Is this right for you? Product Expert Alexander C says:
The dual jaw on this sturdy 5th-wheel hitch provides excellent jaw-to-king-pin contact. Wide-stance base offers fore/aft and height adjustments. Hitch removes easily for full bed access.
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 a custom underbed mounting kit (sold separately) with the included components. 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.
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.
Alternate Instructions
California residents: click here
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (2948 Customer Reviews)
The dual jaw on this sturdy 5th-wheel hitch provides excellent jaw-to-king-pin contact. Wide-stance base offers fore/aft and height adjustments. Hitch removes easily for full bed access.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!
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.
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.
Jenny N - 04/15/2022When I purchased my truck, it came with a B&W turnover ball as a dealer-installed add-on. Since that was already installed, adding the companion 5th wheel hitch to tow my trailer was a bit of a no-brainer. Setting up the bottom half was easy, but it took me a few attempts to get the appropriate location for height/center of gravity. Once I found the sweet spot, it really made a big difference for ride quality and stability.
Stability is the key word. This is not a light-weight hitch, so if you’re a half-ton truck guy and need to save as much weight as possible, this may not be the hitch for you. However, if you have the payload capacity and want a nice a stable towing experience, this hitch has done well with strong crosswinds, rough roads, and hard braking. The roll dampening works well without feeling mushy. While there’s no denying that a trailer is connected, it’s a good blend of feedback without any jarring, or porpoising. Also, I haven’t had any rattles, squeaks, or grinding sounds come from the hitch.
I only have one 5th wheel trailer which is a 40 foot RV that weighs about 14,500 lbs. I’ve always used a graphite lubrication plate, and use the recommended lubrication for the other components before each trip. The only issue that I’ve had with this set up, is that somehow, one of the pins that secure the upper and lower assemblies together came loose. I don’t believe that this was any sort of manufacturing defect and was likely a result of something snagging the retaining clip while loading/unloading. The remaining pin was able to hold on to it for a couple hundred miles until I noticed it during a fuel stop. I haven’t had any issues with it since.
I don’t remove the hitch very often (having the hitch in the back is a great excuse for not having to haul your non-truck friends’ stuff). But when I do remove it, I’m able to do it without any assistance, especially because it can be separated into two assemblies. A particular feature that I like is the spring-loaded mechanism for keeping the main bolt from loosening after you appropriately torque it down.
The only reason that I didn’t give it 5 stars is the powder coating. The powder coating on parts of the lower assembly had separated from the steel after only a few months. I don’t pressure wash the truck, nor do I live in an area with a lot of rain or salted roads. The upper assembly is fine, but the sharp corners of the lower assembly’s powder coating just didn’t stick.
Powder coating aside, the only recommendation I have for B&W would be to increase safety by adding some sort of indicators to show that everything is properly coupled and ready for the locking pin. While I haven’t had any problems hitching the trailer, having the “warm-fuzzy” of something like a green-means-good indication goes a long way, especially when hitching up a trailer with your significant other.
The hitch Part arrived in Good Condition,The Base Was A Different Subject it was Shipped in an Over Sized Box with No Support and Had Broken Threw The Box in Several Places and Was Banged Up.I have order Other Items from etrailer without this problem,Come On Guy's.
Sierra K - 12/28/2021
Daniel W - 12/27/2022Items arrived or boxes completely destroyed ! UPS left them on my drive way very disappointing!
Sierra K - 07/22/2022This is my third B&W companion 5th wheel hitch. The first two were the old version. I like the updates they have made too the unit making it stronger and the narrower base. My only complaint is with UPS shipping which tore up the shipping box and dumped it on my driveway without even notifying me, luckily the hitch wasn't damaged and nothing missing.
Ken - 08/14/2022Thanks for all the information on such a big and important purchase. Great photos and even better videos!
At first I looked for a shop to install my hitch, but after watching your videos I decided to go for it myself. If you read the directions carefully and have average wrenching skills the B & W underbed install for gooseneck was pretty straightforward.
It took perhaps 4 hours for me to install. Now I KNOW it was installed correctly and understand the hitch system to a t. Great product. Hooked up to my 15,000 lb fifth wheel and towed with ease using the Companion 5th wheel set up that is designed to be used with the underbed gooseneck.
Everything was delivered on time and in great condition and the quality of the B&W is outstanding. Thank you!
Bought the BWRVK3500-5W about a year and a half ago. Pretty easy to install alone including the turn over gooseneck ball BWGNRK1111. Put it in my 2011 F350, took most of the day and it’s all I can do to lift it up in there by myself. Pulled our 16k lb 5th wheel from Nevada to New York and felt super confident the whole way because of this stout hitch. Wanted to mention how professional etrailer is with every purchase I make from them.
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 .
Rick T - 08/22/2021Easy to install and remove. Loosen one bolt and pull a pin. It’s heavy, but I use my tractor with forks to remove it. This thing is built sturdy and looks great.
This product was excellent , especially when comparing it to the Reese brand that came with the rv . The installation in the turnover hitch was very stable and easy to remove afterwards using a 2018 F-350 super duty srw
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.
Charles K - 10/26/2017The release handle to lift the hitch off broke the first time I tried to use it , I have to crawl under the Truck and use a pair of plyers to pull the release . Then if it slips or just refuses to hold it is impossible to do by yourself !
Jenny N - 10/12/2022Hitch arrived exactly when it was expected to. Well packaged and no damage. The hitch was easy to assemble and the how-to video on the product page was extremely easy to follow. No skipped steps like half the install videos you find online. I just bought my 5th wheel and today was my first time ever pulling a 5th wheel. No bucking or rough ride like a bumper pull or traditional gooseneck. So glad I spent the extra money on an actual 5th wheel hitch instead of doing the gooseneck conversion I was thinking about doing.
Thanks for reaching out. 5 stars for the hitch. 1 star for the packaging and shipping. I’ve ordered lots of stuff from etrailer over the years and never had a problem. This arrived pretty beat up. See attached photos. I spent a few days repairing chipped paint and scratches so that I don’t have future rust issues. I strongly suggest that you you either re-evaluate your packaging for heavy items or use a different shipper.
Jenny N - 07/26/2022Really like it. No issues at all. Haven't tryed the gooseneck part but I have faith in B& W Hitches.
Randy A - 06/05/2021I 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.
Dean S - 09/11/2017Fantastic unit. Easy in and out of my F450. I just ordered a 2023 450 so I will just need to purchase the modular base B&W makes for the puck system. The top of this hitch will transfer to that.
The one caveat was that this came with an out of spec shank, after I contacted B&W they overnighted a new one that fit perfectly in my fifth wheel hitch.
I am 100% satisfied with this product and every product I have ordered from etrailer. The instructions were simple and direct and installation was a breeze. It is solid and smooth and I look forward to getting a lot of use out ot it. Thank you for providing quality products.
Great hitch works perfect tip on installing use step ladder in back of truck to use a cable hoist to pull up and hold center section I back truck up on a set of ramps to have more room
Installed with out much trouble have not used it to pull fifth wheel yet.Delivered ver prompt
Dan - 12/25/2022I 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.
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!
Great 5th Wheel hitch. Easy to install and easy to use.
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