B&W hitch compatibility to Airborne

Oh my gosh! Be VERY careful with what you are doing!!! That Airborne has a wedge which means that the turret pivots. If you remove that wedge and hook it up to a normal hitch without locking the turret you will have catastrophic consequences! Please look up the Reese instruction manual before attempting to tow your 5th wheel without that wedge. General rule is if you remove the wedge you MUST lock the turret with 2 large lockout bolts which in turn prevents the turret from pivoting. And just the opposite when you leave the wedge on you MUST make that the turret is NOT locked by the same 2 bolts. This is extremely important!

Chuck .. wrote:
I have an Airborne hitch on my DRV and am looking to buy a B&W Fifth Wheel hitch. Does anyone have this Airborne hitch? Do you just have to take out the wedge to use it? Here is a link to a picture of it:


Click For Full-Size Image.

First time I have tried to include a picture. Let me know if this doesn't work!
Charles

B&W will not warrant, and discourages using, their hitches with any hitch that moves the pin swing point off the center of the hitch head...period!

Lyle

I will contact Reese to ask for advice.

What Hitch would you recommend for a Air Borne system on a existing 5th wheel.?

Chuck .. wrote:
I will contact Reese to ask for advice.

What Hitch would you recommend for a Air Borne system on a existing 5th wheel.?

I would DUMP that AirBorn and get a MORryde pin box or TrailAire with air bag.

Cummins12V98 wrote:


I would DUMP that AirBorn and get a MORryde pin box or TrailAire with air bag.

In defense of the Airborne (Which I own) It is an amazing pin box if used in the correct configuration. (Especially if you have a short box truck.) I recommend the Reese Titan hitch if you plan on using the wedge. Very sturdy and removes easily in 2 pieces when you need room in your bed for hauling other things.

Works for me.
Evan

All that scary talk above about 5th Airborne ONLY APPLIES TO THE SIDEWINDER model. The standard 5th Airborne works just like any standard pin box, except that it has an airbag and shock to absorb the up and down motion between the trailer and truck. I have had a 5th Airborne for years and use it on a B & W Hitch and it works great. If you read the B & W instructions, it addresses only those pin boxes that are designed to swivel (like the Sidewinder) to accommodate short bed trucks.

I think I have one of those "SideWinder" Models. I read were a lot of people highly rate B&W hitches and was hoping to purchase one. Any suggestion on a new hitch that might work? Not for sure how to send a picture, but I bet it is a sidewinder.

Charles

Charles I highly advise selling your pin box and getting a MORryde or TrailAire unit and getting a B&W RVK3600. I assume your pin box is designed for a short bed truck?

laknox wrote:

Chuck .. wrote:
I have an Airborne hitch on my DRV and am looking to buy a B&W Fifth Wheel hitch. Does anyone have this Airborne hitch? Do you just have to take out the wedge to use it? Here is a link to a picture of it:


Click For Full-Size Image.

First time I have tried to include a picture. Let me know if this doesn't work!
Charles

B&W will not warrant, and discourages using, their hitches with any hitch that moves the pin swing point off the center of the hitch head...period!

Lyle

Although I am not a big fan of the B&W after seeing one lose it's head you are partly wrong about not being able to use a Sidewinder with a B&W.

If the B&W is one of the puck mounted Companion hitches or rail mounted Patriot hitches B&W will allow the Sidewinder.

It is only the older B&W Companion turnover ball mounted hitches that has a problem with the Sidewinder.

I do not understand why B&W did not give the puck mounted hitches a different name than the Companion. Makes for confusion as the puck system is worlds better than the turnover ball system.