B&W Gooseneck Hitch for 5th Wheel?

[kboettcher]

Going to get a 5th wheel and was wondering if you guys could give me any pros and cons of the B&W turnover ball for towing an RV. I was wanting to go with the B&W setup to keep the bed of my box clear. Any response would be greatly appreciated. thanks Ken

 

[jelag]

I have several of these hitches and like them... . they are a gooseneck style hitch and are rated well... its simple to install but we suggest the use of a good lock-tite style adhesive when you do the job..... they sell a companion hitch that we also have to connect our 5er to the same truck... . We've upgraded the fasteners and nuts on the frame and their brackets because we had several of their nylon lock nuts work loose...

What I don't like is the bolt that tensions the companion hitch to the socket in the bed... this needs to be torqued and later released when you remove the hitch so it means getting into the bed of the truck and working with a wrench at install and removal time... . I've actually attached a magnet to the side of the companion hitch and leave a ratcheting box end wrench on the magnet with the companion to install and remove it... .

I'm guessing between 3 trucks we have 500K miles with no problems. . . the highest mileage truck is close to 300K pulling a 22k lb gooseneck trailer... .

Hope this helps. .

 

[Jumbo Jet]

I have the B&W setup. No problems with it pulling thousands of miles.

Cons: Removing the Companion 5th wheel hitch. Once all the nuts are loose, you have to get down and pull the lever to clear the pin that holds the hitch into the gooseneck receiver, then climb back in the truck to take the two pieces out.

Also, the 5th wheel plate is heavier towards the front and tends to tip the wrong way when backing under your load. I fixed that problem with a spring that has to be removed from one end when taking the Companion out of the truck.

As with any 5th wheel hitch, always check your hookup visibly before pulling away. My friend that also has the B&W setup (at my recommendation), dropped his heavy 5th wheel trailer on his new Dodge 3500 and mashed the bed rails. Not a pretty sight!

 

[kboettcher]

Ok, thanks guys for the replys. Did a search on the site too, lots of info on the gooseneck hitch.

 

[kschitoskey]

Excellent tips

Once again my TDR membership pays for itself... great tips jelag. I'm about to take the plunge on a companion; I'll make the upgrades as soon as I get it. I love the B&W set up. Someone here suggested dropping the spare when you do the instal - helped a lot. Very well engineered product.

 

[jelag]

kschitoskey... .

On a long bed truck, from what I remember after doing 3 of these is that there is no time saved with the spare out... but it's been 4 years...

 

[TMRoper1669]

OK well I was a RV Tech For years I currently run the B&W Companion and I would say it's the smoothest riding hitch I have Ever used, I have A 34' Fver and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Alot of people really like the Pull-Right but wait until they see the pictures I have seen of those things coming apart, the reese is second best, unless your like me and like a clean bed, plus I have goosenecks so it easy to switch it up. Companion hands down my favorite, worth the money. By the way with my '08 Canyon Trail 34' My Mega Cab will almost make a true 90 with no problem.

 

[Troubleshooter]

What I don't like is the bolt that tensions the companion hitch to the socket in the bed... this needs to be torqued and later released when you remove the hitch so it means getting into the bed of the truck and working with a wrench at install and removal time... . I've actually attached a magnet to the side of the companion hitch and leave a ratcheting box end wrench on the magnet with the companion to install and remove it... .

Maybe I'm all wrong but I've been fulltiming with the B&W for well over two years now and have had the hitch in and out numerous times. With the exception of occasionally checking the torque, I never touch the bolts. Just pull the handle and lift the base out of the truck bed; put it back in the same way. Never had any problem whatsoever. When I have checked the torque on the bolts, they do not seem to have loosened any.

 

[nunya]

I also agree that the Companion setup is the way to go! About 20 months of use an how many hookups and 15K miles towing and NO issues... ..... and a flat floor on removal.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Maybe I'm all wrong but I've been fulltiming with the B&W for well over two years now and have had the hitch in and out numerous times. With the exception of occasionally checking the torque, I never touch the bolts. Just pull the handle and lift the base out of the truck bed; put it back in the same way. Never had any problem whatsoever. When I have checked the torque on the bolts, they do not seem to have loosened any.

Don't want to say that you are wrong and have some sort of problem, but the torque placed on the top bolt is to place tension on the pin and snug the base to the floor of the truck to keep the companion base from 'rocking' back and forth.

There are two holes in the square bar that fits in the gooseneck hitch. I always make sure the top hole is being used so that I can snug the base to the floor of the truck.

There is no way to release the pin when everything is torqued correctly on mine. Am I doing something wrong?

 

[Bob V]

Maybe I'm all wrong but I've been fulltiming with the B&W for well over two years now and have had the hitch in and out numerous times. With the exception of occasionally checking the torque, I never touch the bolts. Just pull the handle and lift the base out of the truck bed; put it back in the same way. Never had any problem whatsoever. When I have checked the torque on the bolts, they do not seem to have loosened any.

If it is torqued correctly you wont be able to pull the pin. The top bolt needs to be torqued first, then the u-bolts.

 

[RVTRKN]

I own the B&W Elite Series bed and I purchased the Flat bed Companion hitch version for that bed. Yes, it seems to be a hassel with the pulling of the pin and bolting and unbolting, but that is a great safety feature and that is worth the hassel. As soon as you pull a heavy load with it, you will understand why its one of the top hitches on the market. The only down side to it, is its official rating, at 18K GTW, it seems lite for the massive jaws that clamps around the 5ver pin. The transport company I worked for briefly, required a min of 20K and when I asked if the B&W Companion hitch was OK, I was told that hitch is actually under rated and it will be more than adequate for the job.