Ha ha.
WellShooter2 wrote:
"Rust on the parts under the bed? Dust on top of the refrigerator?"
If more people were tall enough to daily see and easily reach the top of their refrigerators, those tops would probably be as clean as the other surfaces they see and use in the kitchen. But of sight, out of mind. That way of thinking doesn't sound too responsible with 18K pounds on the table. Concern for corrosion in highly stressd hitch components is not at all about cosmetics or cleanliness.
Cummins12V98 wrote:
"I have said this before, the B&W is under rated for sure. Compare it to the Curt you have now. There is no way the Curt is any better/stronger built than the B&W."
Recently, I ran across an old brochure in my files about the B&W Companion hitch, circa the turn of the century. In the older version, the jaws used to be thicker, at "a full 1 1/8" thick." Also, the older version Companions for pickup beds had
"a pair of gas charged shock abosorbers... that allow the head to pivot a full 7 degrees right and left helping to prevent side to side binding. The
shocks also hold the head level for easier hookup." (from brochure).
And the older, higher rated (22K) version for flatbeds used to have an all welded base, in that the upright towers welded in place to the side bracketes which were welded to a 3/4" plate that tide them together through which the insert post was bolted.
It appears now that the current Companions, all versions, have thinner jaws, at 1 inch. Also, instead of a pair of shock absorbers, there is now only 1.
The flatbed Companion is more bolted now than welded. The uprights are now bolted instead of welded to the side plates, which are bolted istead of welded to the base, which is now a form bent box of 1/4" instead of 3/4". Despite being bolted, the flatbed version is still not adjustable like the pickup version is. The older, all welded version looks "stronger" in the pictures.
The pickup version Companion ratings have remained the same, at 18K trailer weight. However, the flatbed version Companion trailer weight ratings
increased, from 18K, to the current 22K. The tongue weight ratings were not specified in the early brochure.
The point being, one cannot always tell how strong a hitch is by it's looks. And in the case of an accident, the other party's attorneys are going to be looking everywhere for liability..., even on top of the refrigerator. Under the bed. And at that rating label.
Unrelated to the comments above:
While studying all the different details between Companions, I learned on the phone with B&W that the 20K OE version Companion that clickes into the Reese / Ford underbed pucks is not as adjustable as the pickup bed Companion that mounts into the Turnover ball post.
