B&W Companion SLIDER Hitch.....

[RVTRKN]

It wasn't a rub, Just pointing out their strengths. Yes, your leverage increases the farther you get away from the bed. But as I see it, your 1/4" plate has more stress on it as the leverage pulls up on the rear of the plate as the pin pulls against the locking jaws. Your point about the slider is a good observation and has merit, but the standard Companion and the way its mounted is fine by me, and I trust it with my family in the truck. Your opinion has merit, but I"m not going to get rid of my hitch, and you aren"t going to get rid of yours, so I guess were just beating a dead horse.

 

[CUMMINZ]

It wasn't a rub, Just pointing out their strengths. Yes, your leverage increases the farther you get away from the bed. But as I see it, your 1/4" plate has more stress on it as the leverage pulls up on the rear of the plate as the pin pulls against the locking jaws. Your point about the slider is a good observation and has merit, but the standard Companion and the way its mounted is fine by me, and I trust it with my family in the truck. Your opinion has merit, but I"m not going to get rid of my hitch, and you aren"t going to get rid of yours, so I guess were just beating a dead horse.

I was not aware you had the slider model.

 

[RustyJC]

I really can't understand what the debate is about since the only time the slider would be moved to the rear is for extremely low speed maneuvering. Otherwise, it would be in the forward position just like the standard Companion hitch.

Rusty

 

[RVTRKN]

I agree Rusty, but the slider can have some torsional stress if its in the extended position. CUMMINZ illustration shows the forces involved very clearly and I agree with him on that, but it appears there are bolts holding down the arms at the rear, which would negate those forces somewhat. But in the towing position there should be no difference.



CUMMINZ, I don't know if your serious or not, no I don't own the slider, but you have a general opinion about the way the hitch is mounted for either one and would never own any B&W hitch. They both still use the same post that is torqued down which makes it almost as part of the bed itself and therefor should have the same strength at the post. OK, your opinion is, there should be several points that needs to be secured in a manor as to distribute the torsional forces evenly and as close to the bed as possible. I say the B&W post system is just as strong as your setup but is a simpler design. :-{}

 

[RustyJC]

I agree Rusty, but the slider can have some torsional stress if its in the extended position.

No debate there, but my point is that you've not going to have a catastrophic high-speed collision that will kill all the women, children and small animals within a 10 mile radius with the hitch in the extended position. You're just backing into a campsite, for Pete's sake.

Rusty

 

[RVTRKN]

Rusty, its seems hard to get into the mind of CUMMINZ apparently :-laf. I completely agree with your statement, but when maneuvering your 5ver, the twisting effect when in the extended position, may cause stress fractures that might not show up for a couple of years. If the arms are bolted down to the bed at the rear, that the picture seems to show, then its a non issue.

I think we are beating a dead horse here, I have toured the plant in Humboldt, (not the tour you can go on when you visit today) and was allowed to take pictures of the actual manufacturing process during normal production and know their process and quality, and they are some of the best in the nation. After owning their products for a few years now, I also see the quality engineering that was designed into their product. I will assume that their slider is just as good in design and quality, and over the next few years will prove itself, and will have a following like that of the Companion.

Rusty, I don't think we need to worry about the 10 mile radius anymore. :-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[CUMMINZ]

No debate there, but my point is that you've not going to have a catastrophic high-speed collision that will kill all the women, children and small animals within a 10 mile radius with the hitch in the extended position. You're just backing into a campsite, for Pete's sake.



Rusty

Unless someone forgets to retract the slider and takes off down the road with it slid back and it will happen.

 

[RustyJC]

OK, if that's the scenario y'all are debating, carry on. That's a straw man as far as I'm concerned, but enjoy your "conversation".....



Rusty

 

[CUMMINZ]

OK, if that's the scenario y'all are debating, carry on. That's a straw man as far as I'm concerned, but enjoy your "conversation".....



Rusty

Rusty, the issue we are discussing is plainly the issue of the extra stress that will occur when the slider hitch is all the way out on the pin attached to the bed. It's working like a long lever. If you will remember all the posts you made concerning my 2004. 5 SRW truck with in the bed turnoverball with a gooseneck extention. Same stresses just different location.



#ad

 

[RustyJC]

I'm NOT going to be drawn into this bru-ha-ha. I'm NOT saying the stresses aren't there; I'm just saying that, unlike the gooseneck adapter, they're not likely to be there going down a mountain road at 65 MPH as the slider hitch will be in the NORMAL position under those conditions.



Rusty

 

[CUMMINZ]

I'm NOT going to be drawn into this bru-ha-ha. I'm NOT saying the stresses aren't there; I'm just saying that, unlike the gooseneck adapter, they're not likely to be there going down a mountain road at 65 MPH as the slider hitch will be in the NORMAL position under those conditions.



Rusty

You are correct.

 

[Wingate]

Going to place my order tomorrow... . Initial indications are that it will be 3-4 weeks before I receive it. Will know more soon. . Guess I can put it thru the paces and see if anything falls off. .

 

[RVTRKN]

Unless someone forgets to retract the slider and takes off down the road with it slid back and it will happen.

In that case they would deserve the Bonehead award. If I would have thought you were talking about actually towing with it in the extended position, the conversation would have been over two pages ago. I'm willing to bet it would hold long enough for the Bonehead to correct it before any major damage happened.



I had to contact B&W after looking at their site, I saw that they have a spring that can be added to the 5th wheel to keep it level when coupling your 5ver and they just sent it out at no charge. Great customer service, but he did take a little time in confirming my address. I think he was looking up my history and seeing what I paid in 07, well that made it an easy decision. :-laf

 

[Wingate]

Just wanted to bring this back to the top. I had ordered the sliding hitch thru a local B&W dealer. kept waiting and waiting for approx 2 months. Both myself and the dealer kept inquiring as to an ESD (estimated ship date). Never was able to get B&W to actually give a ship date. Finally gave up and went with a standard B&W Companion.
In speaking with the dealer, and even his distributor, although many have been ordered nationwide, not ONE unit has left B&W. Throughout all the delays, the discussions about accellerated wear on the coupler in this thread kept coming to mind.
Funny thing is they have a part # and are advertised in every truck accessory catalog and online store... you just cant actually own one!.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Wingate, sorry you are having problems getting a hitch. Maybe there is a good reason they are delaying the shipments. Maybe they have found a serious flaw in the design which I would not doubt one bit.

 

[Wingate]

Yeah... I couldnt help but think about the conversations about excessive stresses, wear, possible failure every time I couldnt get a ESD. One thing I will say is that if indeed they have ran into design issues... I would commend B&W for not shoving it out onto the market if it doesnt meet their standards. Time will tell, I guess. .
I'm at a point to where I cannot afford to wait any longer on a product with no ship date. Good thing is the dealer was kind enough to simply cancel my order and sell me the less expensive Companion.

 

[CUMMINZ]

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.

Do tell. And even a few placed me on their ignore list. For what stating my opinion. .

 

[CUMMINZ]

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.

Never seen that before... ... ... ... ... . Never been put on an ignore list...

 

[Wingate]

Cant sweat the details. !! I have never blocked anyone, cause even when I dont agree, I can usually see some value in other opinions... .

I have no clue as to why I could never seem to get an ESD from B&W... . As of now, I do not know if its due to a engineering issue, shipping issue, manufacturing problem, or just out of cardboard boxes?? At this point, I am completely happy with the standard companion, that may change if I stick the camper thru my cab!!

 

[Cummins12V98]

B&W makes awesome top quality hitches. In my opinion there is no need for a slider. All you need is an extended kingpin box and a B&W Companion and you are good to go.