B&W Turnover Ball 5th Wheel Adapter

cre10 · 04-25-2012, 11:04 AM

Just curious what you guys think of this? I have to have a gooseneck hitch in all my trucks to haul flatbeds and cattle. I don't have a 5th wheel, but if I did it seems I would be best off with this for the versatility. What do you guys think of it? Would it be a rough ride?

TURBS · 04-25-2012, 11:10 AM

hmmmmm I dont like that idea ........
best bet is to get a removable 5th wheel hitch and remove it if you need your ball for gooseneck .
most of them are any way now a days . jmo !

Tee · 04-25-2012, 11:15 AM

Get the B&W companion. I have one and it works perfectly.

cre10 · 04-25-2012, 11:17 AM

How are most 5th wheels mounting? My B&W's bolt to my frame so I imagine having both a B&W and 5th wheel would not leave enough mounting room.

I had my eye on the Companion if I were to have a 5th wheel in my future.

TURBS · 04-25-2012, 12:09 PM

B & w companion is perfect.
I for some reason had it my head that you wanted to
Use the tube adapter.

cre10 · 05-09-2012, 06:26 PM

I looked at some fifth wheels today while my camper was getting warranty work. They said the B&W Companion wouldn't work with a 4 door short bed. To me that sounds crazy! They have to be wrong! They said my best option for needing to pull a gooseneck and a fifth wheel would be an Anderson hitch that looks like crap and very unsafe in my opinion.

djorgensen3 · 05-09-2012, 08:03 PM

I have a B&W turnover ball and companion hitch in my 2500HD. It pulls fine but I am having chucking issues. I have contacted them and there is an upgraded turnover ball in the works as we speak. There is one on a freight truck on its way to me right now. It is supposed to be much stiffer. We shall see. Overall I do like the companion. Very easy to use.

b1b1das · 05-09-2012, 08:13 PM

I have one in my Dodge Mega Cab, it works great! No chucking issues here...

Tee · 05-09-2012, 08:15 PM

I don't know why they say it won't work? I have it in a short bed Dodge Mega Cab and it works fine? Question for you though. From your avatar I see you pull a hitch pull trailer. How often do you get in a position you need to back up at 90 deg? Can't do it period with a hitch pull, what is the big deal you can't do it with a 5'r?? I got news for you, you get your 5'r on a 90deg angle to your truck in pulling or backing, you are no longer backing or pulling, you are dragging or shoving it, putting much unnecessary stress on the frame, axles, springs, tires of your trailer...

Quote:

Originally Posted by cre10

I looked at some fifth wheels today while my camper was getting warranty work. They said the B&W Companion wouldn't work with a 4 door short bed. To me that sounds crazy! They have to be wrong! They said my best option for needing to pull a gooseneck and a fifth wheel would be an Anderson hitch that looks like crap and very unsafe in my opinion.

djorgensen3 · 05-09-2012, 08:36 PM

Mine is in a 2500HD CCSB. I haven't needed to go full 90* just yet but haven't had any issues yet either. I just had to assemble the companion in its most rearward position. It has 4" of front to rear adjustment. I can speak to B&W's customer service though. It has been phenomenal so far. However, to the OP, I might wait a bit and see what the new upgrades are and how they perform.

djorgensen3 · 05-15-2012, 12:23 AM

I just received the new prototype turnover ball hitch for my 2011 silverado 2500HD 4x4. It is substantially heavier duty.I haven't had time to get it installed but I should be able to get to it this week sometime. Then I will go pull my trailer out of storage and pull it around to see how the new hitch handles it. I will update after that.

Hoo Dad · 05-15-2012, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djorgensen3

I just received the new prototype turnover ball hitch for my 2011 silverado 2500HD 4x4. It is substantially heavier duty.I haven't had time to get it installed but I should be able to get to it this week sometime. Then I will go pull my trailer out of storage and pull it around to see how the new hitch handles it. I will update after that.

I haven't experienced any chucking yet even after 14,000 miles. How is the new hitch "substantially heavier duty"? Is the metal or jaws thicker? Can you post a pic? Looking forward to your update. My companion is approximately 18 months old, so I wonder if I have the new design or the old design.

jd-ford-hd · 05-15-2012, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cre10

Just curious what you guys think of this? I have to have a gooseneck hitch in all my trucks to haul flatbeds and cattle. I don't have a 5th wheel, but if I did it seems I would be best off with this for the versatility. What do you guys think of it? Would it be a rough ride?

If you already have gooseneck hitches in your trucks, just change your 5th wheel RV to a gooseneck coupler. I have owned three 5er's and never had a truck with that heavy, greasy behemoth sitting in the middle of my bed...!!
Here is a pic of my last hitch. I removed it because the man that bought the trailer already had the fifth wheel in his truck.

djorgensen3 · 05-15-2012, 08:35 PM

Those adapters can cause terrible damage to the trailer frame and they can void the trailer warranty if they are installed. They can change the leverage put onto the frame of the trailer and cause the metal to tear. There are tons of threads on here about frame damage. I thought about using one of those adapters because I have a turnover ball but after seeing all of the "possible" issues that could arise, I chose to buy the companion. I know a lot of companions are out there but there have been a few cases out there that the chucking has been an issue and B&W doesn't want to have a customer out there that has an issue. They have been great and want to help alleviate the problem. I don't have any pictures yet and I don't know if I am allowed to show anyone just yet. I will ask the rep I am dealing with and see if I can post some pics of it. I doubt if your hitch being 18 months old is the newer heavier duty hitch. But if you aren't having any issues, I wouldn't worry about it. It has to do with the newer stiffer truck frames...I THINK. That is just my opinion at this point.

djorgensen3 · 05-16-2012, 08:58 AM

Well the rep says they would prefer not to have any pics out there yet so I guess we will have to wait on that. However I will still update with some info on performance in the next couple days.

djorgensen3 · 05-21-2012, 03:07 PM

Chucking still present even after upgraded turnover ball hitch. While it is reduced, it is still unnacceptable....to me anyway. Oh well, on to the next phase I guess.

Tee · 05-21-2012, 03:25 PM

I had a little chuking on my trip this last weekend. I moved the hitch forward one step and lowered it one step. Significantly reduced it!!! I had it installed in the farthest rearward and middle height.

djorgensen3 · 05-21-2012, 03:35 PM

I may have to try that. I have mine set up in the highest and most rearward but I also don't want to take my rear window out either...lol.

I think I've hijacked this thread.....whoops. I apologize for that. I will start my own with the next update and provide a link to this one in case anyone wants to read it.

Hoo Dad · 05-22-2012, 02:49 PM

Mine is also in the most forward position and in the highest position. Maybe that is why I don't experience any chucking. That's interesting.....

4x4man · 05-26-2012, 06:13 PM

Are any of you with 2011 GM trucks having problem with the Companion rubbing on the truck floor? Our trucks, or at least all of the Silverado's at my dealers lot, have a hump in the middle. The bed floor tappers down about 3/4" from the middle to the back and it causes the hitch to teeter and rub on the truck floor. I worked with one of the engineers last year, but never got a resolution after trying different things he suggested.
I can post some pics, but wanted to ask.
Bob

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