I did the retro fit of the 1621 stock pin box to the Tri Glide TrailAir last year. The shop moved the Tri Glide up as high as it would go on the 318SAB and then moved the hitch (a B&W Turnover with Companion) as low as it would go in order to keep the trailer level. My hitch actually has the pin set slightly (maybe 1/2") behind center line of rear axle on the truck. I questioned this at the time I picked the rig up and was told that with the turn over ball plate (as opposed to rails) and the weight of the Cummins TD, that anything over the axle to just forward was fine. Turns out the Cummins weighs almost 950 lbs more than the V8 and that affects the loading/unloading of the front end. I started to argue the point, but, it was late and I needed to hit the road. Have had it that way for quite some time now. No handling issues, no steering issues. Haven't had it to the scales in this configuration, but, from the ride height (dead level; truck and trailer), and the lack of handling issues, I'll take their word for it with my combination of truck and trailer. I don't have my paperwork handy, but, I believe mine is also the L-05 version...from their website that is the 1621 replacement which was the stock pin box on the 318SAB.
I use the BakFlip folding tonneau cover on my unit. Folded up right behind the cab and I have no interference with the pin box or trailer when towing. It will also flip up against the cab, but, to date, I haven't had to go to that extreme, I just leave it folded up and all is good.
All in all, we love our Tri Glide. Aside from the weight in the bed (you can't hide that, even with Timbrens), we'd never know the trailer was back there; no surges, no chucks, no shocks, no shudders...just a smooth easy tow. Money well spent for us. The only downside is the greasing of the zerks every 1000 miles (about once a week for us thereabouts). The six outside ones are a piece of cake, the first inner one is easy, the second a little trickier and the third is real pain. Fortunately, I've got small hands and a power grease gun.
My 2 cents, your mileage may vary...
Don
Bronwyn
3 Cats - Coco, J-Lo and Ragamuffin
2011 Keystone Cougar 318SAB
2011 Ram 2500 Longhorn CTD HO
Built in brake controller and exhaust brake
Tri Glide TrailAir Pinbox with a B&W Companion Hitch
According to them, I have the right hitch. Its an L-05, which fits the Lippert 1621 pin box.
I had a 1621 on mine. Another person had the same but wanted a shorter Tr-Glide. They came up with one for him at Lippert. From what I understand each inch you move it ahead of or behind the axle only changes the weight bias by 100#. So if you go back 3 inches from the centerline of the axle you take 300# off the front axle weight.
If I had to do it all over..I wouldn't have gotten the Tri-Glide jaw. I would have just gotten the Std. Trail-Aire hitch. I've had some issues with mine clunking on start up and while stopping. You do have to play with the set-up and amount of air in them to get it right. I've never pulled without the Tri-Glide lower jaw..Got ours at a Rally in Goshen for about 1/2 of what the discounters sold them for. Couldn't pass it up. Very easy to install by yourself. Just block it up on your tailgate and raise or lower the front jacks on the trailer to get the right height. Took me about 1/2 hour.
B.O.
2011 Big Country 3250TS...2010 Ram CC Laramie 4wd Cummins
15k Super Glide, Firestone Ride Rite, TrailAir Tri-Glide
Michelin XPS Ribs. Just say no to Chinese tires.
Twin Cities Mn.
webslave wrote: I did the retro fit of the 1621 stock pin box to the Tri Glide TrailAir last year. The shop moved the Tri Glide up as high as it would go on the 318SAB and then moved the hitch (a B&W Turnover with Companion) as low as it would go in order to keep the trailer level. My hitch actually has the pin set slightly (maybe 1/2") behind center line of rear axle on the truck. I questioned this at the time I picked the rig up and was told that with the turn over ball plate (as opposed to rails) and the weight of the Cummins TD, that anything over the axle to just forward was fine. Turns out the Cummins weighs almost 950 lbs more than the V8 and that affects the loading/unloading of the front end. I started to argue the point, but, it was late and I needed to hit the road. Have had it that way for quite some time now. No handling issues, no steering issues. Haven't had it to the scales in this configuration, but, from the ride height (dead level; truck and trailer), and the lack of handling issues, I'll take their word for it with my combination of truck and trailer. I don't have my paperwork handy, but, I believe mine is also the L-05 version...from their website that is the 1621 replacement which was the stock pin box on the 318SAB.
I use the BakFlip folding tonneau cover on my unit. Folded up right behind the cab and I have no interference with the pin box or trailer when towing. It will also flip up against the cab, but, to date, I haven't had to go to that extreme, I just leave it folded up and all is good.
All in all, we love our Tri Glide. Aside from the weight in the bed (you can't hide that, even with Timbrens), we'd never know the trailer was back there; no surges, no chucks, no shocks, no shudders...just a smooth easy tow. Money well spent for us. The only downside is the greasing of the zerks every 1000 miles (about once a week for us thereabouts). The six outside ones are a piece of cake, the first inner one is easy, the second a little trickier and the third is real pain. Fortunately, I've got small hands and a power grease gun.
I would guess they installed your side plates backwards that have the rubber isolation pads on the top. You should be about 2 or 4" ahead of center of rear axle. Do the side plates have the sloped side toward the back or front or the truck? There is only one place to install the goose neck part unless they drilled holes in your frame. It is a no drill system.
The CUMMINS engine its self is about 1,000#.
2011 Ram Laramie Longhorn 3500 Dually Long Bed, Cummins 350/800 HO, Towin Machine
B&W Companion Hitch, Maghytec Trans and Rear Dif Covers, AMZ/OIL Top To Bottom
2007 1/2 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 27,000# Combined
Sorry that was a typo...should have read "...the Cummins weighs 950 lbs , more than the V8..." There is supposed/should have been, a "," in there... Should hire a proof reader before I hit post...
As for the B&W siderails...they can be mounted either direction (per their instructions and talking to them on the phone) for placement of the pin. There isn't a "right way" for the side rails. Common usage has them with the slope to the rear, however, slope forward is also an acceptable installation. The siderails and the slope allow for a wide range of pin location with relationship to the axle and to maximize cab clearance for turning. Either installation, slope forward or slope rearward keeps the pin over the axle or forward, never behind it, but, with slope forward, you can have the pin slightly rearward of the axle's center line.
One bonus of the Tri Glide and the slight rearward shift of the pin on my installation... I could only get about 80 degrees with the shorter 1621 pin box, but, with the longer Tri Glide, 90 degrees with no problem.
Personally, I tend to overanalyze things. I have the B&W Companion and with my previous Crossroads Cruiser i had the head all the way forward. When we traded for the Monty, I had to back straight in with my tailgate down when hooking up and the clearance was closer than I felt comfotable with so I moved the head as far back as possible (with the slope towards the cab) to gain a little more space. I also thought I would be unloading the front end. I could tell no difference pulling after moving it back. I sent an email to B&W and their tech that replied said that there would be little if no difference to the weight on front axle in any of the fore-aft positions. This makes sense considering the weight is transferred to the base which has a rather large footprint. It's not like the weight is going straight down to the axle from the pin. JMHO.
webslave wrote: Sorry that was a typo...should have read "...the Cummins weighs 950 lbs , more than the V8..." There is supposed/should have been, a "," in there... Should hire a proof reader before I hit post...
As for the B&W siderails...they can be mounted either direction (per their instructions and talking to them on the phone) for placement of the pin. There isn't a "right way" for the side rails. Common usage has them with the slope to the rear, however, slope forward is also an acceptable installation. The siderails and the slope allow for a wide range of pin location with relationship to the axle and to maximize cab clearance for turning. Either installation, slope forward or slope rearward keeps the pin over the axle or forward, never behind it, but, with slope forward, you can have the pin slightly rearward of the axle's center line.
One bonus of the Tri Glide and the slight rearward shift of the pin on my installation... I could only get about 80 degrees with the shorter 1621 pin box, but, with the longer Tri Glide, 90 degrees with no problem.
I know I need one too!
Industry standard is 2" forward. Mine is full forward and I only add 100# to front axle. With the weight of your RV you are probably fine.
Is your trail air the L-05 long arm unit? What did it cost to add the Tri glide portion parts and labor seperately?
I had the LO5 Air Ride pin box on my Landmark and switched it for the M15 Air Ride pin box which is, if I remember correctly, 8 inches shorter. I did't need the longer one with my long bed truck.
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