Another pin box topic.

by BobnPi on 3/23/2011, 4:52 pm

I need to raise my pin box to level my Cat when towing. I'm wondering if I need a torque wrench when replacing the bolts or just tighten the bolts as much as I can with standard box end wrenches. Also, I briefly tried to loosen the bolts last fall, but didn't have the time I needed to try alternative methods of loosening the bolts. I don't have access to an impact wrench, so that isn't an option for me. Any suggestions? How about a piece of pipe on the end of my wrench? I haven't broken anything lately, so maybe it's time. evil

by Rich5117 on 3/23/2011, 4:57 pm

A big piece of pipe is always good for breaking something Laughing

Should work.

by bsmall2800 on 3/23/2011, 5:00 pm

How about adjusting the hitch head height would that be easier????

by shooter on 3/23/2011, 5:10 pm

I used a torque wrench. It helps if two people to the tightening.

by Mopar_Earl on 3/23/2011, 5:48 pm

Always torque critical items! Than recheck the torque after the next tow. If you don't have air tools, a good breaker bar would be your best bet.

Earl

by Portagie1968 on 3/24/2011, 5:25 am

Interesting thing I found out is some manufactures may not use that but just put the torque specs in the manual. I have a B&K and torqued everything as stated. All the metal frame is bent were torque is applied. Cool

by BobnPi on 3/24/2011, 8:04 am

How about adjusting the hitch head height would that be easier????

That would be much easier, but I need the pin box clearance over my tailgate. That's why I'm going to raise the pinbox on the camper.

Thanks all for the info. Looking in the scrap bin at work for a nice piece of pipe, making appointment for tomorrow with my PA for the stitches I'm going to need when it slips. Shocked

by Admin on 3/24/2011, 10:06 am

Spray it down good with PB Blaster today. Then spray it some more before you try it again tomorrow. Sometimes you can take a Bic lighter / long BBQ lighter and heat the bolt up a little bit and it will come loose. Be careful with the Bar. You can pick up a decent torque wrench from harbor freight for cheap. Just don't use the Torque wrench for loosening.
You may even consider replacing the bolts after all this with high grade bolts of course. If your having to use a cheater pipe, I'd replace them. Thats a critical part of your connection. If you lube them up and still have to use the cheater pipe, you can put a lot of stress on the bolts. Bolts will snap in the middle easier than you think.

by kcnielsen on 3/24/2011, 12:42 pm

BobnPi wrote:
How about adjusting the hitch head height would that be easier????

That would be much easier, but I need the pin box clearance over my tailgate. That's why I'm going to raise the pinbox on the camper.

Thanks all for the info. Looking in the scrap bin at work for a nice piece of pipe, making appointment for tomorrow with my PA for the stitches I'm going to need when it slips.

I don't understand. It seems to me that raising the hitch would increase the clearance over the tailgate. Am I missing something?

by Tracker16 on 3/24/2011, 1:56 pm

kcnielsen...I think he needs to lower the nose of the camper.So he is going to raise the pin box up in to the brackets coming off the camper.
Hope I'm right,At least that's the way I read it.

by BobnPi on 3/24/2011, 2:21 pm

kcnielsen...I think he needs to lower the nose of the camper.So he is going to raise the pin box up in to the brackets coming off the camper.
Hope I'm right,At least that's the way I read it.

Exactly right. Sorry I didn't make that clear. If I lower the hitch, it could make my clearance a little uncomfortable.

by Mopar_Earl on 3/24/2011, 4:36 pm

BobnPi wrote:
kcnielsen...I think he needs to lower the nose of the camper.So he is going to raise the pin box up in to the brackets coming off the camper.
Hope I'm right,At least that's the way I read it.

Exactly right. Sorry I didn't make that clear. If I lower the hitch, it could make my clearance a little uncomfortable.

If you lower the hitch or raise the pin box, your doing the same thing, correct? So your bed rail to trailer clearance will change either way. I don't see it being different either way in my head. My pin box adjusts in 2" incerments and my hitch adjusts in 1.25" incerments. Is your hitch adjustment greater than the pin box? Is that why you're moving the pin box instead?

Earl

by driverguy on 3/25/2011, 1:26 am

Mopar_Earl wrote:
BobnPi wrote:
kcnielsen...I think he needs to lower the nose of the camper.So he is going to raise the pin box up in to the brackets coming off the camper.
Hope I'm right,At least that's the way I read it.

Exactly right. Sorry I didn't make that clear. If I lower the hitch, it could make my clearance a little uncomfortable.

If you lower the hitch or raise the pin box, your doing the same thing, correct? So your bed rail to trailer clearance will change either way. I don't see it being different either way in my head. My pin box adjusts in 2" incerments and my hitch adjusts in 1.25" incerments. Is your hitch adjustment greater than the pin box? Is that why you're moving the pin box instead?

Earl

He must need the clearance inside the bed, rather than over the bed rails. That does make a difference whether you adjust the hitch or pin box.

by kcnielsen on 3/25/2011, 10:55 am

I understand now that you want to lower the front end of the cat to level it out but still maintain the clearance of the pin box over the tail gate. Raising the pin box makes sense to me now.

by Mopar_Earl on 3/25/2011, 4:53 pm

Is this a GM truck issue? My pin box is no where near my tailgate or bed rails. I'm just flat out confused

Earl

by BobnPi on 3/27/2011, 5:04 pm

This has become confusing for me, and I started it. Shocked

Maybe I'm not using the right words to describe my concern, so I'll try again. It looks like if I lower the hitch, then the pinbox might be a problem clearing the tailgate or sides if I go over a sharp transition in the road. (as in some exits to fuel stops, stores, etc) My Cat is riding a little high in the front, so I wanted to bring it down to as near level as I can without any problems with clearance.

If I lower the hitch, the entire front of the cat will lower, including the pinbox. If I only raise the pinbox to camper, then only the camper will lower and I will maintain the clearance of the pinbox.

Is that any more clear or have I just clouded the issue further?

I don't think it's a GM issue as much as an issue with the installation of the hitch and pinbox.

Earl, how many open bolt holes do you have that you could move up to? I'm showing 3 open, and that's putting my front a bit high.

by Mopar_Earl on 3/27/2011, 6:21 pm

I understand now. Must be your hitch and or short bed causing it?? I have a long bed. But what you say will work. I attached a pic of my pin box. It's in the bottom and can go up one notch but not down as per the bolt holes. The 3 bolts on the front only allows two positions with the holes provided. Sorry it's not a very good pic of the pin box, all I have right now.

Earl

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