5th wheel hitch - plugging ball hole?

[parver]

I've got a BW Companion hitch in the bed of my truck. I need to get some mulch so I took it out. How do you guys plug up the hole when you want to use the bed of your truck to haul something loose? I was thinking of just taping some cardboard over it? There has to be a smarter way though!

[tomkatb]

Turn the hitch 180 degrees and re-insert?

[tomkatb]

The ball!

[DieselDrax]

Go to the 1:32 mark.

https://youtu.be/Wyig-vbhiFU

[Bama Rambler]

They make a rubber plug for the empty socket. This one is at etrailer.com but plenty of other places sell them.



I use one all the time when I remove the Andersen hitch and turn the ball over.
It keeps dirt and stuff from getting in the socket with the ball.

[robbiels7]

What about some ply wood? I just went and got 3000 pounds of rock and put down a blue tarp it worked great.

[Walholler]

Don't overthink your problem. If it is going to be a one time thing, then cardboard or thin plywood will do fine. However if your to constantly use the truck to haul loose items, then a plug would do better.

[parver]

Thanks to all the replies. Since I've had the 5th wheel hitch in for so long, I forgot about the upside down ball I had stashed away in the garage... worked perfect keeping debris out. I knew it was a simple solution!