This is my first B&W hitch. So I am still learning. Those of you that take it in and out of your truck. Do you replace it with the gooseneck ball or just leave the hole empty?If you leave it empty doesn't it get dirty and harder to put the companion hitch back in?If you put the ball in do you put it in upside down so bed is clear? If so doe the latch pin under neath still latch? How much if any grease do you apply?

Our truck is a 2WD. Because the 2WD Ram rides lower than the 4WD (at least ours with the IFS does), there's not enough clearance between the inverted ball and pinion snout of the rear axle to turn the gooseneck ball over for storage. For this application, B&W supplies a small, lightweight plug that fits in the Turnoverball gooseneck hitch and is retained by the latching pin. The plug fits flush with the top of the gooseneck hitch and gives a flat bed floor.Rusty

I put mine in inverted and the pin does slide through it. I have plenty of clearance to do this.I have left it open on several occasions for weeks at a time and the hitch slides right in. I'm guessing unless you are hauling dirt that gets wet and turns to really thick mud that hardens like steel; you won't have a problem because the hitch is heavy enough to break through gunk as it slides down into the hole.

On my 2500HD I flip the ball and put it back in the hole. Now, if you're hauling trash and/or dirt, it =can= work in and jam up whatever's in the hole. I'd =love= to see B&W make a sealed plug that would help with this. Still, a very rare problem.Lyle

Only put the ball in if hauling dirt or gravel.

I put my ball in upside down, so it fills the hole and makes the bed flat.

B&W companion hitch question | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

RDS33
Explorer
Jun 28, 2015
I don't leave mine in unless needed. I know that they can bind in the hole and be very difficult to remove. So if you want it in remove once and a while to clean it. I know of one of my son's friends had to jack from the bottom and still had difficulty getting his out.
Toolguy5
Explorer III
Jun 27, 2015
Thanks to all.

I also talked to B&W, they mentioned that a small forgers coffee can lid fits perfect on the hole with plug in. I will be. Removing my hitch next week so I will see how it goes.
Sturgeon-Phish
Explorer
Jun 26, 2015
I fill the hole with the turn over ball when the hitch is removed
Ram4Sam
Explorer
Jun 26, 2015
To keep the crud out of mine, I just cut a six inch disc out of a piece of magnetic door sign material scrap I got from a sign maker. Covers the hole and stays put......of course, it looks better if your truck is white.

Sam
RustyJC
Explorer
Jun 23, 2015
brirene wrote:
Right now I'm running with the hitch out for some extra room, but left the post in place, primarily because I'm usually alone and keeping the pin open to replace the post is a pain.

On the B&W Turnoverball gooseneck hitches I've owned, it's just a matter of pulling out the handle and turning it to the right. The pin locks in the retracted position until you turn it to the left, and the spring will snap the pin into the locked position assuming the holes are lined up.

Rusty
brirene
Explorer
Jun 23, 2015
Right now I'm running with the hitch out for some extra room, but left the post in place, primarily because I'm usually alone and keeping the pin open to replace the post is a pain. If I needed the flat bed I would just leave the hole open. My tonneau cover does make a difference. I would cover the hole if hauling something that might get in there and muck it up.
Helmsey
Explorer
Jun 23, 2015
If the hitch is out I leave the hole empty. I haven't had any issue inserting the hitch back into the truck afterwards.
AZ_T_T
Explorer
Jun 23, 2015
I put my ball in upside down, so it fills the hole and makes the bed flat.
Halmfamily
Explorer
Jun 23, 2015
Only put the ball in if hauling dirt or gravel.
laknox
Nomad
Jun 23, 2015
On my 2500HD I flip the ball and put it back in the hole. Now, if you're hauling trash and/or dirt, it =can= work in and jam up whatever's in the hole. I'd =love= to see B&W make a sealed plug that would help with this. Still, a very rare problem.

Lyle

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B&W companion hitch question

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