Pin Box

I have been seriously surfing the net to find out the pro's and con's of all the aftermarket pin boxes for our Cat. I have come to the realization that everyone claims that theirs is the best. The one I would like is the Trail Air Tri glide but the price tag is VERY steep although not out of the question as of yet. We sold our GMC 2500 HD gasser for a DOdge 2500 HD diesel, the GMC had airbags on the rear and it gave a smooth ride except for the chucking back and forth, at times my wife and kids would just say Dad make it stop...and it would for a while then start at the next big bump. The Dodge doesn't have airbags but I don't want the chucking, we have yet to tow the Cat beacuse of the crappy weather and snow but I figure we will still have the chucking. From what I can gather the aftermarket pin boxes with the shock or airbag have a pivot point and I think that will give some chucking because for every action you get a reaction of the trailer needing something to push against. If I go with the pin box with the sliding rubber damper I do not get the air cushion....tough decision. I have come across a pin box from air safe hitch that is four air bags tied together with a vertical slide in the middle as the fixed pull point, this pin box has no pivot but I am not sure if this will help with the chucking as well. Any ideas????

The up and down motion is not too bad, but the chucking is what I disliked the most. I changed to the Demco Glide-Ride several years ago and wouldn't trade it for another: http://www.towdemco.com/glideride/glideride.html

Thanks Shooter, I am at a cross roads with this, my cat has some issues with some of the screws broken off under the nose cap due to?????????? I am under the thinking that I have hit some monster bumps; did that play a role in my issues...I don't know. I want to protect our Cat invesment and I am thinking the cushion is more important than the chucking back and forth even though that is also an issue. I found a tri glide by Trail Air that is the best of both worlds but on Tweety's it is $1200+

I am having the same screw breakage problem. I have not been able to determine the cause. I replaced my original hitch pin with a MorRyde and the breakeage has been reduced, but not eliminated.

I really feel there is some torquing taking place, but don't know what is causing it. I have been in contact with Forest River, but have not gotten a response at this time. My dealer has no clue and my long time local tech has not seen this problem. We have used tempered, longer lag screws which have helped, but not a total fix. I think I have about 4 screws out of the front at this time.

shooter wrote:The up and down motion is not too bad, but the chucking is what I disliked the most. I changed to the Demco Glide-Ride several years ago and wouldn't trade it for another: http://www.towdemco.com/glideride/glideride.html

Ditto for us on the Demco and satisfaction.

TC

I guess to this uneducated Portagie needs to ask a dumb question/ How do you know the screws are broken?

The screw head is still in the hole, but not tight. Take the screw out and part of it is missing. If you try to put another screw in the same hole you will either have to drill it out or use self tapping screw because the other part of the screw is still in the material (which is why I am using lag screws so as to get a better torque)

I asked for that one. What I meant is were are these screws located. If they are were I think they are I may have the same trouble too. Heard of lag bolts but not screws. a new one for me.

Sorry to post this again if the first one did go through, its a link to a post I replied to show my cat issues under the nose cap.

http://www.wildcatcamperforum.com/gallery/Personal-album-of-GustheUsher/clip-image002-pic_1009.htm

Mine maybe along the sides instead of the front. After my trip need to check that out. Thank you.

Hi Retired2 the screws in mine now are a #8 one inch self tapper,what are you speeking of when you say lag screws? Up here in Canada we use lag screws to fasten wood to concrete like a deck board ledger against a house foundation? Are you refuring to something like a "tapcon" screw.

Gus
We used 2 inch #8 and some #10 self tapping, tempered screw, threaded all the way to the head, with a hex head requiring a socket driver to drive them in. One inch screws were marginal to make contact.

Socket driver. Like 7/16 type socket?

yes

Thank you. The Portagie now see the light.

Has anyone used the Demco while towing double and if so was it still performing as designed?

Hey Retired2, do you have any idea what the structure is that the screws go into, with the screws being self tapping I would assume its metal of some sort, is it aluminum or metal? Have you ever had the nose cap off to see the structure undernieth? I would LOVE to see a picture of what a cat is made of under the nose cap or even a blueprint drawing to see how the frame is constructed, that way I would have an idea of the stress forces and if its an up and down issue that is pulling the screws out or a twisting side to side issue that is shearing them below the head, which would require some cross bracing under the nose cap.

Gus
Not sure but think it is metal. I can't see much but can feel one metal piece. The only pictures I have seen that show much can be found in grovers personal gallery. I don't know if they will show you what you want to see.

Might be metal along the sides.