B&W Companion Hitch

[Panhead]

We are planning to buy a 31.5RLTS super lite after the first of the year and I really want to use the B&W Companion with this trailer. The problem is I have a Ford SuperCab short bed and I'm not sure of how much turn I can get out of that combination. I know that the front cap is a bit tapered but is it enough to get more than about 70* turning angle?

Anyone here have this combination or know of such a setup and how well it works or not? I love the B&W hitching system and hope that I can use it with this trailer.

Thanks in advance

Steve

[skymutt]

Hi,

I have the B&W hitch and a 28.5 RLS with the Reese Revolution Pin Box. Works like a champ for very tight turns.

[skymutt]

Forgot to say I have a short bed Dodge.

[Panhead]

Originally Posted by skymutt

Hi,

I have the B&W hitch and a 28.5 RLS with the Reese Revolution Pin Box. Works like a champ for very tight turns.

This is interesting, are you using the industry standard Patriot hitch or the Companion that mounts in the turnover ball mount? B&W says on their product information that the Companion is not to be used with a pivoting pinbox such as the revolution.

Steve

[skymutt]

I use the standard turn over B&W hitch. I havent had any issues.

[edatlanta]

No problems here with the B&W Companion and my Designer.

[Duckogram]

Panhead,
What kind of Ford Super Cab (Model, Wheel Base Engine)? The rails on an F250/350 are higher so you can smash them (like I did) if you only have 16.5" hitch height (I had 17). The Ford Short bed (6 3/4') gives you 39.5" from the cab to the axle centerline. If your hitch does not slide your turn will be very limited, i.e. you can hit the cab in a forward turn. If your TV is an F150, y'all be carefull. Thats an awfull lot of 5er for a 150 on a good day

[Panhead]

Originally Posted by Duckogram

Panhead,
What kind of Ford Super Cab (Model, Wheel Base Engine)? The rails on an F250/350 are higher so you can smash them (like I did) if you only have 16.5" hitch height (I had 17). The Ford Short bed (6 3/4') gives you 39.5" from the cab to the axle centerline. If your hitch does not slide your turn will be very limited, i.e. you can hit the cab in a forward turn. If your TV is an F150, y'all be carefull. Thats an awfull lot of 5er for a 150 on a good day

Sorry for the lack of information, my TV is a 2007 F250 6.0 PSD, 6 3/4' bed with the extended cab. If I can get 75* to 80* angle in turns I'd be happy.

Steve

[Duckogram]

OK,
So the 39.5 is accurate for you but the properly mounted ball will be about 2" forward of axle center leaving a true 37.5" which is what I had. I also had a 17" high reese 16k which also had about 7 degree tilt. That, combined with the inability to crank it around a turn caused me to hit the shoulder which caused the trailer to tilt and hit the siderail and smash the rear end of the
5'er on the road. It was the abrupt dip that did me in. Here's a shot of a $3k repair bill that does not include the 5er.

[Panhead]

Originally Posted by Duckogram

OK,
So the 39.5 is accurate for you but the properly mounted ball will be about 2" forward of axle center leaving a true 37.5" which is what I had. I also had a 17" high reese 16k which also had about 7 degree tilt. That, combined with the inability to crank it around a turn caused me to hit the shoulder which caused the trailer to tilt and hit the siderail and smash the rear end of the
5'er on the road. It was the abrupt dip that did me in. Here's a shot of a $3k repair bill that does not include the 5er.

Ouch!

Looks like your truck is even the same color as mine. Measuring mine from the back of the cab to the center point of the rear axle I get 41 1/2". This from the window back, not the font wall of the bed. I'm really confused on this. B&W says you can't use their companion hitch with the Sidewinder pinbox but there are those who are doing so apparently without problem, there are those who pull a 5er without a slider in a short box truck and say they have no problem and then I read so many reports of folks hitting the cab or window.

Next time, if there is a next time, I'm going to buy a F350 Dually Long Bed and be done with it all.

Steve

[Duckogram]

Originally Posted by Panhead

Next time, if there is a next time, I'm going to buy a F350 Dually Long Bed and be done with it all.

Steve

If I could get a long bed with DRW's in the garage I would have one tomorrow.