Best 5vr Slider for GM Puck Setup

[ugeesta]

Bought a new GMC Seirrra 3500 Denali standard bed over the weekend and now in the market for the fifth wheel hitch. The truck came with the factory installed Puck setup and I am quickly finding the hitch selection is very limited. Using an adaptor to fit a non puck hitch is out of the question because it looks to add another 2”to the hitch height. Height is a real concern as my trailer AC is at 13’-6” before adding the new truck additional 3” bed height issues.

As far as direct fits, I see the 20k BW Companion or the 16k Curt. I like the height flexibility and weight of the Curt but the BW looks like a much nicer hitch though looks to be very heavy for one man to maneuver.

There are many more and possible better options if I scrap the idea of using the factory puck system. Has anyone done this? If so, how hard is it to work around the factory installed puck system? Is it easy to remove?

My old truck had a Husky 16k slider with the four way pivot. That was nice because my pit is not level side to side. I don’t see that option in the BW or Curt setups with the factory puck system.

I’m so confused now. Thanks.

Last tidbit. My trailer Gross weight rating is 16,000 lbs and currently scales around 15,000 lbs so a 16k hitch should work. I was thinking of getting an 18k hitch for some extra capacity margin.

[Cummins12V98]

deltabravo wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
The Curt pic is from an in law he HATES it as it's a PITA to unhitch at times if RV and Truck are not on the same plane side to side.

I'm not a 5th wheel guy but I have helped my brother unhitch his Curt hitch when the truck is not level side to side. As mentioned above, it IS a PITA.

YES, I helped him a few times also and it is no simple task!

[deltabravo]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
The Curt pic is from an in law he HATES it as it's a PITA to unhitch at times if RV and Truck are not on the same plane side to side.

I'm not a 5th wheel guy but I have helped my brother unhitch his Curt hitch when the truck is not level side to side. As mentioned above, it IS a PITA.

[Cummins12V98]

ugeesta wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Welcome from the President of the “B&W HeavyWeight Hitch Club”.

Thanks.

Question. How noisy is the hitch? We pulled the trailer a mile down the road to the gas station in order to get a measurement on concrete and we got a couple clunks upon start and stop. Admittedly, the tension on the pucks is taught but not to the point to where I really had to work to lock in the hitch to the bed.

Are the clucks to be expected ore do I need to tighten things up better?

I think MeAgain would be one who can answer this as he has the B&W slider. All else fails a call to B&W as they are VERY helpful.

[ugeesta]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Welcome from the President of the “B&W HeavyWeight Hitch Club”.

Thanks.

Question. How noisy is the hitch? We pulled the trailer a mile down the road to the gas station in order to get a measurement on concrete and we got a couple clunks upon start and stop. Admittedly, the tension on the pucks is taught but not to the point to where I really had to work to lock in the hitch to the bed.

Are the clucks to be expected ore do I need to tighten things up better?

[Cummins12V98]

Welcome from the President of the “B&W HeavyWeight Hitch Club”.

[ugeesta]

Well, I bit the bullet on the BW Companion hitch and got it installed today. Took the truck to the yard and hooked the trailer up to see how it looks and surprisingly, the trailer went up far less than anticipated. The edge of the roof came in a 147". add 14" for the AC and 2" for the crown in the roof, the top of the AC is around 13'7". I'd feel more comfortable with the height being a little lower but pleased its not more. If I can drop the front 2", the trailer would be level.

Here it is.

[Cummins12V98]

2012Coleman wrote:
I have the B&W Companion manual slider. It's very easy to see when your hitched correctly, easy to operate - hitch/unhitch. The only downside is that its pretty heavy and takes a couple of guys to move it. It fits under my tonneau cover and I lubricate the moving parts with white lithium grease.

Don't forget to grease the ZERK under the head.

[2012Coleman]

I have the B&W Companion manual slider. It's very easy to see when your hitched correctly, easy to operate - hitch/unhitch. The only downside is that its pretty heavy and takes a couple of guys to move it. It fits under my tonneau cover and I lubricate the moving parts with white lithium grease.

[Soldier415]

I have a 2017 Chevy 3/4 ton with factory puck system. Ended up adding the adapter rails to be able to use the pullrite 2700 16k auto slider. My tonneau cover closes fine even with the hitch installed as it is still below the level of the top of the bed.

[ACZL]

I was at 13' 4" w/ my '15 F350 SRW w/ 18" tires. My '17 350 dually has 17" tires, so I should be a tad lower (haven't measured it yet). Our B&W Patriot is on lowest setting.

[ugeesta]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Another thing about the Curt is the heads pivot point is several inches below the hitch plate. The B&W's pivot point is in line with the hitch plate/kingpin.

Reason I mention this is it is documented here several times that people have CHUCKING with this Curt setup!

The Curt pic is from an in law he HATES it as it's a PITA to unhitch at times if RV and Truck are not on the same plane side to side. He has said many times "I wish I had your B&W". His Curt came with his truck.

Good pics.

I measured the top of the trailer one day on my old truck. With the new trucks sitting higher, I’m assuming the trailer will sit higher still. The level height out of the factory is 13’-4” so I was sitting 2” nose high with the old truck

[Cummins12V98]

Another thing about the Curt is the heads pivot point is several inches below the hitch plate. The B&W's pivot point is in line with the hitch plate/kingpin.

Reason I mention this is it is documented here several times that people have CHUCKING with this Curt setup!

The Curt pic is from an in law he HATES it as it's a PITA to unhitch at times if RV and Truck are not on the same plane side to side. He has said many times "I wish I had your B&W". His Curt came with his truck.

[Cummins12V98]

ugeesta wrote:
So how tall are the trailers you guys are pulling? With my new truck and the BW hitch having a minimum 17” height, the top of my ac will be above 13’-6”. Guess I can put the stock pin back on my trailer but that won’t help much and would rather have that air bag smooth out the ride.

How did you come up with the 13' 6" height? I have a 3" lift on my Mobile Suites and set at 13' 5". Even at your number you will NOT have an issue.

[ugeesta]

So how tall are the trailers you guys are pulling? With my new truck and the BW hitch having a minimum 17” height, the top of my ac will be above 13’-6”. Guess I can put the stock pin back on my trailer but that won’t help much and would rather have that air bag smooth out the ride.