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Gen-Y 5th Wheel Replacement or B&W Companion?

darrellr said:
Yes, how much weight transfer do you imagine will be transferred behind the axle based on the total length of the lever? Something around 40# based on cat scales vs not using the offset. I would argue that is not noticeable to the driver or to the vehicle. It represents a 0.1% difference.
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3.1% on a MC truck. Weight transfer is also part of the difference as that’s static. Handling is effected with the dynamic forces aft of the axle.

darrellr said:
That is one of the primary uses of airbags for towing RVs and other heavy trailers. To counteract the change in level of the load based on rear axle load. It can also help handle poorly distributed loads in the bed, but I really don't have that issue. My primary purpose is in using the truck to tow my RV.
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The primary use is to support additional weight, but that doesn’t mean to return the vehicle to its empty ride height. Thou many do, and many airbag complaints stem from that. Its easy to look at a truck with airbags and see when they are overinflated.

darrellr said:
Why are you hung up on a level kit making things so much different for towing? The reason rake exists is that the truck will be level after load is applied. Thus the OEM airbags are there to help relevel the truck. The truck ends up level. Add 2.5" to the front and you notice when you apply load the truck is no longer level. You adjust the suspension (pressure in the airbags) to re-level the truck. Nothing in the trailer gives a crap about the level kit and the truck is driving level, just about 2.5" taller than it would otherwise be. I am struggling to understand why you are being so obtuse here. So you don't like a leveling kit. It is not the same as driving abrodozer around and then trying to tow heavy with it. I know you are not an idiot, but I do think you are being a bit dense here without actual evidence or experience being posted. You are just mouthing off until you can show something otherwise imo.
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It’s not the level truck that is the issue, it’s the amount of pressure in the airbags that it takes to maintain a level truck with a level kit.

On a stock truck the springs are supporting the weight as the truck levels. This weight engages different parts of the springs, especially on a DRW with upper overloads.

When you have a level kit and use air pressure to maintain that level stance loaded all of the weight is on the airbags, the main leaves are only supporting the empty weight as the overloads aren’t in play. If the rear is lifted higher than empty due to the front being lighter and higher you also remove empty weight from the springs. This doesn’t improve ride or handling and explains why you had to play around with air pressures to get a better ride.

Ideally the stock suspension sags 1-2” and the airbags are then used to maintain that rear axle height. This improves handling and ride by spreading the load across the main leaves, overloads, and airbags.

The OEM airbags aren’t really any different, other than softer main leaves. If you put 4K of pin weight in the truck and keep it in normal ride height the ride and handling will suffer because all the weight is on the airbags. When you engage alternate ride height the truck lowers onto the lower overloads and pressure is reduced in the bags. The load is spread across main leaves, overloads, and airbags. This improves the ride and handing of the truck.

In your situation the 60# you mentioned for a level stance was too much. 30-35# would likely have given a better ride and improved handling, thou you wouldn’t have appeared level with the level kit. The stiff airbags transfer more trailer shocks to the frame too, so you’ll feel the trailer more too.

Even 45# seems like a lot of air for a 4K pin on the DRW suspension. How level is the truck without the level kit and 45# towing?

Make sense on how it’s not the level kit itself that affects the handling, but rather how it has other negative effects when trying to maintain a level truck when towing?
 
AH64ID said:
3.1% on a MC truck. Weight transfer is also part of the difference as that’s static. Handling is effected with the dynamic forces aft of the axle.



The primary use is to support additional weight, but that doesn’t mean to return the vehicle to its empty ride height. Thou many do, and many airbag complaints stem from that. Its easy to look at a truck with airbags and see when they are overinflated.



It’s not the level truck that is the issue, it’s the amount of pressure in the airbags that it takes to maintain a level truck with a level kit.

On a stock truck the springs are supporting the weight as the truck levels. This weight engages different parts of the springs, especially on a DRW with upper overloads.

When you have a level kit and use air pressure to maintain that level stance loaded all of the weight is on the airbags, the main leaves are only supporting the empty weight as the overloads aren’t in play. If the rear is lifted higher than empty due to the front being lighter and higher you also remove empty weight from the springs. This doesn’t improve ride or handling and explains why you had to play around with air pressures to get a better ride.

Ideally the stock suspension sags 1-2” and the airbags are then used to maintain that rear axle height. This improves handling and ride by spreading the load across the main leaves, overloads, and airbags.

The OEM airbags aren’t really any different, other than softer main leaves. If you put 4K of pin weight in the truck and keep it in normal ride height the ride and handling will suffer because all the weight is on the airbags. When you engage alternate ride height the truck lowers onto the lower overloads and pressure is reduced in the bags. The load is spread across main leaves, overloads, and airbags. This improves the ride and handing of the truck.

In your situation the 60# you mentioned for a level stance was too much. 30-35# would likely have given a better ride and improved handling, thou you wouldn’t have appeared level with the level kit. The stiff airbags transfer more trailer shocks to the frame too, so you’ll feel the trailer more too.

Even 45# seems like a lot of air for a 4K pin on the DRW suspension. How level is the truck without the level kit and 45# towing?

Make sense on how it’s not the level kit itself that affects the handling, but rather how it has other negative effects when trying to maintain a level truck when towing?
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Says you. I drove the damn truck man. I know what felt better and produced a more comfortable ride. I'm done.
 
All good dialog and thanks for the read. Just one more question relative to offset and the Gen-Y. Since I have an 8' box I assume I wouldn't need a 5" off set or am I wrong? Should the trailer be pushed back for a Gen-Y?
 
JHC1 said:
All good dialog and thanks for the read. Just one more question relative to offset and the Gen-Y. Since I have an 8' box I assume I wouldn't need a 5" off set or am I wrong? Should the trailer be pushed back for a Gen-Y?
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You won’t need or want an offset with a long bed.
 
Ok. Thank you!!
 
I have a Trailer saver air ride 5 th wheel . Factory air and recently put a Gen Y 5th wheel hitch on . Lux who make trailers much more expensive than mine combine an air ride hitch with a Gen Y . Figured they researched and tested it prior to implementing that system on their expensive 5th wheels . Worth a try . If it doesn't work out to my liking I will put my Moryde back on and sell it .
 
Nick said:
I have a Trailer saver air ride 5 th wheel . Factory air and recently put a Gen Y 5th wheel hitch on . Lux who make trailers much more expensive than mine combine an air ride hitch with a Gen Y . Figured they researched and tested it prior to implementing that system on their expensive 5th wheels . Worth a try . If it doesn't work out to my liking I will put my Moryde back on and sell it .
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If you have an air ride 5th wheel why put the gen-y? My air ride hitch floats like a cloud I have no need for a soft ride pin box, the old trailer came with the trail-air otherwise I would have had a standard pinbox on it lol
 
I have hit some really crap areas that has bottomed out my hitch even with more air . Cheaper alternative than a air ride with a 3rd bag . $3200 vs $900 .
 
I have the Gen-Y on my 2022 Alliance 340RL and we love it. It's adjustable (up and down at the connection point) when you install it, and it rides very nice. Totally worth it to get the bed of your pickup back, and no heaving a hitch in and out of the pickup bed. Just a word of caution that hooking up takes slightly longer to get things aligned (ball under hitch) to hook up. You can't just get it sorta close like on your 5th wheel hitch - it has to be much closer to set the RV onto the ball.

Good luck in whatever you choose - for me, we're very happy with the purchase and how it tows.
 
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Pulled the trigger on the Gen-Y. It should be here next week. Also I will be ordering the Curt Ball and anchor OEM system but I noticed it doesn't come with the chains. Not sure the size/length of chain to purchase. Anyone? And, what do I use to lube the ball, silicone spray?
 
IIRC I got my chains from GenY but pretty sure they were ordered as an add on, meaning they aren’t included with the pin box
 
Yep. They are not included as per Gen-Y. They want $100 for the chains. I have the same chain, only it’s 15’ so I need to cut it down.
 
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