number was on a sticker on the pin box, I think that would have been the serial number for that pin box. I'm not exactly sure about that. When it came to pinboxes, Randy Bowling over there at Lippert would know all about that.

[bsmeaton]

MIMF -

Sounds like it could be fun to work in the R&D department, as long as I didn't have a stake in it!

Illapah -

Standing to the side of my pin box, I measured horizontally from the center of the pin to the center of the first or forward bolt in the pin box. It measures 14-1/2". I have the 1116. Based on MIMF discussion above, if yours measures longer, it's a pretty good bet you have the 1621 pinbox.

[rickfox]

According to earlier posts, beginning in 2006 trailers shorter than 34' have the extended pinbox, trailers longer than 34' have the shorter pinbox. The difference in length is 5.25". In 2005 and earlier models, all had the longer pinbox. The shorter pinbox has caused some problems with turning clearance with shortbox trucks. I for one, installed the extended version of the Glide Ride pinbox to improve turning clearance with my shortbed truck.

It's interesting that Montana has moved in the Moryde direction with the S axle suspension and being able to purchase the Moryde pinbox installed from the factory. MIMF, what is the possibility that Montana will be headed back in the Trailair direction now that Lippert can have them installed when shipped from Lippert?

[Cat320]

I just double checked my pin box to be sure I did not misread something last night in the dark. Here's exactly what is on the sticker on top of the pin box:

"LIPP 1621
Pin Box Rating 15,500
CSA: Z240.1.2-M99"

Don't know the build date of our rig, but it arrived at the dealer's on 7/31/06.

FYI, the rating on the 5th Airborne is 21,000.

[illapah]

I went out and measured. Not all that accurate but I measure about 17 inches from center of pin to first bolt (measured at an angle)