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**Cate&Rob** · 08-14-2020, 08:56 AM

Dennis&Phyllis
Hi Guys!

That does not look right . . . and, I can't figure out how it would get that way. Ours flares very slightly but nothing like what is shown in your pictures. See attached!

Rob

**Country Campers** · 08-14-2020, 11:43 AM

Poor craftsmanship from Lippert on the original build will be my guess. A pipe clamp across pulling on both flanges should get that pretty close. I can not see any way that this could have happened while using the RV unless something caught it and bent it.

Brian

**screamineagle** · 08-21-2020, 09:34 AM

Originally posted by Dennis&Phyllis View Post

We're wondering if anyone else has the same problem we have with our pin box. We're not sure how long it's been that way but don't believe it was that way to begin with. My husband was looking to adjust the distance between the pin box and our truck bed rails by moving the pin box one more bolt and that's when it became apparent that the bottom of the pin box flares out at the hole adjustment. Does anyone else's pin box look like this? We've contacted Grand Design and Lippert is checking into it. We have a 2018 Reflection 27RL.

Are you using a slide hitch. I suppose if you are the stress of the capture plate could do this.

**Yoda** · 08-21-2020, 09:59 AM

Originally posted by Dennis&Phyllis View Post

We're wondering if anyone else has the same problem we have with our pin box. We're not sure how long it's been that way but don't believe it was that way to begin with. My husband was looking to adjust the distance between the pin box and our truck bed rails by moving the pin box one more bolt and that's when it became apparent that the bottom of the pin box flares out at the hole adjustment. Does anyone else's pin box look like this? We've contacted Grand Design and Lippert is checking into it. We have a 2018 Reflection 27RL.

Does not look right to me either and I am as stumped at the others as to how it could happen. There might have been some flare from the factory to ease installing the pin box to get it to slide up and into place.

On a separate topic, where did you get that neat looking big level you have on your pin box? How well does it work for you?

Keith

**Country Campers** · 08-21-2020, 10:10 AM

Keith

I have the same level, works great and easy to see. We got ours from camping world, Amazon has them as well. I made a custom set of stainless steel mounting brackets, the plastic stock ones did not appeal to me.

Brian

**SBARLAG** · 08-21-2020, 10:48 AM

I just went out on our lot and looked at the new GD's. None of the new pin boxes have even a slight flare.

**Superduty** · 08-21-2020, 03:01 PM

On a separate topic, where did you get that neat looking big level you have on your pin box? How well does it work for you?

Keith
That level on his pin boxes, you can find at most RV Dealers. I have one on mine, but with the auto levelers, I never look at it. I think they are around $29.99 Don’t forget to buy the cheap, plastic mounting brackets also.

Steve
FYI. Just looked at my pin box. Perfectly straight. I also use a slider hitch, Pullrite w/capture plate. I’m trying to understand why is only the bottoms flared out?

**JCR GD** · 08-22-2020, 09:08 AM

I'm going to guess, as Lippert was "throwing" around the frame before GD assembly it happened. Can't see how that would happen after pin box installed.

**Canyonlight** · 08-24-2020, 09:59 AM

Originally posted by screamineagle View Post

Are you using a slide hitch. I suppose if you are the stress of the capture plate could do this.

That's an interesting observation. I never thought about that possibility until you shared this. Hmm ? Lack of proper hitch lubrication/maintenance/malfunction/etc. could put a severe stress on the pin box causing a twist event(s.)

If not from the factory this way, some stress or movement of the pin box seems to have occurred during a turning or other event(s.) It would be of value to learn the towing history since new (type of hitches, loose pin box, more severe angle of tow vehicle hitch head possibly exceeding hitch side to side tilt distance to pin box, etc.

Dan

**Dennis&Phyllis** · 09-02-2020, 09:23 PM

I apologize for not getting back to this post sooner. We’ve been on the road and cell service hasn’t been too good anywhere. We are suppose to contact Lippert when we get home. Susan at GD has set us up with a Case number and contact so I’ll respond here once we talk with them. Thanks for all your input.

Yoda as for your question about the level like others have already said it works great. It lets us know if we’re in range for the auto levelers to work without using our Andersen levelers since sometimes our camp sites are pretty unlevel. Bought ours some years ago at Camping World.

**Dennis&Phyllis** · 09-17-2020, 11:15 AM

Update: Lippert has proposed replacing the pin box piece (ears?). We're looking at alternatives for getting that done. We've suggested the possibility of addressing the problem by just dropping the bolt down one hole and cinching in the flared out portion in addition to adding a third bolt. Replacing the part means dropping the fiberglass and welding in the new part and would like to avoid that if possible. Will let you know the final outcome.

**JBill9694** · 09-18-2020, 10:24 AM

I'm not saying that trying to cinch the flared ends in with bolts won't work just that there are some risks involved. You may strip the bolts before you pull the metal in. You may bend the inner box before bending the outer metal. Cold bending will introduce stresses in the metal, in addition to any that may all ready exist, weakening the metal even further. If you want to go this route consider using a hydraulic press and stress relief.

**Dennis&Phyllis** · 10-23-2020, 12:15 AM

Well Lippert sent a repairman out to our house to do the repair. He moved the pin box one bolt as we requested then cinched everything in adding extra bolts to hold the pin box in place. It looks great and secure. He even painted the new bolts and exposed areas to make everything match. Great customer service Lippert!

**Country Campers** · 10-23-2020, 06:07 AM

Originally posted by Dennis&Phyllis View Post

Well Lippert sent a repairman out to our house to do the repair. He moved the pin box one bolt as we requested then cinched everything in adding extra bolts to hold the pin box in place. It looks great and secure. He even painted the new bolts and exposed areas to make everything match. Great customer service Lippert!

That is great that Lippert sorted this all out. Happy travels.

Brian

Announcement

Pin box flaring out at bottom hole adjustment

Pin box flaring out at bottom hole adjustment

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