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Old 11-24-2020, 10:07 AM   #1
ForBruce
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Anyone change out a rota flex for an AirRide pin box

I have a Montana High Country # 385BR

The Rota Flex pin box (#176440) does not take up enough shock when going over bridges. Therefore i want to change the pin box to an AirRide or Air Flex with air bags and shocks.

I have been told that here is No AirFlex that will fit my "bolt" configuration and there are only 2 air rides that will work.

If you look at the attached photo you will see my spacing PIN to end plate(near bolt holes) is 26.24 inches. The only ones that will work have a spacing of either 22.4375 (3.8" shorter than mine) or 28.625 (2.38" longer than mine).

I don't really want the trailer closer to the rear gate of my Ford Truck and i was told the 2.38" longer one could cause Damage by excessive frame leverage (not sure if i believe that ) ....So what do i do for a better ride.....

also will the longer pin box increase the pin weight on my truck tires ( like the same as moving a trailer axle backwards)
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Old 11-24-2020, 12:35 PM   #2
DQDick
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Don't know about an air ride, but at the last two national Rallies I was the vendor coordinator and many folks changed out for a Moryde pinbox like used to come on the Montanas.
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Old 11-24-2020, 02:52 PM   #3
Tom N OH
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I haven’t changed ours out but, I do know that I can’t go any shorter on the pin box. If anything, I’d go longer on ours. The corner of the bumper on the truck gets as close as I want it to be on the front of the camper when in a turn.
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Old 12-02-2020, 04:38 PM   #4
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I went with the goosebox very happy
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Old 11-24-2020, 03:53 PM   #5
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Longer does create a longer lever. But “excessive frame leverage” seems a bit over the top for 2.38”.

Have you looked at 5th Airborne to see if they have one the proper length?
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Old 11-24-2020, 09:46 PM   #6
dieselguy
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I've got a Fifth Airborne and like it well. My pinbox was a Lippert 1621 however.
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Old 11-25-2020, 11:18 AM   #7
Harrisden54
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I have 2019 384BR (Should be the same as yours but with an RV fridge). My tow vehicle is a 2019 F350 King Ranch FX4 long bed. My pin box was a Lippert 1116. Had the same issue with bridge approaches and switched to a Trailair pin box and it improved the ride significantly.
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Old 11-25-2020, 06:09 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Harrisden54 View Post
I have 2019 384BR (Should be the same as yours but with an RV fridge). My tow vehicle is a 2019 F350 King Ranch FX4 long bed. My pin box was a Lippert 1116. Had the same issue with bridge approaches and switched to a Trailair pin box and it improved the ride significantly.
exactly which model air ride did you install
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Old 11-25-2020, 12:27 PM   #9
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We have the same pin box hooked to a curt Q20. works great. what kind of hitch are you running. Might be the hitch.
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Old 11-25-2020, 02:38 PM   #10
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MorRyde Rubber Pin Box

We had a MorRyde rubber pin box on our last 5th and liked it so much that we are having one installed on our new Montana...

To me the worst issue is not the bouncing up and down; your truck will bounce up and down on it's own on some bridges.
The biggest issue to solve is "chucking"... when the truck hits the bump it slows slightly and the big trailer keeps right on going creating a big jerking motion. Then when the trailer hits the bump, the opposite reaction happens as the trailer momentarily slows and often an even bigger backlash.
The MorRyde RPB is great at taking out the above chain reactions.
Now, when hitting a large bump, you may still get some up and down bounce, but you won't get the subsequent jerking back and forth. I find it a world of difference better and far less tiring.

I don't have experience with air hitches or pin boxes so cannot comment on them; they may be better yet.
But, what I like about the MorRyde is that is lighter and cheaper than many and there is no maintenance; for example no airing up or down. And, long term, there is less worries of a part failing; there are no hinges, or joints or airbags, etc. Basically, it's some bolts and some rubber bushings.

HtH!
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Old 11-27-2020, 05:35 PM   #11
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100% agree
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Old 12-02-2020, 02:21 PM   #12
Ttman
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Something else to consider

I have a 2002 Montana 3280RL, new to us, and I tow it with a 2009 F-250 6.4 crew cab short bed. I use a Pull-Rite auto slide hitch to make sure I don’t have clearance issues. The chucking and porpoising was bad so I just ordered a new pin box to upgrade from the Lippert 1621HD. I am going with the Gen-Y Executive 5th wheel torsion-flex king pin box. I just ordered it yesterday so I haven’t installed it yet, but I did a lot of online research and when I called their customer service they were amazing, and beyond helpful to make sure I got the right item. Everyone has their own preferences, but there are no airbags to mess with, etc.

https://genyhitch.com/product/executive-fifth-wheel-king-pin-box-torsion-flex/
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Old 12-02-2020, 05:37 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ttman View Post
I have a 2002 Montana 3280RL, new to us, and I tow it with a 2009 F-250 6.4 crew cab short bed. I use a Pull-Rite auto slide hitch to make sure I don’t have clearance issues. The chucking and porpoising was bad so I just ordered a new pin box to upgrade from the Lippert 1621HD. I am going with the Gen-Y Executive 5th wheel torsion-flex king pin box. I just ordered it yesterday so I haven’t installed it yet, but I did a lot of online research and when I called their customer service they were amazing, and beyond helpful to make sure I got the right item. Everyone has their own preferences, but there are no airbags to mess with, etc.

https://genyhitch.com/product/execut...-torsion-flex/
Thanks, that looks really interesting!

Brad
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Old 11-27-2020, 03:45 PM   #14
ForBruce
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ForBruce View Post
I have a Montana High Country # 385BR

The Rota Flex pin box (#176440) does not take up enough shock when going over bridges. Therefore i want to change the pin box to an AirRide or Air Flex with air bags and shocks.

I have been told that here is No AirFlex that will fit my "bolt" configuration and there are only 2 air rides that will work.

If you look at the attached photo you will see my spacing PIN to end plate(near bolt holes) is 26.24 inches. The only ones that will work have a spacing of either 22.4375 (3.8" shorter than mine) or 28.625 (2.38" longer than mine).

I don't really want the trailer closer to the rear gate of my Ford Truck and i was told the 2.38" longer one could cause Damage by excessive frame leverage (not sure if i believe that ) ....So what do i do for a better ride.....

also will the longer pin box increase the pin weight on my truck tires ( like the same as moving a trailer axle backwards)
update 11-26/20 ..some of the measurements for the pin boxes gotten off the internet were wrong.(including lippert drawings ..OF ALL PLACES) The 155943 box will replace the rota flex with the same bolt configuration of 1116.... And the spacing from the pin to the 1st row of bolt holds are the same.....

This was seen in 2 videos that "Etrailer" has on line where they actually do a review and show you the measuring taking place in the video.

Just bought the 155943 pin box hope to get delivery 12/8 (amazon had in stock)
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Old 12-02-2020, 08:00 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by ForBruce View Post
update 11-26/20 ..some of the measurements for the pin boxes gotten off the internet were wrong.(including lippert drawings ..OF ALL PLACES) The 155943 box will replace the rota flex with the same bolt configuration of 1116.... And the spacing from the pin to the 1st row of bolt holds are the same.....

This was seen in 2 videos that "Etrailer" has on line where they actually do a review and show you the measuring taking place in the video.

Just bought the 155943 pin box hope to get delivery 12/8 (amazon had in stock)
I have this same pin box. Really helps with the big bumps and takes out a lot of the chucking, but not all. You will love it. Really smoothes out the ride.
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Old 12-02-2020, 02:26 PM   #16
DaveK
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I added air bags to my truck rear suspension and heavy duty adjustable shocks to help with bridges. Bridges are very frustrating.
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Old 12-02-2020, 04:31 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ForBruce View Post
I have a Montana High Country # 385BR

The Rota Flex pin box (#176440) does not take up enough shock when going over bridges. Therefore i want to change the pin box to an AirRide or Air Flex with air bags and shocks.

I have been told that here is No AirFlex that will fit my "bolt" configuration and there are only 2 air rides that will work.

If you look at the attached photo you will see my spacing PIN to end plate(near bolt holes) is 26.24 inches. The only ones that will work have a spacing of either 22.4375 (3.8" shorter than mine) or 28.625 (2.38" longer than mine).

I don't really want the trailer closer to the rear gate of my Ford Truck and i was told the 2.38" longer one could cause Damage by excessive frame leverage (not sure if i believe that ) ....So what do i do for a better ride.....

also will the longer pin box increase the pin weight on my truck tires ( like the same as moving a trailer axle backwards)
I changed out my Lippert on our HC 330RL this year for a Reese Airborne. A huge difference!
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Old 12-02-2020, 04:48 PM   #18
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Same box I have, I think it helps. It has to take some of the pounding off the trailer.
As it was 2 yrs. ago we came up highway 89 in AZ when we got to our campground we found the clothes rack & shelf on the floor. Road was rough.
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Old 12-02-2020, 06:45 PM   #19
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I did exactly what you are asking about. I love the air ride pin box. There was no flexair for my bolt pattern. Got the longer pin box. I will never get another trailer without the airride.
I also installed shocks on the axles.
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Old 12-03-2020, 08:25 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Whitty View Post
I did exactly what you are asking about. I love the air ride pin box. There was no flexair for my bolt pattern. Got the longer pin box. I will never get another trailer without the airride.
I also installed shocks on the axles.
have you checked to see if the longer AirRide increased your pin weight on the truck bed

what was your before and after model numbers on the pin boxes.

(my 155943 airride is being delivered 12/8 )
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