B&W Companion SLIDER Hitch.....

[Wingate]

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

 

[jgillott]

Nice. Thanks for the link.

 

[dieselpowered]

That's awesome, I was about to buy the Companion, now I will just wait.
Thanks for the info.

 

[RVTRKN]

If the quality is there like the other B&W products they will sell like hot cakes

 

[Wingate]

If the quality is there like the other B&W products they will sell like hot cakes

I spoke with a lady at B&W, she said they had just started shipping them either this week or last week and dealers were standing in line to receive their orders. Said many customers had been calling in an effort to bypass the dealer level and order directly from them.
Finally got a part #, called Tweedys, they show the part # to be good, but no pricing info and no ESD.

 

[RVTRKN]

I imagine it uses the same under bed frame bracket?

 

[BIGNASTY]

Because I have not done allot of 5th wheel towing with a Dodge this product looks like it may not be of any real advantage to me towing with a long bed. I can see with the new trucks that are equiped with a short bed it would be a great thing backing and extending it to keep from smashing the back of the cab and front of the trailer. Or am I not looking at this right?

 

[dieselpowered]

Because I have not done allot of 5th wheel towing with a Dodge this product looks like it may not be of any real advantage to me towing with a long bed. I can see with the new trucks that are equiped with a short bed it would be a great thing backing and extending it to keep from smashing the back of the cab and front of the trailer. Or am I not looking at this right?

I would think all you need is the original Companion, with a long bed.

 

[RVTRKN]

It's specifically for short bed trucks although you could if you wanted to, but a standard companion hitch is top quality, and if you have a 8' bed its perfect.

 

[jelag]

I've got 3 friends with a short bed who have damaged their cab and have moved to one of the slider type hitches... I have a long bed. . All 3 have commented how they thought they had space and had forgotten the spacing and in a fraction of a second when there thoughts were someplace else... the cab was damaged...

 

[Wingate]

I imagine it uses the same under bed frame bracket?

Yep, drops right into my B&W turnover gooseneck setup...
I could use the standard Companion hitch if the camper I was purchasing came from the factory with the Reese Sidewinder hitch, but according to Jayco, it is an option on their 5ers, but if not installed at the manufacturer level, there may be warranty implications. Apparently the Sidewinder adds stress to the frame/hitch joint and Jayco adds support for ones with a Sidewinder.

 

[CUMMINZ]

I am not a fan of the B&W hitch that uses the 2" mounting piece in the bed. I would think that with the new sliding hitch moving back and forth and at fully extended position is would certainly torque the 2" pin. Soon or later you may have a failure. I hope they have success with the new hitch.

 

[BSeyler]

I am not a fan of the B&W hitch that uses the 2" mounting piece in the bed. I would think that with the new sliding hitch moving back and forth and at fully extended position is would certainly torque the 2" pin. Soon or later you may have a failure. I hope they have success with the new hitch.

There are thousands of B&W gooseneck hitches going down the road pulling heavy horse, stock, and equipment trailers daily. I don't know what this torque failure you describe is, but I wouldn't pull my gooseneck trailer with anything else after using the B&W. Pulling a trailer with a load of livestock puts more stress on the hitch than a fifthwheel camper, simply by the fact there is movement within the trailer. If you like what you have, that's great!

 

[jelag]

Cumminz

I had an employee wreck an 01 3500 dually with a trailer... . the trailer was at 22K lbs when it slid and jackknifed on the ice... the truck and trailer were both totaled. . (2 12K disc brake trailer axles) the hitch on the trailer and the B&W set up never got bent... . I actually pulled the hitch out of the truck, got a new mounting kit and remounted it in the new truck... the hitch, the mounts were all 100% just the old mount didn't fit the new truck... The frame of the truck and the trailer were twisted yet the mount was fine... as I remember that's a 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 (I'd have to measure it) but its 3/8" wall tube... . very strong...

I've put a kit on mine that actually moves the companion back 10" for more room at the cab of the truck. .

 

[CUMMINZ]

There are thousands of B&W gooseneck hitches going down the road pulling heavy horse, stock, and equipment trailers daily. I don't know what this torque failure you describe is, but I wouldn't pull my gooseneck trailer with anything else after using the B&W. Pulling a trailer with a load of livestock puts more stress on the hitch than a fifthwheel camper, simply by the fact there is movement within the trailer. If you like what you have, that's great!

You must not have a mind for engineering. (can't wait to hear that answer). The B&W hitch up point is 10-12" higher than the hitch up point at the bed level and it is reasonably straight above. With the slider the hitch up point will be moved rearward maybe 12-14". That creates a lever. The lever will greatly increase the load on the 2. 5" connection point. Now whether the 2. 5" connection point has enough over-build is up to B&W and their engineering team and I would think they are mature enough put a rig out there that exposes them to a great liability.

 

[JJPage]

I can see with the new trucks that are equiped with a short bed it would be a great thing backing and extending it to keep from smashing the back of the cab and front of the trailer. Or am I not looking at this right?

I've got 3 friends with a short bed who have damaged their cab and have moved to one of the slider type hitches

The sliding type fifth wheel hitches work great in a short bed truck, as long as the fifth wheel is equipped with a standard pinbox, If equipped with an extended pinbox like my toy hauler has, it virtually made my slider useless. Unless the combination was absolutely level or the trailer in an uphill position behind the truck, the extended pinbox would contact my tailgate and bed rails if turning.



I used the Dexter axle kit, to place the axles below the spring packs which netted me about 6 1/2" of clearance between trailer and bed rails, still not sufficient. So, if you are contemplating a slider for a shortbed application, and your trailer has an extended pinbox, I suggest you do a "mock up" if possible before spending the extra $s on a slider.



I had also purchased a "V notch" type tailgate, believing this would rectify my issue, only to be thwarted because I hadn't considered the bed rails while turning. So beware, all truck/trailer/hitch combinations present different challenges.



Jess



Note: some 5vr's with long overhang front bedrooms are not going to work well with a shortbed truck, no matter what you do.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Cumminz



I had an employee wreck an 01 3500 dually with a trailer... . the trailer was at 22K lbs when it slid and jackknifed on the ice... the truck and trailer were both totaled. . (2 12K disc brake trailer axles) the hitch on the trailer and the B&W set up never got bent... . I actually pulled the hitch out of the truck, got a new mounting kit and remounted it in the new truck... the hitch, the mounts were all 100% just the old mount didn't fit the new truck... The frame of the truck and the trailer were twisted yet the mount was fine... as I remember that's a 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 (I'd have to measure it) but its 3/8" wall tube... . very strong...



I've put a kit on mine that actually moves the companion back 10" for more room at the cab of the truck. .

Again, the more you move away from the straight up and down mounting design to an extended design away from original the more stress is on the 2. 5" mount. It may work fine but I would not risk it.



I am rather afraid of modifying hitches and seeing several damaged RV frames & truck hitches that I overbuilt my hitch several years ago. I placed a 1/4" plate under my hitch and placed 8 bolts instead of 4 factory pins and extra frame mounts.

 

[BSeyler]

You must not have a mind for engineering. (can't wait to hear that answer).

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.

 

[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.

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.

 

[BIGNASTY]

The sliding type fifth wheel hitches work great in a short bed truck, as long as the fifth wheel is equipped with a standard pinbox, If equipped with an extended pinbox like my toy hauler has, it virtually made my slider useless. Unless the combination was absolutely level or the trailer in an uphill position behind the truck, the extended pinbox would contact my tailgate and bed rails if turning.



I used the Dexter axle kit, to place the axles below the spring packs which netted me about 6 1/2" of clearance between trailer and bed rails, still not sufficient. So, if you are contemplating a slider for a shortbed application, and your trailer has an extended pinbox, I suggest you do a "mock up" if possible before spending the extra $s on a slider.



I had also purchased a "V notch" type tailgate, believing this would rectify my issue, only to be thwarted because I hadn't considered the bed rails while turning. So beware, all truck/trailer/hitch combinations present different challenges.



Jess



Note: some 5vr's with long overhang front bedrooms are not going to work well with a shortbed truck, no matter what you do.

Thanks for your thoughts JJ



We got side tracked when we were down in So Cal with the selling of our property there and the wife breaking her ankle, and have yet to REALLY look at trailers. So that was the reason for the question on the 5th wheel we are still looking at different things and dont want to make MONEY mistakes.



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