Recommended Fifth Wheel or Gooseneck Hitch to Transfer Between Multiple Rental Trucks

Published 12/14/2016

Products Featured in This Question

B&W Companion Gooseneck-to-5th-Wheel Trailer Hitch Adapter - Dual Jaw - 20,000 lbs

(617)

$1099.00

B&W Companion Slider Gooseneck-to-5th-Wheel Trailer Hitch Adapter - Dual Jaw - 20,000 lbs

(617)

$1599.00

Question:

I want to add a 5th wheel or gooseneck to a rental pickup truck bed, and then transfer that adapter to a new rental every 45 days. We are thinking an F-250 or F-350, or a RAM 2500 or RAM 3500. What are some options? The rental company is ok with this if we can find a solution that will work. We will mostly be moving a 3 car auto hauler which weighs 5,180, plus 3 cars. Our total rig will be at or under 26,000 lbs. Figure 7,500 lbs for the truck and 18,500 for the fully loaded trailer when maxed.

asked by: Kevin W

Expert Reply:

Since you mentioned both gooseneck and fifth wheel hitches I would favor the B&W Companion # BWRVK3500. It's rated for 20,000 pounds so it will be plenty to pull your car hauler. If the trucks you're using are short bed trucks you would be better off going with the sliding version, # BWRVK3400.

The Companion uses the B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck hitch to install into the truck instead of brackets like most fifth wheel hitches. This way you will have both a fifth wheel hitch and gooseneck hitch and you can tow whichever kind of trailer you have. Also, since the Companion installs into the truck as a gooseneck hitch it only requires cutting one roughly 4 inch hole and four small drilled holes into the bed.

When switching from one truck to the other you'll need to remove the gooseneck hitch and install it into the new truck, and they are vehicle specific. So switching between trucks that are the same year, make, and model is ideal. If you have trucks that are different you will need a different gooseneck hitch for each of them. This is similar to if you had a fifth wheel hitch that uses brackets. The brackets will be vehicle specific as well and will need to be moved from truck to truck. Also, when installing into a new truck you may need new hardware, especially if you move it several times.

To determine which B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck is compatible with the truck we'll need the year, make, and model of the trucks you will be using.

expert reply by: Charles S