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Old 08-02-2020, 12:29 PM   #1
432bartman
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Raising Kingpin

Want to level out my rig for towing. The ball in my Anderson hitch is at its lowest setting, the 2020 Chevy is stock in height, and my trailer still sits at an angle with the back end lower. How hard is it to raise the Kingpin on my Road Armor rota-flex pinbox? Is this something one person can do with a floor jack and supports? I've never messed with the pinbox before, but enjoy turning wrenches and doing my own maintenance to save a buck.
 
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Old 08-02-2020, 03:11 PM   #2
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Before you attempt to raise the pin box, there are two things to look at. One, how much clearance do you have between the bottom of the trailer and the side rails of the pickup bed? You should have about six inches of space. The second thing to check is how much room is there between the top of the pin box and the fiberglass cap? If there is less than an inch, you won’t have enough room to move the pin box up.
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Old 08-02-2020, 04:07 PM   #3
dieselguy
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Also ... which pin box do you have ... Curt Goose neck in your signature or rota-flex in your post?
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Old 08-02-2020, 04:08 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rohrmann View Post
Before you attempt to raise the pin box, there are two things to look at. One, how much clearance do you have between the bottom of the trailer and the side rails of the pickup bed? You should have about six inches of space. The second thing to check is how much room is there between the top of the pin box and the fiberglass cap? If there is less than an inch, you won’t have enough room to move the pin box up.
Bob, I have 9" between my p/u bed and the bottom of the 5th wheel. Looking at a front photo of my trailer, it looks like at least a couple of inches of space between the front cap and pinbox. If this doesn't look like my solution, is the method of using a 2" block on both axles and another way to raise the back end up?
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Old 08-02-2020, 04:11 PM   #5
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I'd go the spacer on the axle route as a last resort ... our fivers sit high enough stock. I've mentioned this before ... why do all the newer pickup beds sit so high???
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Old 08-02-2020, 04:17 PM   #6
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I agree. I don't know how these guys with 6" lifted trucks on 37's tow anything? Mine is not to bad, just trying to get it as level as possible. Hopefully I have the space to raise the kingpin up one bolt.
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Old 08-02-2020, 04:22 PM   #7
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Andersen Ultimate hitches are manufactured in a lower version of the hitch you probably now have. I think it would be easier to sell yours and purchase the lower base ball mount.
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Old 08-02-2020, 04:33 PM   #8
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If your pin box mount has a row of holes to allow raising the pin box, it is really not difficult to do yourself. Get some type support to go under the pin box (stout box, blocks, ?), place those on the tailgate and rear of bed, back truck so that supports are under pin box, lower trailer until pin box just touches supports, remove bolts, lower trailer until pin box holes align with next higher row of mount holes, reinsert bolts (or new bolts is even better), tighten, and you are good to go. May need a large screwdriver or hole alignment tool.

I replaced my OEM pin box with a 5th Airborne pin box doing similar.
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Old 08-02-2020, 04:38 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BB_TX View Post
If your pin box mount has a row of holes to allow raising the pin box, it is really not difficult to do yourself. Get some type support to go under the pin box (stout box, blocks, ?), place those on the tailgate and rear of bed, back truck so that supports are under pin box, lower trailer until pin box just touches supports, remove bolts, lower trailer until pin box holes align with next higher row of mount holes, reinsert bolts (or new bolts is even better), tighten, and you are good to go. May need a large screwdriver or hole alignment tool.

I replaced my OEM pin box with a 5th Airborne pin box doing similar.
Great idea using the tailgate.......I never even thought of that. I love this site and folks helping out.
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Old 08-02-2020, 04:48 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by firestation12 View Post
Andersen Ultimate hitches are manufactured in a lower version of the hitch you probably now have. I think it would be easier to sell yours and purchase the lower base ball mount.
I just looked them up and saw that the lowered one is 4" lower. If I can't raise the pin box, that could be an option. As it is now with the ball on the lowest setting, I have 9" between my bed rails and the bottom of the 5th wheel.
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Old 08-02-2020, 05:48 PM   #11
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If you have 3” extra at the hitch and an inch or two at the pin box, I’d use it all if needed to get the rig level. This will also bring your height down. I didn’t have any adjustment, already 6” at the bed rails, so my only option was 2” axle blocks, and I’m almost perfectly level now. This also has the loading on the axles closer to equal to each other. I’ve gained maybe 3” to 3 1/2” higher on the back end, and my height is still the same, because the front A/C is the highest point and it barely moved. The ride and handling has vastly improved too, because the rig is riding level instead of being nose high.
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Old 08-06-2020, 10:32 PM   #12
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Well today was the day and it went perfectly. Used my bed and tailgate to support the kingpin while I unbolted it. I ended up using 2x4's and a small aluminum ladder to help cradle the kingpin, while I unbolted it. After raising the kingpin, I hooked up to my truck and now the trailer is level and I have 7" of clearance between the bedrails and trailer. I then cleaned the kingpin up, removed some unsightly worn stickers from it, masked it off, and gave it a shot of fresh satin black paint. It came out great.
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Old 08-07-2020, 12:01 AM   #13
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Can't get any better than that. Great when your plan works out as planned.
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Old 08-07-2020, 08:47 AM   #14
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Don't you love it when a plan comes together?
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Old 08-07-2020, 10:29 AM   #15
432bartman
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And no blood was shed......a first...lol. Thank you to everyone who helped contribute on this post. What was nice is that it can be done by one person.
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Old 08-07-2020, 11:48 AM   #16
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And no blood was shed......a first...lol. Thank you to everyone who helped contribute on this post. What was nice is that it can be done by one person.
With it can be done with one person as you did if it shifts wrong and you need to manually get involved it is way too heavy for 1 person to handle and can have a bad outcome.
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Old 08-09-2020, 03:25 PM   #17
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man fresh coat of paint and it looks nice job
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