B&W Companion SLIDER Hitch.....

[BSeyler]

BS spread your BS somewhere else. There are thousands of B&W hitches out there but not thousands of slider B&W hitches. Stay on the subject.

Boy, you sure are a witty one - kind of on a par with my 9 year old granddaughter! So, I could continue to roll in the gutter with you, or say that neither of us needs nor wants a slider. B&W makes a great product, but you are free to use what you want.

 

[Wingate]

so anyway... As for the Sliding hitch increasing the torque applied to the ball receiver...

I would think that B&W has performed their due diligence in designing this hitch to function properly and not overstress the GN receiver. The GN setup is rated for 30K lbs, whereas this slider I believe is rated at 16K, a significant reduction in capacity.
I am also thinking that when travelling down the highway, you would not necessarily need the slider in the aft position. I plan to only use the slider option in low speed situations such as getting into tight camping spots.

 

[JJPage]

I do agree with the other post about stock trailers being different for some that havent had the fun of pulling a gooseneck with 9k of moving animals its a REAL PUCKER. :-laf

BIG

I have not had that pleasure, 9k of moving animals... I have had plenty of Pucker at different times...

I am also thinking that when travelling down the highway, you would not necessarily need the slider in the aft position. I plan to only use the slider option in low speed situations such as getting into tight camping spots.

They are not designed for hiway use in the rearward position, my Reese slider has a warning label not to do this. To do so removes all the weight from the steering axle, making for dangerous operating conditions.

In the correct application a slider would be excellent for the extra clearance maneuvering into a parking position, if able to utilize it, otherwise the cost and weight may be prohibitive.

Jess

 

[RustyJC]

The only downside I can see is that the B&W appears to be a MANUAL slider. Not that I need one, but I see too many comments from those who use manual sliders that they forgot to use it or didn't think they needed to use it just that one time when they caved in the rear cab pillars or popped out the rear window. If I needed a slider, I'd look long and hard at an automatic slider like the Pullrite Superglide just because Murphy's law always seems to catch up with me.



Rusty

 

[CUMMINZ]

The only downside I can see is that the B&W appears to be a MANUAL slider. Not that I need one, but I see too many comments from those who use manual sliders that they forgot to use it or didn't think they needed to use it just that one time when they caved in the rear cab pillars or popped out the rear window. If I needed a slider, I'd look long and hard at an automatic slider like the Pullrite Superglide just because Murphy's law always seems to catch up with me.



Rusty

I owned a 24k Superglide for a while and it worked well. The first one was replaced under warranty due to some binding but they are a good produce. They have four mounting locations unlike the B&W.



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[jelag]

my boy is a mechanical engineer, with his PE. . we often talk about what I change and at times he's suggested that is more than safe... other times he makes suggestions... the first few years I ran some of the Atwood turndown ball gooseneck hitches... we'd wear them out in a year and I was afraid of those... they'd get so sloppy...

 

[CUMMINZ]

You have no idea what I have a mind for and must not have much to do if you are waiting around for my answer. I don't really give a rat's arse what you think. B&W is the choice of thousands. Others choose something else. Use what you want.

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[Wingate]

The only downside I can see is that the B&W appears to be a MANUAL slider. Not that I need one, but I see too many comments from those who use manual sliders that they forgot to use it or didn't think they needed to use it just that one time when they caved in the rear cab pillars or popped out the rear window. If I needed a slider, I'd look long and hard at an automatic slider like the Pullrite Superglide just because Murphy's law always seems to catch up with me.

Rusty

I could see that happening for some people... . but for me and my mental defects... I check , check again, then check one more time to make sure I checked it before. I usually pull up , get out, walk the camp site, judge my slide out locations, door, awning, electrical, H2O, shade, firepit... . etc... Before I ever attempt to back in. Im the guy that will actually keep a calibrated torque wrench for changing a flat on the side of the road. Im that guy... hahahaha...

 

[BSeyler]

That was easy! And, my apologies to the OP. My part in this did not address your post. My mother taught me better many years ago.

 

[Wingate]

That was easy! And, my apologies to the OP. My part in this did not address your post. My mother taught me better many years ago.

No worries here. . Was wondering if it was gonna get as bad as an "Amsoil vs. the world" thread. .
I can appreciate all coments... .

 

[RVTRKN]

Cumminz, I like your hitch setup, and it looks like a smooth ride for you and your truck. I'm no engineer, but the four bolts your using to attach to the bed brackets don't seem all that safe to me. Those bolts could easily shear off with the unforeseen forces in accidents. I'll take the B&W system over that setup and feel safer. As far as the new B&W slider, the weight has not changed over the location of the post that B&W uses when in the towing position. B&W distributes some of the weight onto the outer housing that just sits in the bed so when the weight shifts as you pull, it removes some of the stress on the post. I'm not trying to argue with you, your hitch looks fantastic and stout, but the heavy gauge 2 1/2" post that B&W uses has a lot more strength than the four bolts your using. Is there something other than the four bolts holding down your hitch?

 

[CUMMINZ]

Cumminz, I like your hitch setup, and it looks like a smooth ride for you and your truck. I'm no engineer, but the four bolts your using to attach to the bed brackets don't seem all that safe to me. Those bolts could easily shear off with the unforeseen forces in accidents. I'll take the B&W system over that setup and feel safer. As far as the new B&W slider, the weight has not changed over the location of the post that B&W uses when in the towing position. B&W distributes some of the weight onto the outer housing that just sits in the bed so when the weight shifts as you pull, it removes some of the stress on the post. I'm not trying to argue with you, your hitch looks fantastic and stout, but the heavy gauge 2 1/2" post that B&W uses has a lot more strength than the four bolts your using. Is there something other than the four bolts holding down your hitch?

There is more than meets the eye. I have attached a photo of my original hitch in my truck. It was a 24k Reese signature hitch with frame mounted bed flush connections. It used 4 heavy pins to connect the Reese. I removed the reese and retained the mount. I fabricated 2 additional frame mounted steel tubings with 4 additional holes. The 1/4" plate uses 8 - 3/4" grade 8 bolts to connect to reese mounts as well as the new frame mounted tubing.



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[CUMMINZ]

Let me first say that this thread is not about my hitch construction but my posts have been about why I do not like the B&W hitch. We all have created threads asking questions to help us decide which road to take in our purchases. So don't get your panties in a wad when someone disagrees with your opinion.



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[RVTRKN]

I'm not saying your setup is not as good, or as bad, as the B&W setup. But your take on the B&W system was a little harsh, I'm just pointing out the issues as the picture shows. I would consider buying that setup if I didn't already own the flat bed version of the companion B&W hitch. What you can't see or know if you never owned one, is that a locking pin is then torqued down and it makes a strong attachment to the bed as "jelag" has given witness too. Those airbags on yours are what I was going buy, but on the pinbox not the hitch, until I towed with the companion. The companion has no play or jerking feel to it, and seems to have such a tight attachment, I found no need to spend lots of money to achieve the same feel as an airbag. I believe its the urethane pivots that isolate the vibrations and has just enough give to give you the same feel as the airbags.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Sounds like someone is taking HB's place at the table of CHEER AND GOOD FEELINGS TOWARD HIS FELLOW MAN WOW!!!!

 

[CUMMINZ]

Sounds like someone is taking HB's place at the table of CHEER AND GOOD FEELINGS TOWARD HIS FELLOW MAN WOW!!!!

BN is are exactly right. RVTRKN you should be ashamed of yourself trying to deboot HB.

 

[BIGNASTY]

:-laf:-laf I DIDNT MENTION ANY NAMES NOW DID I!!!!!! :-laf

 

[CUMMINZ]

:-laf:-laf I DIDNT MENTION ANY NAMES NOW DID I!!!!!! :-laf

I posted what I did in jest! Nobody can replace HB.

 

[BIGNASTY]

I posted what I did in jest! Nobody can replace HB.

Please FORGIVE ME I just got home and have HAD WAY TO MUCH CLEAN AIR AND QUIET it must have gone to my head

 

[CUMMINZ]

So I found this article... and called B&W about it. Seems they are being shipped out to dealers this week. Price is around $1400. 00.....

http://www.turnoverball.com/blogs/2012/11/new-product-launched-1

Wingate, there is no doubt in my mind that this hitch will fulfill all of B&Ws standards. And it will thrill many haulers that enjoy B&W products. My concern as has always been with the B&W hitch is one mounting point. And with this swinging hitch it will over intensify the strain on the single point. I am sure B&W engineers have figured out all the stress points and they are satisfied there is not an issue. Thousands of products have failed after engineers have approved them.