B & W Hitch

[Golden_boys]

Need some info if anyone has installed a bed saver onto the B & W Companion Hitch. We have the hitch that was made for the Ford truck. Thank you Semper FI

[StumpyWilson]

glazier wrote:

StumpyWilson wrote:

Because the internet is mostly anonymous, I have no problem admitting that I once forgot to put the truck in park before trying to unhitch the trailer... so, there I am, standing on the back tire to reach into the bed of the truck, completely unaware that the truck is actually pulling against the thing a bit as it is trying to roll down a slight slope away from the trailer.

Nothing happened when I pulled the pin.

That story could have ended bad, glad you didn't get hurt, or tear something up.

It was very scary at the time, of course. Afterwards, with no persons or property harmed, I could appreciate the humor of my running frantically alongside my vehicle shouting "oh s#*t, oh s#*t, oh s#*t!"

[glazier]

StumpyWilson wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
I've done it and it never opened. I forgot to put the pin in and drove out of the campground and down the road and at the stop sign to get on the main road remembered. No issues. If that hitch is latched, it's latched!

I have no desire to see if the arm would eventually swing far enough open to unhitch, but I really don't think it would. Hope I never find out. 🙂

Because the internet is mostly anonymous, I have no problem admitting that I once forgot to put the truck in park before trying to unhitch the trailer... so, there I am, standing on the back tire to reach into the bed of the truck, completely unaware that the truck is actually pulling against the thing a bit as it is trying to roll down a slight slope away from the trailer.

Nothing happened when I pulled the pin.

That story could have ended bad, glad you didn't get hurt, or tear something up.

HOWEVER, I hardly touched the arm before it swung open and all heck broke loose, my footing rolled out from under me and I had to run alongside my truck in a panic to jump in the open driver door. I'm sure the scene was hilarious from a third-party perspective.

Don't try that at home, kids.

[StumpyWilson]

fj12ryder wrote:
I've done it and it never opened. I forgot to put the pin in and drove out of the campground and down the road and at the stop sign to get on the main road remembered. No issues. If that hitch is latched, it's latched!

I have no desire to see if the arm would eventually swing far enough open to unhitch, but I really don't think it would. Hope I never find out. 🙂

Because the internet is mostly anonymous, I have no problem admitting that I once forgot to put the truck in park before trying to unhitch the trailer... so, there I am, standing on the back tire to reach into the bed of the truck, completely unaware that the truck is actually pulling against the thing a bit as it is trying to roll down a slight slope away from the trailer.

Nothing happened when I pulled the pin.

HOWEVER, I hardly touched the arm before it swung open and all heck broke loose, my footing rolled out from under me and I had to run alongside my truck in a panic to jump in the open driver door. I'm sure the scene was hilarious from a third-party perspective.

Don't try that at home, kids.

[Cummins12V98]

"I did the pull test, a couple of times, and then could plainly see that there was no way this hitch would come loose, once the jaws were closed around the pin, and the safety pin installed. Now I use the look test, works for me"

Nice to see some people can still think for then selves!

[Goostoff]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"I can drive off forgetting to put the pin in and feel comfortable that it will not come lose"

Don't think I would try that!

I am probably the biggest cheer leader on here for the B&W but I am not that brave.

I "thought" the RBW I had years ago was the best, not hardly.

I would never purposely drive off with no pin , but I did do a vigorous pull test with the rotochoks on, and landing gear down. There was no way that was going to come unhooked.

[MFL]

My Ford dealer, is also a B&W dealer/installer. I had them install a new B&W, when my new truck arrived, before I even saw the truck. It was my first B&W, so I read all the info, including the part where they say to do a pull test.

I did the pull test, a couple of times, and then could plainly see that there was no way this hitch would come loose, once the jaws were closed around the pin, and the safety pin installed. Now I use the look test, works for me.

I don't think the jaws could open, if you didn't put the pin in, but I would not try it, or tell anyone else, that it would be okay.

I would not spend the money for a bedsaver, with a B&W hitch.

Just another happy B&W owner,
Jerry

[Cummins12V98]

LOCK THE HANDLE

[fj12ryder]

I've done it and it never opened. I forgot to put the pin in and drove out of the campground and down the road and at the stop sign to get on the main road remembered. No issues. If that hitch is latched, it's latched!

I have no desire to see if the arm would eventually swing far enough open to unhitch, but I really don't think it would. Hope I never find out. 🙂

[glazier]

If you own a B&W hitch you better make sure to install the safety pin in the latch before driving off. I guarantee the handle will open without that pin inserted.

[Cummins12V98]

"I can drive off forgetting to put the pin in and feel comfortable that it will not come lose"

Don't think I would try that!

I am probably the biggest cheer leader on here for the B&W but I am not that brave.

I "thought" the RBW I had years ago was the best, not hardly.

[Goostoff]

ricatic wrote:
I maintain that high hitching the B&W is impossible...missing the hitch completely with the kingpin is possible if you have the trailer 3 or 4 inches above the locking jaws...or the hitching person did not look at or attempt to place the safety pin in the locking lever...

This is fact...the locking lever is self closing on the B&W. It is impossible for the kingpin to enter the locking mechanism at any height other than optimal without completely closing the locking/release lever. The handle automatically and visually rotates about 90 degrees to the closed position...if the handle does not close to a point where a little push to adjust for the locking pin is all that may be required to insert this pin, the hitch is not closed...by a large margin...use the hitch one time, correctly, and it becomes obvious that an unbroken hitch, can not be slightly mis-hitched...

Regards

AGREED X2!!!!

I always wondered what all the hype was about the B&W system until I seen one in action. I now own one, and there is no way to high hitch it. If you are even slightly high the locking handle will not close. and when it does close it is locked. The safety pin is just a safety pin. I can drive off forgetting to put the pin in and feel comfortable that it will not come lose.

[laknox]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

kennethwooster wrote:
I bought a B&W setup for the Ford kit. The installer was very good about telling me how to use the hitch. Said he explained the to one couple and they did a very high hitch, and dropped the trailer. I always start with the trailer just low enough to catch the lower lip of the hitch. It picks the trailer up some, but guarantees correct connection. I noticed the bed saver bolts to that lip which would make it hard to hatch they way I like to hitch. I do a pull test each time, even though I know I hitched it each time. Did the same with Pullright and Reese. B&W is the best hitch I ever used. Hitch per instructions, and you will not drop the trailer.

Your example of how the installer explained to a person on how to hitch and the did a very high hitch is why I don't believe any of these stories because if the bottom of the kingpin is sitting on the top of the 1" thick jaws the space between the plates will be a full 2" with the B&W, I just measured mine. So if someone even looked they would know it would not stay connected. The hitches with thin jaws are more likely to be dropped because the space between the plates is thinner but still there is a space of about 1 1/2" and never should happen!

BTW if your RV is not secured by hitting the lower edge of the hitch you could easily push it off the blocks.

I back under so the hitch and kingpin box are close then adjust the hight of the RV so the plates are in the same plane or pinbox slightly lower then back up and latch.

Why would you "push it off the blocks"? You =should= have the FW wheels tightly chocked so it can't roll. The chocks should be the =last= thing stored before you move out, since you should be doing a pull-test with wheels chocked (even with the B&W).

Lyle

[laknox]

kennethwooster wrote:
I bought a B&W setup for the Ford kit. The installer was very good about telling me how to use the hitch. Said he explained the to one couple and they did a very high hitch, and dropped the trailer. I always start with the trailer just low enough to catch the lower lip of the hitch. It picks the trailer up some, but guarantees correct connection. I noticed the bed saver bolts to that lip which would make it hard to hatch they way I like to hitch. I do a pull test each time, even though I know I hitched it each time. Did the same with Pullright and Reese. B&W is the best hitch I ever used. Hitch per instructions, and you will not drop the trailer.

Not only do you like to do it that way (me, too), but the instructions for the hitch from B&W also say to do this. If you don't, you're not following factory instructions, so all bets are off.

Lyle

[Cummins12V98]

ricatic wrote:
I maintain that high hitching the B&W is impossible...missing the hitch completely with the kingpin is possible if you have the trailer 3 or 4 inches above the locking jaws...or the hitching person did not look at or attempt to place the safety pin in the locking lever...

This is fact...the locking lever is self closing on the B&W. It is impossible for the kingpin to enter the locking mechanism at any height other than optimal without completely closing the locking/release lever. The handle automatically and visually rotates about 90 degrees to the closed position...if the handle does not close to a point where a little push to adjust for the locking pin is all that may be required to insert this pin, the hitch is not closed...by a large margin...use the hitch one time, correctly, and it becomes obvious that an unbroken hitch, can not be slightly mis-hitched...

Regards

AGREED!