B W Hitch question.

[CampingN_C_]

Well after 14 years in the TT forum I'm finally jumping over here. I've got a toy hauler on order and have purchased a not so used B W companion. It's currently setup all the way toward the rear. If I understand the directions online there's 6" of front to back adjustment.
I don't want to rely on the dealer to set it up correctly and need to know what's involved on selecting where to set it. I would think rear of axle would not be ideal. Is that adjustment more for a short bed truck to gain clearance?
I understand the height adjustment may not be determined until I hook up, just curious about the front to rear.

[gkainz]

Jhurk wrote:
Anybody have a tip for not hitting thr 5er when backing up with tailgate down? When going straight back I have no problem as I have a noodle pushed on my Anderson ball so I stop when I’m touching pin but when I am at an angle I’ve come very close to hitting 5er. If you have a spotter it’s fine but without it can be tricky!

GOAL ... "get out and look" which I end up doing a lot if the clearance is in doubt. I have closed the tailgate once the pinbox was fully inside the truck bed a few times and then continued backing in.

I have needed a spotter a few times to help open/close the tailgate when hooking/unhooking on an unavoidable angle.

[Jhurk]

Anybody have a tip for not hitting thr 5er when backing up with tailgate down? When going straight back I have no problem as I have a noodle pushed on my Anderson ball so I stop when I’m touching pin but when I am at an angle I’ve come very close to hitting 5er. If you have a spotter it’s fine but without it can be tricky!

[MFL]

Yes, like I mentioned previously, some models, by way of design, or length of pinbox, will make opening/closing tailgate an issue. My FW design works great, and has an extended pin. I am about 1" ahead of axle center, with a 6' 9" bed, and can lower tailgate, walk between when straight. With the EZ-turn front cap, no issue turning/backing either.

Jerry

[greende]

I have mine set all the way to the rear. The problem isn't my long bed DRW, it's the way my 5er overhang is constructed. I come very close to hitting the front of the trailer with the tailgate even straight on.

[CampingN_C_]

I'll probably just leave it alone until I get there and then adjust accordingly. No sense it messing with it now I guess.

LIKE2BUILD. Thanks for the Timbren info, I'll definitely be doing those or airbags. I'll spare everyone the published weight details for now. Some would have chest pains if I posted those this early in the morning. 🙂

[tinner12002]

LIKE2BUILD wrote:
Oh, one more thing....Timbrens are gold on these trucks. I love the coil spring read suspension and never had a problem with it but I decided to install Timbrens for those 'just in case' max loads. WOW, the truck feels amazingly solid with those installed. I left out the spacer so unloaded the rubber sets 3/4" off the stop. When under load the rubber springs really firm things up and I feel no body roll at all.

Yeah I had a set of those too, and yes it was, when loaded, amazingly solid alright, like a log wagon...couldn't wait to get those off, threw them away and put air bags on, the difference between night and day!!

[tinner12002]

CampingN.C. wrote:
I do have a long bed so I'll move it up before I go get it. I was just curious as the PO hand a long bed as well but had it all the way to the rear. I can't imagine having any clearance issues with a long bed at all right ?

I have mine set as center of axle and I'm still able to have clearance to have tailgate down when hooking up. Two inches closer I think would be a little tight.

[Wood_chip]

MFL wrote:

CampingN.C. wrote:
I do have a long bed so I'll move it up before I go get it. I was just curious as the PO hand a long bed as well but had it all the way to the rear. I can't imagine having any clearance issues with a long bed at all right ?

Should be no issue FW to cab with 8' bed, but too far forward, on some models, may cause issue with tailgate lowering, and clearance between tailgate and FW, when hitching/unhitching.

Jerry

I had to adjust my companion to the rear position behind the axel due do the tailgate clearance with the trailer when open. This was using the factory pucks. Seemed odd that I would need to that with a 8' foot bed and extended MoRryde pinbox but that is the case.

[ACZL]

Not sure about the Companion, but with the Patriot, you can remove the hitch, pull the pins and flip base around, re-install the hitch and see what you get for clearance. I know I gained a few inches and only made a couple hundred pound diff on truck axles. In the end, we have it in rearward most holes and a slow as it will go on height. Happy w/ set up.

[LIKE2BUILD]

Oh, one more thing....Timbrens are gold on these trucks. I love the coil spring read suspension and never had a problem with it but I decided to install Timbrens for those 'just in case' max loads. WOW, the truck feels amazingly solid with those installed. I left out the spacer so unloaded the rubber sets 3/4" off the stop. When under load the rubber springs really firm things up and I feel no body roll at all.

[LIKE2BUILD]

CampingN.C. wrote:
I do have a long bed so I'll move it up before I go get it. I was just curious as the PO hand a long bed as well but had it all the way to the rear. I can't imagine having any clearance issues with a long bed at all right ?

I have a long bed too. My hitch doesn't have any adjustment forward or back but my pin location is just about directly over the axle, maybe slightly forward. I can get super tight turns on my 5er and not come close to the cab. I'd move the B&W mounts to the forward most position.

Does the dealer have models of T/H's similar to what you ordered on the lot? If so you could use that for reference height measurements. Ask them to set one parallel to the ground then measure from the bottom of the trailer to the ground then from the bottom of the pin box to the ground. On your truck measure to the top of the bed rails and see how that compares to the 5er height to determine if it will clear the bed.

To set the hitch height take the difference between the 5er height and the pin box height. On your truck, lay a board across the bed rails and measure down to the hitch head. Does that measurement just about equal the 5er? Try to make any necessary vertical adjustments on the hitch but you might also have to adjust the pin box. My hitch is in the bottom bolt hole location and everything sets pretty well.

KJ

[Helmsey]

MFL wrote:

CampingN.C. wrote:
I do have a long bed so I'll move it up before I go get it. I was just curious as the PO hand a long bed as well but had it all the way to the rear. I can't imagine having any clearance issues with a long bed at all right ?

Should be no issue FW to cab with 8' bed, but too far forward, on some models, may cause issue with tailgate lowering, and clearance between tailgate and FW, when hitching/unhitching.

Jerry

That's the reason I have mine all the way back. With it set that way I have about 2" between the tailgate (when it's down) and the part of the 5er it would contact. I could move it forward to be closer to center over the rear axle but then I'd have to stop and close my tailgate before I hooked all the way up.

[Halmfamily]

Ours is set full forward and at its highest setting which leaves us with 6" of rail clearance.

[MFL]

CampingN.C. wrote:
I do have a long bed so I'll move it up before I go get it. I was just curious as the PO hand a long bed as well but had it all the way to the rear. I can't imagine having any clearance issues with a long bed at all right ?

Should be no issue FW to cab with 8' bed, but too far forward, on some models, may cause issue with tailgate lowering, and clearance between tailgate and FW, when hitching/unhitching.

Jerry