I bought a Companion 5th wheel hitch last year for my Denali crewcab dually. My trailer is a KZ Inferno 4012 toy hauler. After a 6400 mi. cross country trip I noticed that the base of the hitch was denting the corrigations in the bed. I sent an email to B&W asking if they had any advice. Within an hour I recieved a reply stating that they were sending pans that would match the corrigations in the bed. In three days I got a 30lb box with formed, heavy guage plates,powder coated to match the rest of the hitch. They attach with the hardware provided and spread the weight out on the lower corrigations solving the problem. Best part, NO CHARGE! Who does that???What a Company B&W is!! I thought customer service like that was a thing of the past!B&W, Quality products, Quality customer service,American attitude, American made!If you need a hitch, here's where to buy it.

Good to hear a positive story on here about what looks like a great company.

A few years back, when they needed to lay workers off, they kept them employed doing things around town. Making a playground, painting peoples houses etc.Here's the video of NBC news interviewing the owner.http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21134540/vp/29744284#29728257NOTE: I am in no way affiliated with B&W...I wish I were!

Nice to hear of a good recommendation for a change.Excellent and kudos to B & W

The absolute first aftermarket item being installed when our new truck arrives will be a B & W Hitch and Companion. What a great example of customer service, employee appreciation and community responsibility.

Great company and top notch products that go along with that customer service.

B & W Hitches | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

nremtp143
Explorer
Nov 25, 2013
I've had 3 B&W Turnover Ball hitches now and one Companion. I've loved them all and all have been trouble free. The best customer service company I've ever dealt with. They sent me the pads for my new '13 truck and a head leveling kit when I called about that, all at no charge. The Most important thing to me nowadays is that it is 100% American made with American steel.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Nov 25, 2013
It doesn't seem like much, but that little spring works! It keeps the head tilted slightly back towards the rear of the bed, which makes hooking up a little easier. The weight of the head made it tilt towards the front of the bed before and made hitching a little awkward.

Not a big thing, but this is the type of thing that sets a company apart: they listen to comments and complaints, no matter how trivial.
proptwister
Explorer
Nov 25, 2013
SoCalDesertRider wrote:
sljkansas wrote:
SoCal B&W does make a slider Companion Slider. Also they make a 20K Companion

They also make a spring for the companion plate to keep the head in a flatter position when hooking. Called them and the sent it free of charge.

Great company, Still privately owned and all made in USA.

Also if you need new U-bolts, they will ship then to you free of charge.
I had heard about the spring to help hooking up. Sounds like a good idea to me. :) The 20K Companion I think had just come out last time I checked. Also a good idea for those with medium duty trucks and huge trailers. Thanks for the links!

I'll have to check into the spring on the head. I can see where that would come in handy when you are by yourself.

Just got the new 20K Companion installed and used it this weekend. Very similar to the old design but instead of the u-bolts clamping the base to the post, the whole thing bolts to the post. The locking pin is still retained like the old one so no one can just come by and pull the release pin, just goes about it in a different way. Looks kind of confusing at first but once you figure it out, very simple, yet secure. I bought just the base and reused my head unit.

Matt
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer II
Nov 25, 2013
sljkansas wrote:
SoCal B&W does make a slider Companion Slider. Also they make a 20K Companion

They also make a spring for the companion plate to keep the head in a flatter position when hooking. Called them and the sent it free of charge.

Great company, Still privately owned and all made in USA.

Also if you need new U-bolts, they will ship then to you free of charge.
I had heard about the spring to help hooking up. Sounds like a good idea to me. :) The 20K Companion I think had just come out last time I checked. Also a good idea for those with medium duty trucks and huge trailers. Thanks for the links!
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer II
Nov 25, 2013
ricatic wrote:
SoCalDesertRider wrote:
Yep, B&W truly is an awesome company, great to their employess and customers, and they make excellent products that work reliably and exceptionally well. I have the Turnoverball gooseneck hitch and the adjustable receiver ball hitch too. Both are great. :)

B&W needs a little more product innovation. If they were to make a sliding version of their Companion hitch, it would sell like hotcakes to folks with short bed trucks that want a B&W, but need a slider. I really don't know why they haven't come out with one yet. Another company has already come out with one, to fit B&W's own Turnoverball socket.

It would also be good if they made an air cushioned version of the Companion. Those with really big trailers, being towed by stiffly sprung 1-ton duallys and medium duty class trucks would likely buy it up.
I looked at their new sliding Companion at the Hershey Show last Fall....here is a link to their YouTube video:

Companion Slider Video

Regards
That's awesome! :B Thanks for posting! I've been off the forum and not following RV'ing issues for a couple years. Guess I missed a few cool things!
sljkansas
Explorer
Nov 25, 2013
SoCal B&W does make a slider Companion Slider. Also they make a 20K Companion

They also make a spring for the companion plate to keep the head in a flatter position when hooking. Called them and the sent it free of charge.

Great company, Still privately owned and all made in USA.

Also if you need new U-bolts, they will ship then to you free of charge.
ricatic
Explorer
Nov 25, 2013
SoCalDesertRider wrote:
Yep, B&W truly is an awesome company, great to their employess and customers, and they make excellent products that work reliably and exceptionally well. I have the Turnoverball gooseneck hitch and the adjustable receiver ball hitch too. Both are great. :)

B&W needs a little more product innovation. If they were to make a sliding version of their Companion hitch, it would sell like hotcakes to folks with short bed trucks that want a B&W, but need a slider. I really don't know why they haven't come out with one yet. Another company has already come out with one, to fit B&W's own Turnoverball socket.

It would also be good if they made an air cushioned version of the Companion. Those with really big trailers, being towed by stiffly sprung 1-ton duallys and medium duty class trucks would likely buy it up.

I looked at their new sliding Companion at the Hershey Show last Fall....here is a link to their YouTube video:

Companion Slider Video

Regards
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer II
Nov 25, 2013
Yep, B&W truly is an awesome company, great to their employess and customers, and they make excellent products that work reliably and exceptionally well. I have the Turnoverball gooseneck hitch and the adjustable receiver ball hitch too. Both are great. :)

B&W needs a little more product innovation. If they were to make a sliding version of their Companion hitch, it would sell like hotcakes to folks with short bed trucks that want a B&W, but need a slider. I really don't know why they haven't come out with one yet. Another company has already come out with one, to fit B&W's own Turnoverball socket.

It would also be good if they made an air cushioned version of the Companion. Those with really big trailers, being towed by stiffly sprung 1-ton duallys and medium duty class trucks would likely buy it up.
lincster
Explorer
Nov 25, 2013
720Deere wrote:
They have a retrofit kit for the 2011-2014 Ford Superduty trucks as well. To accommodate the factory fifth wheel prep kit, Ford put large flat spots in the floor which left the Companion hitch hanging in the air on both ends. My Companion was over 3 years old when I bought my 2011 F350 and when I called B&W they sent the parts out no charge. In my opinion that is beyond good customer service. Like others have said, they are a stand up company and it is nearly impossible to find better people these days.

Same here. Had my hitch for 7 years. Bought a 2012 F350 and they sent the pads free of charge. Awesome company.
720Deere
Explorer
Nov 24, 2013
They have a retrofit kit for the 2011-2014 Ford Superduty trucks as well. To accommodate the factory fifth wheel prep kit, Ford put large flat spots in the floor which left the Companion hitch hanging in the air on both ends. My Companion was over 3 years old when I bought my 2011 F350 and when I called B&W they sent the parts out no charge. In my opinion that is beyond good customer service. Like others have said, they are a stand up company and it is nearly impossible to find better people these days.