mojohelpermonkey
Camano Island, Washington
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Joined: 01/04/2008
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I've had my 5th wheel with a sidewinder extended pin box for about a year and have never heard any noise until this last trip. On the way home we noticed a squeaking noise that sounded like something needed to be lubed while maneuvering in a parking lot. I was under the impression that the sidewinder does not need maintenance, am I mistaken?
Also, when hooked up to the truck the sidewinder "bends", for lack of a better word, at the swivel point. The gap in back increases and the gap at the front closes to almost nothing. Has this been everybody else's experience as well? My RV shop tech said it is how they are designed to work, but it just doesn't look right to me.
Thanks,
Joe
2008 Dodge Ram Mega Cab 3500, SRW
2007 Challenger 34BHQ
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camperguy99
Loveland CO
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Joined: 07/18/2008
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When that happened to mine, 5th Airborne installed a new washer in the turret. It made it much tighter and the screech went away. The new plastic like washer is a little thicker and larger diameter than the original. Looks like a lub disc. You can't rotate the turret by hand now but seems OK on the road. I'll bet they'd send you a new washer.
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rich and char
N.J.
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We picked up our 07 Challenger 29TRL last Nov.Dealer dropped it off cause I didn't have my tow vehicle yet.It came with the Sidewinder also.I was also under the impression that the sidewinder required little maintaince.After the first couple of trips this spring we started to hear a god awful sweaking squeel when turning , and everyone in the campgrounds would look.To me not the best feeling.And when hitched also saw the same space gaps you described on the turret arm.
I called Consequent Towing (spelling ?)and spoke to a woman tech rep,very nice and knowledgeable about the sidewinder , and explained the same issues as you and my dissatisfaction with it.
She sked what size my bottom disk was and I told her about 8in. diameter.She explained that they had a updated disk (12in.) diameter and that they are pre oiled and need no lube.Then she asked about the top metal bolt plate,( if it was flat or had 3 metal ribs on top, I told her it was flat.She said they had a upgraded top plate with the 3 metal ribs on top .Looks much stronger
So all in all they wound up sending me free of charge (under warranty) the updated bottom disk , the updated top plate and 3 new grade 8 bolts and lock washers and complete install directions. Taking my time took less than a hour to repace.Torque the top three bolts to 80 Ft lbs. She said the sidewinder would be hard to move by hand but after about 500 miles of breaking in it would move easier by hand.
Bottom line after replacing that stuff and cleaning the rest it still squeels terribley when turning ,still not happy ,and before and during every trip check the bolt torque.They seems to loosin a little and (must retighten)thus the front and rear gap difference.
Since my truck has a 8' bed I will be lookin to replace the sidewinder with the 5th Airborne for next years adventures taking care of the squeel and giving us a smoother tow as well.
Sorry long post but hope it helps "been there"
Any questions just ask.
Rich
1-Beautiful wife
3-Beautiful girls
Charlie the min-pin/Sandy the Chihuahua
06 F-350 Lariat CC/Lb/Psd dually
07 Keystone Challenger 29TRL
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mojohelpermonkey
Camano Island, Washington
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I finally got around to taking care of this after we got some stares backing into our spot on our first trip. The noise was very loud. I called the customer service number on the 5th Airborne site and they sent me a new bottom lube disk for free since it was under warantee, but she didn't ask for any proof of our purchase date or anything. Disk was thicker and much bigger around. Installation was simple, with a little help from my wife putting in the first screw while I struggled to hold the assembly in place. I covered all the parts with grease, figured it couldn't hurt. After tightening everything back up I couldn't budge the thing by hand, but when we unhitched after a 200 mile trip it was loose enough to turn. It seems everything is right again in 5th wheel land, at least for now.
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mojohelpermonkey
Camano Island, Washington
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A follow up: Since the sidewinder was so easy to turn after our first trip with the new lube disc, I thought I'd check the torque on the bolts before our next trip. Good thing, because they were very loose. I torqued them back down and brought my wrench with me. After a couple hundred miles I had to wrench on them again. Maybe I used some grease somewhere I shouldn't have, but make sure you check your bolts if you do this fix.
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RollingRockTX
Keller, Texas
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Joined: 08/04/2006
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Sorry I am late to the dance here, but we too had some noise but it was b/c I over torqued the turret bolts...after taking them back down, it worked out...to this day, I still cannot move it by hand and we have around 5k miles on it.
2006 Ford F250 King Ranch PSD
2008 Ford Expedition, HD Tow Package
2005 Chrysler Pacifica, GONE!
2008 Jayco Eagle Super Light 31.5BHDS, KC5PFG,
5th Airborne with SideWinder, Plugitright Stabilizers.
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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If the bolts are comming loose, try some blue Loc-Tite on the threads prior to installation.
92F350 CrewCab 4x4 351/C6
LoadNGo service body
69Bronco ATC250R CR500
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Hunter11
Buda, Texas
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I use a little spray silicon on the turret every couple of months and have no noise at all. I can turn ours by hand when not hooked up to the truck.
* This post was
edited 07/22/09 05:02pm by Hunter11 *
His-2005 Dodge 3500 CTD 4X4 LWB SRW QC Auto 3.73, S&B CAI, Quadzilla X2 XZT Box and Commander, MBRP Exhaust
Hers-2006 Dodge 1500 4dr. Hemi
2007 Crossroads Paradise Pointe 34CK
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WOJO 1
Sparks, Nevada
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This squelling noise had me pi$$ed off to say the least when I first put mine on. It was obnoxiously loud. The instructions that came with the Sidewinder mentioned nothing about lube on anything. And torque the turret bolts to 80 ft.lbs. Mine has 4 on top. I went to the Reese website (who actually makes it I think). Read there installation instructions and found that a Silicone spray on the plate in between the turret and the arm and on the round washer and ALSO torque the turret bolts to 45 ft.lbs. When I followed those instructions it is noise free.
2002 Duramax 4X4 CC SB
2005 Cougar 296EFS
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Foothills
Elk Grove, CA
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I'd suggest you watch the tracking of your 5er whenever you hear a squeak after turning. Inspect your wedge and jaws of your hitch. I've also heard that the sidewinder is not compatible with any hitch with air bags and pistons??
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