5th wheel hitches and install

[LandShark]

I looking at picking up a 5th wheel with 10 or 11k gvw and will need a hitch. I plan to keep my slide in camper, so will need one that totally removes from the bed. Is my only choice the B&W Companion for about $1400 ?

ALSO, will this hitch install with out interference to the Air-Lift springs?

 

[Cummins12V98]

I would contact B&W to find out for sure. I am sure you can make it work. It will be worth it they are the best! tweets.com are a good place to buy B&W.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I owned a truck camper and a fifth wheel trailer for many years. I towed the fifth wheel with a Reese hitch that left hitch rails in the truck bed after the hitch was removed. I attached a plywood spacer to the bottom of the truck camper with cutouts for the hitch rails. When loading/unloading the camper, I raised the camper a couple of inches higher for the plywood spacer on the bottom of the camper floor to clear the hitch rails. I used a rubber bed mat in the truck bed and made cutouts in it for the hitch rails. I never had a problem with the camper tie downs or with the truck camper moving in the truck bed with this modification.

Bill

 

[Bob V]

There is a 2nd gen turn over ball hitch WITH the companion hitch for $400 on the Portland OR craigslist

 

[LandShark]

There is a 2nd gen turn over ball hitch WITH the companion hitch for $400 on the Portland OR craigslist

Bob V, Can't find that listing. That's a good deal and in driving distance. Maybe it sold.

 

[FCrowder]

I have a 99 with the b&w turnover ball underbed hitch with airbags. From b&w the brackets mount to the frame with the ears for the rails that cross over
pointing out away from the frame. It was made that way so you could get to the bolts. What i did was swap the brackets side to side. That puts the ears over the frame out of the way of the air bag brkts. I then cut the crossover rails and redrilled the holes. the bolts are a pain to get to but a 18" extension and swivel sockett worked ok. Francis

 

[LandShark]

I finally got in touch with B&W. They say the air bags must be removed for the install, but most can be re-installed after the hitch is in. They also said it was OK to drill thru the side plates, but welding was not permitted.

After looking at the install instructions and diagram, I figured out what "F Crowder" did and like the idea.

 

[LandShark]

With thanks to Bob V. I was able to pick up a Craigs List B&W Turnover and Companion for $400. I finally got around to the install today. I was able to to a normal install of hitch after unbolting the top section of my Airlifts and then drilling a couple of new holes thru the side brackets of the B&W to re install the upper section of the Airlifts.

The only real problem I encountered was that the lever for the pin is not designed for having wheel liners. For now, I have attached a line to the pin so that it can be retracted from the wheel well without going under the truck. Not really a problem because adding the gooseneck or Companion is not done very often.

 

[Grizzly]

Consider a PullRite.. You can remove the rails and have a clean bed. PullRite is one of the best 5th wheel hitches.
http://www.pullrite.com/

george

 

[Cummins12V98]

LandShark

I have the B&W on my 98 with wheel liners. Just bend the steel rod down a bit and it will work by reaching in over the tire.