B/W w/Ram 2014 vs. 2016

I am here to tell you after a trip from SoCal to Indiana thru OK and returning across Colorado Utah and LasVegas towing a 23K 5er I am VERY happy to have such a rock solid hitch with the 4 point puck system that is a direct connection the the frame. There are places that are so bad that you literally cringe hoping the truck and RV will stay connected!

When I moved from our 2011 Ram 3500 to our 2016 Ram 3500, I upgraded the hitch from the 20K rated B&W Companion RVK3500 that utilized the B&W Turnoverball hitch to the 25K rated B&W Companion RVK3600 that attaches via the 2016 Ram's puck system. The Turnoverball-type Companions (18K and 20k) served us well for 15 years, but if I'm going to make a massive upgrade in the truck's capabilities, I wanted to upgrade the hitch capabilities at the same time.

Rusty

mtofell1 wrote:
Yep, would be getting another short bed and using my slider - just trying to figure out the attachment.

I get that the spread out puck thing is better but does that mean the centered single puck attachment is bad with a 2016?

I work with building codes and houses and this type of thing comes up all the time. Just because a slight improvement comes out to make something safer or more energy efficient, everyone immediately assumes the old way is bad. Is that kind of what is in play here with the single center puck versus spread out pucks? Would the setup of the 2016 be the same as my 2014 once the 2016 is drilled out? Or, did something else change with the attachment underneath to make the spread setup better and/or the single center puck worse (than it was in 2014)?

Thanks for the advice everyone.

4 points of attachment are generally always better than one!

I think the Ram factory ball is round in the bed so your hitch won't work with it as it need to be square in the bed like your B&W.

Using the turnover ball is the same for the 2016 as it was for the 2014. You could remove the turnover setup and install it in the new truck or buy another one. The RVK3405 requires the turnover ball from B&W and will not work with the RAM gooseneck hitch.

I choose to go with the RAM pucks, a Demco 6099 picture frame and a RVK3270 slider. I do not like the idea of the truck bed carrying the weight of the trailer. You could call B&W and ask how much it would cost to convert your existing hitch to a RVK3270. Over half of your parts are the same as the RVK3270, however you would need a picture frame. You might ask B&W if they are working on a Ram puck base for their slider. I would convert mine maybe and sell the picture frame.

However if you are happy with the one you have then install the turnover ball and trailer on!

Yep, would be getting another short bed and using my slider - just trying to figure out the attachment.

I get that the spread out puck thing is better but does that mean the centered single puck attachment is bad with a 2016?

I work with building codes and houses and this type of thing comes up all the time. Just because a slight improvement comes out to make something safer or more energy efficient, everyone immediately assumes the old way is bad. Is that kind of what is in play here with the single center puck versus spread out pucks? Would the setup of the 2016 be the same as my 2014 once the 2016 is drilled out? Or, did something else change with the attachment underneath to make the spread setup better and/or the single center puck worse (than it was in 2014)?

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Here we go again! The factory pucks are the best way to install a hitch period. It is foolish to not take advantage of this superior setup for a hitch that carries the weight on the bed floor and not the trucks frame.

B.O.Plenty, your suggested solution will cost almost as much as the factory pucks and a RVK3600.

Until one sees how robust the puck system is, they might have a hard time understanding it.

To the OP, are you getting another short bed?

Chris

If you haven't bought the truck yet..get one without the fifth wheel pucks in the bed. (It's an option). Install the B&W turnover ball gooseneck setup for your truck and use the hitch you have..

B.O.

BEST thing to do is sell what you have and get the B&W RVK3600, that is what I did when going from my 2011 Dually to current 2015 Dually.

mtofell1 wrote:
I'm currently running a B/W slider in my 2014 Ram that came with the single hole in the middle of the bed. I see in looking at 2016 models that things have changed and now there are 4 holes spread out in the bed. What are the options to make my hitch work with one of these newer trucks?

Your 2014 has the B&W after market turnover ball gooseneck installed. As pointed out if you now are going to a long bed you can just get the B&W RVK3600 base. If you still want to use your B&W slider, then remove the B&W turnover ball setup, as your hitch will not work with RAM gooseneck ball.

Chris