Forum Discussion

cummins2014's avatar
cummins2014
Explorer
Jan 29, 2021

B&W Fifth Wheel Hitch

Well ,here goes . My son is in the process of buying a new fifth wheel ,and 2021 Ford 350 Superduty. Short bed of course :) Heres the question ,we came across a near new B&W Companion slider ,a year old for a great price , problem is it takes the B&W ball ,and they don't fit the OE puck system on these trucks . So, I guess there is no way around getting that hitch to fit ??. If so ,with the money he is spending whats another 2K :B Lots of choices.

I would advise him to get the steel rail mount Andersen ,and the frame adapter , same as I have, but IMO there are better choices, now without having to go the adapter, like I did in 2014.

19 Replies

  • Cummins12V98 wrote:
    If it's a great price then contact B&W and see if the puck base will work with the rest???


    Just talked to the guy that was selling the B&W ,yes he can switch out the base, problem was for him, the new base is $1100, ,and then trying to sell a base that really doesn't work on any of the new trucks with the puck system. He thought it would be easier to sell the entire hitch . Still the same problem doesn't work on the new trucks. The hitch is only a year old. What B&W has done here is made a hitch that only works one way ,with their gooseneck ball. It kind of makes sense ,if you want the Companion just buy the one that fits the OE pucks, IMO thats the better way.
  • Yes, the 3300 breaks down easily into 2 pieces! The top 75 lbs, the base 78 lbs. There is just no reason to get an adapter involved, unless needs to be, like yours.

    Nice new complete rig, just do it right, with direct to pucks. B&W is not concerned about fitting old style hitch, to new OEMs. They make a great base to connect to the OEM pucks.

    I'm not suggesting this, but seems there is an option type adapter to make the square fit the round hole of some balls.

    The KZs were a great FW, and hopefully still are!

    Your son needs to join the forum, if he has not already.

    Jerry
  • 4x4ord wrote:
    I wouldn’t trade my B&W Companion straight across for a brand new B&W Companion slider. I’m almost certain I’d never unpin a sliding hitch if I had one so I wouldn’t want the extra weight to throw around. If he thinks he needs a sliding hitch he should get an auto slide.


    Agreed after towing a fifth wheel with a short bed for many years, no need for a slider. Big reason I like the that rail mount Andersen as well as I do.

    Many really like the auto slide. I nearly bought one a few years back. A friend ,and neighbor had the Superglide, and after seeing the hitching issues ,maintenance etc ,I stayed away from them.
    That Andersen hitch is so simple ,no maintenance ,easy to hitch ,and unhitch. Have no desire to go back to a standard hitch .
  • Cummins12V98 wrote:
    If it's a great price then contact B&W and see if the puck base will work with the rest???


    Thats an option .Problem with that B&W is takes the B&W ball, that ball will not fit in the puck system of these trucks. I believe the B&W ball has a square shank, these new OE puck systems takes the round shank gooseneck balls . Absolutely makes no sense why B&W would build that hitch not to fit our OE systems .

    Its a great price, the hitch is a year old ,the guy bought a new Ram truck with the puck system ,can't use this existing B&W hitch, had to order the Companion that fits the puck system. He would of preferred to keep his old one. He liked the hitch, just didn't fit . I think he pursued his options ,and it just wasn't going to happen. We haven't checked into any further.
  • MFL wrote:
    My opinion...I'd not get the single point companion hitch for a 21 model truck. It has the puck system, get the 3300 puck hitch! He does not need a slider with the new Ford. Great that he bought the right truck, and sure the FW will be nice too!! A new 3300 is about $1,200. What a nice way, for Dad to spend his soon to arrive stimulus check.

    I noticed a 3300 on FB marketplace about a week ago, it was 2 years old, looked like new, just some scratches on head surface, for $500. It was gone next day, but would not hurt to look on some of the various items for sale markets.

    Jerry



    Especially with that cheap aluminum bed on the Fords :B Doesn't need a hitch bending up his bed . That kids got more money then I got, he can buy his own **** hitch. He is looking at a 34' KZ Durango ,I believe thats the brand. Not a monster by any means.

    He is going to be in the same situation as I am when he gets to Montana, needs to have his hitch out of the way to transport his pontoon boat to fish. Thats the reason I went with the rail mount Andersen. He has no objections of doing the same as I have , frame adapter ,and the rail mount Andersen . At least that way he is using his truck OE puck system. It has worked well for me. . He has three or four frame adapter options, some more low profile then others . As far as cost ,about the same as a quality standard hitch . Only drawback it is a two piece setup ,adapter ,and hitch . If you want to look at it that way. My adapter never comes out of the bed , basically no different then back when we had bed rails . Nice thing about it, it does come out if wanted for whatever reason. I never found a reason yet

    If that 3300 breaks down in a couple pieces ,thats an option . I agree he doesn't need a slider . I told him that, and he's seen where I have to back into my RV pad, and thats as much as I have to turn a fifth wheel backing in anywhere. That fifth wheel he is looking at ,does have some very rounded corners on the front cap . We will get it figured out.
  • If it's a great price then contact B&W and see if the puck base will work with the rest???
  • My opinion...I'd not get the single point companion hitch for a 21 model truck. It has the puck system, get the 3300 puck hitch! He does not need a slider with the new Ford. Great that he bought the right truck, and sure the FW will be nice too!! A new 3300 is about $1,200. What a nice way, for Dad to spend his soon to arrive stimulus check.

    I noticed a 3300 on FB marketplace about a week ago, it was 2 years old, looked like new, just some scratches on head surface, for $500. It was gone next day, but would not hurt to look on some of the various items for sale markets.

    Jerry
  • 4x4ord's avatar
    4x4ord
    Explorer III
    I wouldn’t trade my B&W Companion straight across for a brand new B&W Companion slider. I’m almost certain I’d never unpin a sliding hitch if I had one so I wouldn’t want the extra weight to throw around. If he thinks he needs a sliding hitch he should get an auto slide.
  • Contact B&W directly and see what they say VS guessing. If no luck, then sell what he has and get the right B&W hitch.