Want a premium, US-made hitch that can be removed to leave your bed totally free? How about the option of towing a gooseneck trailer when you're done with the camper? Get the best of all worlds with this premium B&W pairing.
Features:
Specs:
Note: This fifth-wheel trailer hitch is not compatible with Sidewinder or Revolution king pins. Do not use any device that changes the pivot point of your trailer's king pin with this hitch.
With the Companion from B&W, you get a heavy-duty fifth-wheel trailer hitch that mounts in your truck bed by connecting directly to the included Turnoverball gooseneck hitch. No modifications are required to your truck or trailer. And no additional parts are required for the system to work. When you're done towing, the entire hitch can be removed for complete bed access.
The included Turnoverball serves as a sturdy, custom base for installing the Companion in the bed of your truck, but it's also one of the most recognizable gooseneck hitches on the market.
Gooseneck Specs:
With the B&W Turnoverball underbed gooseneck trailer hitch you get the best of both worlds. When you go to tow a gooseneck trailer, the Turnoverball creates a sturdy, dependable connection with your trailer. And when you're done towing, you can stow the ball upside down in the hitch to get full bed access and a clean appearance. When you're ready to tow your fifth wheel trailer, just install the Companion in the ball hole in place of the gooseneck ball and lock the post in place using the built-in handle. You can remove the fifth wheel when you're done towing, leaving your truck bed open once again.
This kit is custom designed for your vehicle. The mounting brackets bolt to existing holes in your truck's frame. While some modification is required - you will need to cut a 4" diameter hole in your bed for the hitch ball and drill holes for the built-in safety chain loops - there is no need to weld onto or to drill into your frame.
Once you have the brackets and center section installed, set up the operating handle. This handle is designed to be accessed from the rear driver's-side wheel well. On the end of the handle is the heavy-duty steel pin that secures the mounting post of the Companion (or the base of the gooseneck hitch ball).
Quiet, Secure Ride
The 1" thick jaw on the Companion is precision machined to provide a tight, sturdy connection. And unlike slide-bar models, the rounded 2-piece jaw on this fifth-wheel trailer hitch inhibits rattle and movement by securely wrapping around your trailer's king pin, resulting in easier hookup and a safer, quieter ride.
In addition to the sturdy jaw, the Companion has durable polyurethane bushings built in to provide a smoother, more comfortable towing experience. These bushings sit on top of the pivot arms that support the fifth-wheel head. Because the head is resting on a padded area, it is able to pivot without clanking. The ability of the head to pivot - both front to back and side to side - along with the trailer also helps to limit the chucking that may occur with a more static hitch.
Non-Binding Latch Handle
The dual jaw on the Companion is operated by a simple-to-use cam-action handle. This handle allows you to quickly and easily release the jaws on the hitch, even if you are on uneven terrain. If any binding does occur between your truck and trailer, the jaws may remain closed after you move the handle to the open position. But because the handle is unlatched, there is nothing keeping the jaws closed except for the binding pressure. Therefore, simply driving your truck forward will be enough to force the jaws to open.
The cam-action handle is held in the closed position with the included pin and clip. For extra security, you can replace the pin with a sturdy padlock. The shackle on the lock you choose should have a diameter of 5/16", height of 3", and a width of 2-1/4".
To install the Companion, first bolt the included RV post to the Companion's base. This post is what inserts into the hole in your truck bed. The RV post attaches to the base in 1 of 2 ways to allow for improved cab clearance and proper positioning over your truck's axle.
The next step is to set up the Companion's pivot arms. The arms are what allow the hitch to be adjusted front to back as well as up and down for optimal positioning. As a result, this hitch can accommodate the height of your trailer and also help to give you the cab clearance needed to execute turns while towing.
To adjust either the height of the hitch or the fore/aft positioning, just attach the hitch's pivot arms in the desired location on the base. The above diagram gives an indication of where to mount the arms so that you get the height and the cab clearance that you need.
The hitch head installs on top of the pivot arms. When you have the head in position, simply secure it to the arms with the included pins.
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hello neighbors, it's Brad here at etrailer. And today we're taking a look at the B&W companion fifth wheel base replacement. One of the best things I like about the B&W companion is the fact that it is a two-piece design. Many other vehicles with your fifth wheel, it's one big, heavy piece. And that kind of be, it's a little cumbersome when you're trying to offload it. You can actually take one piece and then the other off this, it's gonna make it a little bit lighter.
Now, if you've used yours for a long time, it's very possible that maybe somethings gotten bent, maybe something's not working right. Or you just want to upgrade your older style. That's where this comes into place. You don't have to buy the whole kit. You can get replacement parts, like this base here, by itself.
Now, if you'd gone and upgraded trucks and you previously had a puck system and your new one doesn't have that, you have the under bed system. That's okay. In fact that you don't have to buy an entire, whole companion kit. You'll be able to take that head and reuse it, and getting a replacement base means that you're not gonna have to buy the whole system, which is great. Just like your previous companion base, this is gonna drop into your under bed travel ball kit all the same.
So being able to replace just the base is awesome, because if you have a fully operational head, you can simply replace your damaged or old base that you'd like to replace, and you can still use the same head, no problem. Your replacement base is gonna be identical to maybe your previous 3,500 series. It's gonna have all new hardware, but it's gonna install just the same. So you'll be familiar with that and you'll be able to drop on your head, no problem. Now, as far as replacing the base, we've found that a lot of our neighbors have had the older 3,000 series that uses a U bolt design to attach the center post and keep it in place.
Well if those U bolts break, there are no replacement parts for those anymore. They phased out that design and that's where this one comes into play. You can simply get this 3,500, it's gonna look fresh and new, and you'll be able to drop your head on all the same. So with that being said, if you do have a 3,000 series head, it is perfectly compatible with the 3,500 replacement base. Now, if you are upgrading from a previous 3,000 series companion, you're gonna enjoy quite a few upgrades. And one of those simple ones is gonna be the adjustable feet here. So you can actually adjust to the channeling in your bed, which is really nice. You also have adjustability as far as height. It's still gonna be two inches, like the 3,000 series, but it's also gonna be already higher than the previous one. So that's gonna make it nicer. It's gonna put it where you need to be. And another great thing is your weight capacity has actually gone up from 18,000 pounds to 20,000. So you're getting a little bit nicer features with that upgrade. Another thing that our neighbors have noticed that really makes this stand out compared to the older series is the availability to be able to flip the actual post. And that's gonna allow this to actually move back and gain a lot more adjustability. So it's gonna cater a little bit more to a wider range of trucks. So if you are going to something different, a new truck, and you wanna get a different base and reuse your head, this is gonna be awesome. And that way you can adjust to make sure that you have cab clearance. So whether you're replacing a damaged base or you're just simply upgrading to get a little more adjustability and a little more weight capacity, this is gonna be a great option for you. And that was a look at the B&W companion fifth wheel replacement base..
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (4098 Customer Reviews)
Want a premium, US-made hitch that can be removed to leave your bed totally free? How about the option of towing a gooseneck trailer when you're done with the camper? Get the best of all worlds with this premium B&W pairing.I wanted to be able to easily utilize my truck bed and this hitch provides that in spades! Easy to remove and install. I absolutely have to give a shout out to Paula on customer service. She was amazing! My first shipment was damaged and missing a vital part. Paula had another one shipped right away and made my return shipment a breeze. She stayed in contact with me to the end. I felt like she shared in my joy once the install was complete! The hitch is super adjustable for optimal placement in the bed and height of the trailer. Make a few quick measurements and it just goes together quickly. Love the dual jaw release lever. Our last 5th wheel hitch had the standard pull to release lever and it was often very difficult to operate. This lever style is a game changer. Overall, I couldn't be more pleased with the product and customer service!
Shipping box for base was damaged in transit. Parts are scratched up, box is not designed for the weight put in it. Etrailer needs to step it up. For what a companion hitch costs, there should be no reason to get damaged goods.
I installed this system in my classic square body Silverado after installing the Turnover Ball BK1400 gooseneck hitch. Both work great together and this companion installed beautifully. I tow a 40’ Cougar camper with it.
Just finished installing my B&W Companion 5th Wheel hitch. I hooked to my RV to check my instillation, everything went very smooth.
I would recommend this hitch to anyone with a Gooseneck turnover ball B&W hitch installed in there truck bed. Great product, very easy instillation.
One year later I still love my companion hitch. Performs excellent just as it should. Very good quality. Totally glad I purchased it.
The construction of this hitch is very heavy duty. The reason I gave this a low rating was due to the condition it was in when it arrived. There were parts missing. One of the handles that releases the upper hitch from the base was bent. There were numerous chips and deep scratches in the paint. For the amount of money I spent on this hitch I expected it to be brand new and undamaged. I sent emails with pictures to etrailer, they were supposed to issue me a credit but I never heard back from them.
This part of the installation is easy. There are two main pieces. Fasten runners on the bottom of each of the two legs that sit in the bed grooves. Attach the large square pin that goes in the hole in the bed to the main base(there are several bolting patterns depending on where you want the 5th wheel assembly to sit in the bed) and set it in place. Item is heavy even without the upper part (5th wheel plate assembly). Best done by two people. 5th wheel plate assembly also heavy, but can be handled by one person. The directions are clear, easy to understand. Very nice clean setup.
I installed this directly after installing the underbed turnoverball gooseneck hitch, and it was an easy install. Very well written instructions. Equipment looks robust, top notch welds, nice thick powder coat.
Really like it. No issues at all. Haven't tryed the gooseneck part but I have faith in B& W Hitches.
B&W has a great product, the instructions are pretty straight forward but I also used the [online] video from b&w to help. Etrailer shipped out my order quickly and it arrived without issue! Thanks etrailer!
Excellent hitch, easy assembly, easy to remove from the bed using two people. No chucking very solid connection makes for a smooth ride.
This is a fantastic product! It was recommended to me by five other people, and now that I have it, I see why. The quality is second to none. I did the installation myself, thanks to the instructions included and the excellent videos on the etrailer.com website. Took me a bit longer than the instructions indicated, but mechanical stuff always takes longer than expected for me. Big fan of this product and of etrailer.com. Consistent quality in information and products. Thank you.
Can’t go wrong with B&W hitches or Etra iler.
Arrived damaged, not from the delivery process but shipped this way. Extremely heavy and a hassle to return and exchange.This is the second product from etrailer that I have received that was damaged. The led lights of a previous order were also damaged.
I would like to say that I was not looking forward to putting this hitch on my truck. I heard nothing but nightmares and horror stories, but it couldn't be farther from the truth. I had a friend come over to help (glad I did cause that turnoverball hitch would have been a bear to hold up by yourself. It was ten times easier than I would have imagined. Just follow the instructions and it's a piece of cake. We had the turnover all hitch on in less than 2 hours. Unfortunately I had a rusted brake line that I had to repair before completing the job. Haven't used it yet but can't wait to hitch it up and hit the road. Thanks for making this hitch so easy to install. I'm glad it's American made and extremely heavy duty.
We received our new BW Companion hitch on time. Noticed that our BW Turnover Ball hitch already installed in truck required a shorter socket post one week out from our trip. With a quick discussion with the great people at etrailer as well as BW, we had the new socket post shipped and installed prior to leaving town. Easy install - All worked as designed. So glad to have responsive parties involved here to help us out. Thanks!
Molly Just wanted to send you some pictures of my 1991 Ford F250 with my new BW fifth wheel trailer hitch that I recently purchased from the trailer The service from etrailer was excellent I will recommend you to anyone who asks
I recently bought the gooseneck and fifth wheel b&w hitches to install on my 2008 f 250. I could not be more happy with the products and customer service that etrailer provides. I also bought The Pollack t connector that was also easy to use. The install was done at home and easy to understand. Thanks again.
Build quality was great and it looks perfect. My only issue is they should supply hard washers and better quality lock washers. 2 of them bent so bad I had to remove them and file the heads to get the huge burrs off to tru to seat another one. If you supply high strength bolts you need to supply a higher grade lock washer it it just tears up the power coat .
Great design and sturdy! I just is on a 2021 ram 2500 6.4 8' bed installing when great, nothing a single person can't handle. I would recommend to anyone.
I haven’t pull the 5th wheeler yet, but the B&W Companion is a super heavy duty hitch and it looks like it will handle the job. The installation of the hitch went well. The instructions were pretty straight forward. No problems.
I am very happy with this Companion Hitch. I installed it by myself without any issues. It performs very well and it looks great. I received a lot of compliments at the RV park. From ordering to delivery everything went very smooth.
Thank You
This dud is heavy duty, love everything about this! The only downside it that the paint seems to chip a little too easy, and then the rust sets in. It would be nice if the kit came with a touch up bottle so I can stop the rust from getting a foothold. Tows like it's part of the truck. Great product, love the ability to easily remove to gain the full area of the bed, its heavy!
Ordered the companion hitch to use with the turnover hitch that I also purchased from etrailer. Shipped quickly and was easy to install and adjust for my setup. Item arrived in perfect condition.
Received my companion hitch in two days. Free delivery. Couldn’t believe how fast it shipped. I installed it myself in 3 hours. The hitch is rock solid and built heavy. I can’t wait to hook on to my camper and try it out. It is very easy to install. A second person would be useful to set base.
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