Best hitch (non-slider)

BigToe wrote:
Please talk more about being able to see "when the hitch and the king pin plate separate when unhitching".

I'm not so sure I understand what you are saying... how the 1/8" difference enables you to see the B&W jaws release? Or see a slight gap between bearing plates when the landing gear has landed in position to bear the weight of the trailer?

Sounds like you've come up with a solution to something that more people might be interested in, regardless of hitch. My insufficent experience however, blinds me to the benefit, and I need a bit more help to understand and appreciate your tip better. I'm making a mental note nevertheless, but I would like to know more.

If you watch the king pin plate and the hitch plate as you are raising the the front of the 5ver up, you will see the two plates separate from each other slightly-that is the point which makes it easy to disconnect since you have no weight from the 5ver on the hitch. I hope this explains it for you.

Please talk more about being able to see "when the hitch and the king pin plate separate when unhitching".

I'm not so sure I understand what you are saying... how the 1/8" difference enables you to see the B&W jaws release? Or see a slight gap between bearing plates when the landing gear has landed in position to bear the weight of the trailer?

Sounds like you've come up with a solution to something that more people might be interested in, regardless of hitch. My insufficent experience however, blinds me to the benefit, and I need a bit more help to understand and appreciate your tip better. I'm making a mental note nevertheless, but I would like to know more.

Big Toe

I assume they went from 1 1/8" jaws to 1" because the slip plate became popular. The jaws being so thick made a very tight fit with a slip plate.

Even with the 1" jaws and a 1/4" slip plate there is not a lot of slop so it makes it harder to see when the hitch and king pin plate separate when un hitching.

I bought a 1/8" thick slip from Hensley and now it is much easier to see the separation when un hitching.

Ha ha.

WellShooter2 wrote:
"Rust on the parts under the bed? Dust on top of the refrigerator?"

If more people were tall enough to daily see and easily reach the top of their refrigerators, those tops would probably be as clean as the other surfaces they see and use in the kitchen. But of sight, out of mind. That way of thinking doesn't sound too responsible with 18K pounds on the table. Concern for corrosion in highly stressd hitch components is not at all about cosmetics or cleanliness.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"I have said this before, the B&W is under rated for sure. Compare it to the Curt you have now. There is no way the Curt is any better/stronger built than the B&W."

Recently, I ran across an old brochure in my files about the B&W Companion hitch, circa the turn of the century. In the older version, the jaws used to be thicker, at "a full 1 1/8" thick." Also, the older version Companions for pickup beds had "a pair of gas charged shock abosorbers... that allow the head to pivot a full 7 degrees right and left helping to prevent side to side binding. The shocks also hold the head level for easier hookup." (from brochure).

And the older, higher rated (22K) version for flatbeds used to have an all welded base, in that the upright towers welded in place to the side bracketes which were welded to a 3/4" plate that tide them together through which the insert post was bolted.

It appears now that the current Companions, all versions, have thinner jaws, at 1 inch. Also, instead of a pair of shock absorbers, there is now only 1.

The flatbed Companion is more bolted now than welded. The uprights are now bolted instead of welded to the side plates, which are bolted istead of welded to the base, which is now a form bent box of 1/4" instead of 3/4". Despite being bolted, the flatbed version is still not adjustable like the pickup version is. The older, all welded version looks "stronger" in the pictures.

The pickup version Companion ratings have remained the same, at 18K trailer weight. However, the flatbed version Companion trailer weight ratings increased, from 18K, to the current 22K. The tongue weight ratings were not specified in the early brochure.

The point being, one cannot always tell how strong a hitch is by it's looks. And in the case of an accident, the other party's attorneys are going to be looking everywhere for liability..., even on top of the refrigerator. Under the bed. And at that rating label.

Unrelated to the comments above:

While studying all the different details between Companions, I learned on the phone with B&W that the 20K OE version Companion that clickes into the Reese / Ford underbed pucks is not as adjustable as the pickup bed Companion that mounts into the Turnover ball post.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
NJRVer

The B&W components are of very high quality. Even if you have some surface rust it will never become a problem.

Buy the best and flush the rest!

X2

Rust on the parts under the bed? Dust on top of the refrigerator? Ohh My !!!

Dave Wilburn wrote:
My truck had a B&W turnover and I planned to add the Companion, then DW picked a 19k lb trailer. I didn't like the idea of a 19K GVW trailer on an 18K hitch. I found the Curt X5 adapter that goes in the B&W and has standard rails. I then put a Curt Q20 20K hitch on that. Great hitch and it all lifts out and leaves the bed empty like the Companion with no tools. I usually just let the trailer pick up the whole thing out of the truck for storage. No lifting needed.

I have said this before, the B&W is under rated for sure. Compare it to the Curt you have now. There is no way the Curt is any better/stronger built than the B&W.

Curt has about 1/2" thick jaws compared to the B&W's 1" thick jaws for example.

I am at 18K and 4,500# with my Mobile Suites and if it were 20K I would not change the hitch.

When anything is engineered they usually have a huge factor built in, some more some less.

My truck had a B&W turnover and I planned to add the Companion, then DW picked a 19k lb trailer. I didn't like the idea of a 19K GVW trailer on an 18K hitch. I found the Curt X5 adapter that goes in the B&W and has standard rails. I then put a Curt Q20 20K hitch on that. Great hitch and it all lifts out and leaves the bed empty like the Companion with no tools. I usually just let the trailer pick up the whole thing out of the truck for storage. No lifting needed.

NJRVer wrote:
BigToe,Lots of valuable info there.Thank you.

Thank you... Sometimes I do wonder if the mountains of info I occasionally post is just white noise, or actually valuable to anyone.

One thing I do try to be is accurate, and on that note, I'd like to update some information I posted about the paint quality of B&W.

On the day I made that post, I ordered another B&W accessory (the inverted fifth wheel pin, part # GNXA4000). It arrived today, new in a fully intact box with all cardboard staples present and no holes, no tears, and no re-taping (quite unlike the Reese box that I also received today from a different retailer).

Upon opening the small cubical B&W box, I found the part's paint to be perfect and flawless. To be fair to B&W, I wanted to make sure to report this updated fact for a balanced and accurate perspective.

BigToe,
Lots of valuable info there.
Thank you.

You need to add the hard plastic strips under the rails in the valleys on the bed or on some trucks the base will move fore and aft. Mine was moving until I installed the strips.