B&W Companion with OEM 5th Wheel Prep

[AH64ID]

So... I may be buying an '18. It has the OEM 5er Group.

While I don't have a 5th wheel my dad keeps his at my house and I would like to be able to move it around. He uses the B&W Companion system since it works in his 06 and 17, the 17 doesn't have the OEM prep package.

What's the cheapest way to make his hitch work with the OEM 5er group? Does someone make an adapter for the Companion to the OEM one?

I found one for a PopUp Industries turn over ball, but not the OE one.

https://tweetys.com/flcadaptertouse...D9XAYSJbR05tXFdQeTu6Nm8_5ekyrGwQaArUfEALw_wcB



It is possible to buy just the base from B&W, RVB3600, but I'd still prefer a cheaper adapter if anyone makes it.

 

[HookMeUp]

Yes you can get the base only. that's what I did when I went from my '11 to my '18. Just reuse the head form your dad's setup.
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/B-and-W/BWRVB3600.html

 

[KEnglish]

I ordered the 5th wheel/goose neck prep pkg on my 2016 and wish I hadn't. I didn't need the gooseneck prep. The holes in the bed are way bigger than they need to be and the plastic covers are junk. If I had it to do over I'd just buy the frame pucks and drill my own much smaller holes through the bed. Someone else on here did that with good results.. Love the B&W hitch though.

 

[AH64ID]

I ordered the 5th wheel/goose neck prep pkg on my 2016 and wish I hadn't. I didn't need the gooseneck prep. The holes in the bed are way bigger than they need to be and the plastic covers are junk. If I had it to do over I'd just buy the frame pucks and drill my own much smaller holes through the bed. Someone else on here did that with good results.. Love the B&W hitch though.

It wasn't on my list of needed options, but the rest of the truck I am buying has everything I want. I use a rubber bed liner so the holes won't be an issue.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Simply buy the 3600 base!

Best Truck deserves the Best Hitch!!!

 

[AH64ID]

Simply buy the 3600 base!

Best Truck deserves the Best Hitch!!!

Agree!!! I wouldn't have an issue if I had a 5er... so unit I do I would prefer a cheaper way to move dads around the yard.

 

[SnoKing]

Install B&W goose neck.

https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/hitch-finder?cshs=18536

Would cost similar to 3600 base. However nothing extra to store.

Someone might buy the OEM goose neck and you would recover money.

OR GET your dad to convert to the Andersen Aluminum hitch. Then it would be easy to throw the hitch in and out of the three trucks!!!

NOW, along come Ron AKA Cummins12V98 wanting to check my temperature to make sure I am not ill this morning!!!

SnoKing

 

[AH64ID]

Install B&W goose neck.

https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/hitch-finder?cshs=18536

Would cost similar to 3600 base. However nothing extra to store.

Someone might buy the OEM goose neck and you would recover money.

OR GET your dad to convert to the Andersen Aluminum hitch. Then it would be easy to throw the hitch in and out of the three trucks!!!

NOW, along come Ron AKA Cummins12V98 wanting to check my temperature to make sure I am not ill this morning!!!

SnoKing

I hadn't thought of converting to the B&W, I might look into that.

But, no on the Anderson.

 

[SnoKing]

I hadn't thought of converting to the B&W, I might look into that.

But, no on the Anderson.

I believe it is an unbolt the OEM and bolt on the B&W. Cross member for either is part on the frame structure. SnoKing

 

[BarryG]

When I bought my truck I was contemplating the oem setup but after doing some math it was cheaper to get the truck without oem setup and put in the B&W Gooseneck setup. Going with the OEM and paying for it, along with having to purchase the new B&W base was definitely more expensive than forgoing the OEM setup and just putting in the B&W Gooseneck as I could reuse my existing B&W base. Doesnt mean as much to you since your truck is coming with the oem but still probably cheaper to put in the B&W goose instead of buying a new base. I could not find a B&W adapter to the oem a couple years ago when I was buying the new truck either. IIRC the new base was like $700, the oem prep group was in the $250-300 range and the B&W gooseneck was 450ish plus a $50 additional plug for in bed electrical hookup so about $1000 vs $500 of course it was my time for the B&W install but apparently I work pretty cheap when working for myself.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I like my BW. I don't have to worry about losing the hooks that plugs in for chains. I always have junk in the bed so I don't need any extra holes to fill up.

100% bolt in and they provide a template to drill the holes. Impossible to screw up.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Going from my 11 HO DRW with the underbed B&W gooseneck hitch and 18k Companion i could have not ordered the Puck/gooseneck prep and re used the hitch. IMHO that would have been throwing good money after bad if my RV stayed the same. The 5th wheel gooseneck towing prep cost me $340=DIRT CHEAP. I sold my 18k B&W for either 4 or $500 and bought the RVK 3600 for $1,200.

OP use the adapter with your gooseneck OE prep and carry on.

 

[JR]

When I bought my B&W GN for my 14 SD Truck Springs had the best online price - $450 shipped. Been a few years so that could well be different now.
The only thing I'd double check is size of the hole in the bed B&W recommends vs the OEM size - if for some reason the OEM hole is smaller, it may be difficult getting a clean larger hole in the bed for the B&W. I'm sure that's not something I would want to just freehand....

 

[SnoKing]

When I bought my B&W GN for my 14 SD Truck Springs had the best online price - $450 shipped. Been a few years so that could well be different now.
The only thing I'd double check is size of the hole in the bed B&W recommends vs the OEM size - if for some reason the OEM hole is smaller, it may be difficult getting a clean larger hole in the bed for the B&W. I'm sure that's not something I would want to just freehand....

You stack the smaller hole saw inside the larger one to keep it centered.

 

[brillmtb]

I am currently using the 5th wheel B&W companion with the factory puck style holes in the bed just fine in my 2017 3500. Do they no longer make it?

 

[brillmtb]

If this link works properly this is what I use in my short bed and I don't remember the dealer doing anything different than ordering me the OEM puck style trailer system or I had a stroke and forgot. BTW, it clears my Artic fox fine, no slider needed. I am thinking of adding the airborne hitch model that moves the pivot point back 22inchs to get both better bed clearance/utilization and the benefit of the 5th wheel mount but where the trailer will track better behind where the truck is going. Less corner cutting.

https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/product/companion-ram-pucks

 

[AH64ID]

If this link works properly this is what I use in my short bed and I don't remember the dealer doing anything different than ordering me the OEM puck style trailer system or I had a stroke and forgot. BTW, it clears my Artic fox fine, no slider needed. I am thinking of adding the airborne hitch model that moves the pivot point back 22inchs to get both better bed clearance/utilization and the benefit of the 5th wheel mount but where the trailer will track better behind where the truck is going. Less corner cutting.

https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/product/companion-ram-pucks

Yes that's that part that I can buy the base, RVB3600, for. I was just hoping for something smaller to use the RVK3600 since I might only need it once or twice a year.

 

[SnoKing]

If this link works properly this is what I use in my short bed and I don't remember the dealer doing anything different than ordering me the OEM puck style trailer system or I had a stroke and forgot. BTW, it clears my Artic fox fine, no slider needed. I am thinking of adding the airborne hitch model that moves the pivot point back 22inchs to get both better bed clearance/utilization and the benefit of the 5th wheel mount but where the trailer will track better behind where the truck is going. Less corner cutting.

https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/product/companion-ram-pucks

AH64ID fathers Companion hitch is the one that secure to the B&W goose neck ball. SnoKing

 

[brillmtb]

The hitch is a beast to work with but well made.

 

[Ram4Sam]

I believe it is an unbolt the OEM and bolt on the B&W. Cross member for either is part on the frame structure. SnoKing

This is true.....but with a small hiccup....The OEM goose hitch is bolted on the top of the crossmember so you will have to unbolt/jack up the bed a ways to get it removed. The BW is a quick and easy job from the bottom.

Sam