Fifth Wheel Hitch What Kind

[mike24]

A friend of mind has a B & W hitch, so I asked him what are the cons, and the first thing he said which I saw on video when you release the handle it is hard to reach without a step, the other thing is, always removing the head to grease the plastic bushings that the head sits on because the grease squeezes out, also E-trailer saying the hitch weighs 220 LBS. I have a Ram 8FT bed puck system, I am wondering how people feel about the Curt A series and the Q series hitch, what's the difference and which is better, I have a Moryde pin box and the hitch can have a max. rating at 20,000 LBS. It is good to read opinions from the end user. Thanks for your help.

[philh]

As a new 5th wheel hauler, I went through this with several friends. Including a close friend that was in a very bad accident that has left him with brain damage, not unlike a pro fighter might experience. His comment really hit home with me, would you trust an Anderson hitch with the accident I had, and then sent me several photos of collapsed Anderson hitches.

I love how easy it is to hookup the trailer.

[C_Schomer]

I bought it used from a guy who used to work for a hitch dealer and I figured I just got a production reject. My neighbor bought a new B&W a month ago and his didn't come with the spring either. There's still the handle issues with the B&W. With my old Drawtite, I can leave the handle in, but not locked, for hitching and I hear a reassuring bang when the pin hits home and it's immediately ready for a tug. The handle also securely locks open for unhitching. The B&W is built like a tank tho! Craig

[laknox]

MFL wrote:
Hey Lyle...sounds like you are due for a new hitch! May as well get the puck version, when you order that new GM. Compared to a new 3500 diesel cost, the hitch will just be change out of pocket! 🙂

You do know those clip-on leveling spring pins can easily be adjusted to change lift pressure to head. If not tightened properly, the spring may have rotated, losing head tension. My hitch with spring, is 8 yrs old now, and holds head up fine, never needing adjustment.

Maybe Craigs hitch is old, or purchased used (spring never installed)?

Did the early version Companions not come with the leveler?

Jerry

Planning on it! Just trying to get our folks' house emptied and sold before I have the spare cash.

Interesting side-note. Went to a local GM dealer that 3-4 people recommended to me (would have gone there anyway, but nice to have a rec), and talked to one of the owner's sons. I speced out a couple trucks and he asked about trading my '02. I got it washed (miracle!) and brought it down for them to look at. The other son took it back and shot a bunch of pics of it, but I have as yet, > 2 months later, to hear back, despite 4 messages left.

Back to the hitch. I got my TO Ball and Companion in '04, when I got my truck and Komfort FW. It did not have the tilt spring, though it was drilled and tapped for the bolt. When I complained about it, they sent the kit, free. I installed it from the get-go to give me the most compression for tilting that I could get, but it still liked to flop forward. Hence the bungee, which works great.

Lyle

[MFL]

Hey Lyle...sounds like you are due for a new hitch! May as well get the puck version, when you order that new GM. Compared to a new 3500 diesel cost, the hitch will just be change out of pocket! 🙂

You do know those clip-on leveling spring pins can easily be adjusted to change lift pressure to head. If not tightened properly, the spring may have rotated, losing head tension. My hitch with spring, is 8 yrs old now, and holds head up fine, never needing adjustment.

Maybe Craigs hitch is old, or purchased used (spring never installed)?

Did the early version Companions not come with the leveler?

Jerry

[laknox]

C Schomer wrote:
The first thing I had to do to my B&W was drill holes and add springs to keep the hitch tilted back so I didn't need to tie it back with a rope. Then I noticed that when hitching, the handle doesn't necessarily slap all the way back so I always got out to make sure it locked before doing a tug. When unhitching, I had to tie the handle forward, because that was easier than climbing into the bed to put the pin in the handle, or the jaws wouldn't be unlocked. Other than a few convenience and safety deficiencies... it's a good hitch. I put my 25 y.o. Drawtite rocker back in because it does everything the way I want and it keeps my truck and 5er connected together just as well. Craig

B&W sent me a free spring to add to my older Companion, to help tilt it back. While it =does= help, it's not a cure, by any means. I use a bungee cord hooked between the side plates and stretched up, and over, the big bolt. Been using that for about 10-11 years, and it works great. Just have to remember to pull it off the bolt when pulling the head or it makes things a bit awkward. 🙂

Lyle

[ford_truck_guy]

^^ If you go here -

B&W install

you will see on page 1 a picture of the spring clip... It is item # 6=Wire Torsion Spring.. actually part numbers 6 threw 9 are associated with that.

go to page 3 and there are instructions on how to install it,,,

[MFL]

^^^The spring clip, that attaches to arm of hitch was not installed during hitch assembly. This is supplied, no need to add springs of your own. Look at a parts diagram, if you are curious.

Jerry

[C_Schomer]

The first thing I had to do to my B&W was drill holes and add springs to keep the hitch tilted back so I didn't need to tie it back with a rope. Then I noticed that when hitching, the handle doesn't necessarily slap all the way back so I always got out to make sure it locked before doing a tug. When unhitching, I had to tie the handle forward, because that was easier than climbing into the bed to put the pin in the handle, or the jaws wouldn't be unlocked. Other than a few convenience and safety deficiencies... it's a good hitch. I put my 25 y.o. Drawtite rocker back in because it does everything the way I want and it keeps my truck and 5er connected together just as well. Craig

[Hammerboy]

Not a bad deal I don't think.

I sold a 5 year old superglide for $800 on Craigslist 12 years to a guy who traveled 500 miles to get it. Had another guy about 1500 miles away interested as well but shipping killed it for him. I probably could have asked more and the right buyer would have paid more I'm sure.

Dan

[ReneeG]

Almost 20 yr old hitch for $400. Wow.

[ford_truck_guy]

ReneeG -

WAY back in the early 2000's we purchased our first fiver (we had a short bed ) and researched hitches before.... I wanted the best, and at that time the fivers were a bit more "SQUARE" on the front end... I can count on 1 hand how many times I actually NEEDED that slider....

SO, fast forward to 2020, looked online, Super glides in good condition were still getting decent money, so I ditched an almost 20 year old hitch for $400

[ReneeG]

Oh. Ok. Interestingly enough, we had a slider with our short bed truck and never used it.

[ford_truck_guy]

No NEED for a slider with the new Long Bed... Wanted to turn it into cash and put towards the new B&W...

That was just 1 of the benefits of going from a short bed to a long bed

[ReneeG]

ford truck guy wrote:
Another B&W Fan Club Member here......

I was a bit skeptical at first because of the stellar treatment I received while owning my Pullrite Superglide. 2 years in and I am impressed :C

If you had stellar "treatment" with your Pullrite Superglide, why did you switch to a B&W?

[MFL]

spoon059 wrote:
I'm still a couple years out from a 5th wheel, but I'm leaning towards the Goose Box hitch.

If you don't have puck system, it could be added. The Goose Box is a huge improvement over the old style GN adapters. I would still use the rails, rather than going to a G BX, but that's JMO.

You will enjoy the FW experience, when the time comes! 🙂

Jerry