B&W Hitch

goducks10 wrote:

sdetweil wrote:
because I have rails, I have the B&W Patroit hitch. same excellent hitch quality.

on my truck the hitch is slightly loose in the rails, and makes an annoying small clunk on start/stop at traffic lights..
I found a set of rubber pads put between the hitch and rails to take up the extra space.

Curt rail silencers

x2. I too have the rails and Patriot. My rails are well used and I get some clanking form the base rocking on the rails. I just wedged in some thin metal shims. After that it's super smooth and quiet.

Funny thing happened when we 1st got our B&W. After about a 1/2 seasons use I started to hear what I thought were my springs really squeaking on the 5'er. Drove around like that for a couple trips. One day while fiddling with the hitch I noticed that the two metal tabs that keep the head level were causing the squeak. Sprayed some WD40 on them and they haven't squeaked since.

Thats one heavy fiddle !! :) :B

sdetweil wrote:
because I have rails, I have the B&W Patroit hitch. same excellent hitch quality.

on my truck the hitch is slightly loose in the rails, and makes an annoying small clunk on start/stop at traffic lights..
I found a set of rubber pads put between the hitch and rails to take up the extra space.

Curt rail silencers

x2. I too have the rails and Patriot. My rails are well used and I get some clanking form the base rocking on the rails. I just wedged in some thin metal shims. After that it's super smooth and quiet.

Funny thing happened when we 1st got our B&W. After about a 1/2 seasons use I started to hear what I thought were my springs really squeaking on the 5'er. Drove around like that for a couple trips. One day while fiddling with the hitch I noticed that the two metal tabs that keep the head level were causing the squeak. Sprayed some WD40 on them and they haven't squeaked since.

laknox wrote:

nremtp143 wrote:
Congrats on the B&W! I've had my Companion now through 3 trucks, all with Turnover Ball hitched that I put in myself. Now, two of my closest friends have B&Ws too. One with a Ford OEM and one with the Turnover Ball/Companion like mine...oh and two others WANTING one!

I have the TO Ball, too, as we have a gooseneck trailer and I =love= the clean bed when nothing's needed. I installed my own hitch and helped my brother do his. Only issue I had was getting up the nerve to drill that 4" hole in my bed! :-)

Lyle

Per their direction the hole lines up perfectly. Did my one on my 98 and current 11. The 13 and 14's are even easier if they don't have the factory prep.

nremtp143 wrote:
Congrats on the B&W! I've had my Companion now through 3 trucks, all with Turnover Ball hitched that I put in myself. Now, two of my closest friends have B&Ws too. One with a Ford OEM and one with the Turnover Ball/Companion like mine...oh and two others WANTING one!

I have the TO Ball, too, as we have a gooseneck trailer and I =love= the clean bed when nothing's needed. I installed my own hitch and helped my brother do his. Only issue I had was getting up the nerve to drill that 4" hole in my bed! :-)

Lyle

cuzbcuz wrote:
Assembled our new Companion Hitch today, hooked up to our 5er and towed it for a few miles, the coupling and uncoupling were the best I have seen. The hitch is quiet and smooth. I am very impressed so far !

My only true complaint about it is that mine tends to tip forward when not hitched and with the latch handle extended, so you have to tip it back just before contact with the pin. B&W did send me their little "leveling kit", and it helps, but a $1 rubber bungee cord hooked through the side plate holes and stretched up over the big fore/aft bolt works better. Don't know if the newer designs are a bit better balanced, but I'm not planning on buying one, so I don't care. :-)

Lyle

Congrats on the B&W! I've had my Companion now through 3 trucks, all with Turnover Ball hitched that I put in myself. Now, two of my closest friends have B&Ws too. One with a Ford OEM and one with the Turnover Ball/Companion like mine...oh and two others WANTING one!

because I have rails, I have the B&W Patroit hitch. same excellent hitch quality.

on my truck the hitch is slightly loose in the rails, and makes an annoying small clunk on start/stop at traffic lights..
I found a set of rubber pads put between the hitch and rails to take up the extra space.

Curt rail silencers

I had always bought turnover balls for our Gooseneck applications. When I bought my first fifth wheel in 07 I installed a Reese Signature Series non sliding hitch to use with a Sidewinder. I had no major problems with that set-up, and at that time the Companion did not have a slider. When I saw the Companion Slider I had no doubts about what hitch my new truck would get. It's hard to beat a B&W hitch, they operate so smooth and rattle free. My Slider is as solid as the regular Companion, zero noise.

After Husky, Reese, and yes even Pullright the B&W is by far the best and easiest hitch. I do like the Pullright, but hated the maintaince of the slider, which is easier on the new units. The only thing I don't like about the B&W a guy 5"2" is I have to have a ladder and crawl into the bed to reach the handle and put the keeper pin in. Other then that it is great

I was lucky, I did research and decided on BW then when I bought the dealer there in a hitch, saying he only sells the best hitch, yep a BW.