ChasCapeGir
Active member
Anyone using this hitch?
B&W Companion hitch
- Thread starter ChasCapeGir
- Start date
Yep...love it!! Here it is out of our truck in the 2 main parts. So easy to take out and put back in.
ChasCapeGir
Active member
Awesome! Thanks. There are a lot of choices. I have a Reese Sidewinder pin box.
LOL...I had the Airborne Sidewinder on prior RV...used on our SRW F-350 and our DRW F-350. LOVED it!! Moved to B&W when we got the new F-450 and Alliance.
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I recently bought a new 2024 F-350 with the puck system already installed from the factories. My B&W OEM fifth-Wheel Hitch drops down into the pucks alright but the right,rear latch will not draw down enough to allow the hole for the cotter key to show. It turns out Ford changed the way they manufactured the plate or a crossmember I’m not sure which. But something is off. I go tomorrow morning and they are going to lift the bed off an install the fix that Ford has come up with.
Chaseweston
Well-known member
We have the 25k for the Chevy puck system on our 3500 DRW. We've tugged our 44V14 all over and in some pretty steep angles and it hasn't given us a single issue. Easy to take in and out solo. The puck systems on these trucks make it so easy.
Its what i have, the 25k version, and its been great. Sounds like i have the same truck and 5th wheel as @Chaseweston too. Its been great. One piece of advice is to make sure when you install the first time, the puck handles should be fairly snug. I'd say almost difficult to turn. I followed the B&W directions and had a good deal of bucking my first haul. Once i tighten them all slightly its been great ever since.
ChasCapeGir
Active member
I got the B&W Companion installed. Noticeable difference from my Husky 16KW. It’s very quiet towing and didn’t realize the Husky was clunky. After an inaugural pull of 15 miles I did need to draw the wedge closer in. Anyone have same set up? Curious how far wedge should be in towards the top plate of hitch.
Not that this matters, and I'm glad you are getting it addressed, I just got a new 2024 F350 manufactured in 12/2024, and the B&W Companion slider dropped right in the pucks and the pins went right through the bolts. It was a little fiddly though. I'm wondering if they changed something later in the build year.
Jealous. I have a shorted and had to go with the slider. I can manhandle it out but it is not light. We're getting a winch for the garage just to reduce risk.
EDIT: Chose to go with the slider.
They lifted the bed and replaced the complete plate. They must have changed something mid year because not all were affected
ChasCapeGir
Active member
I saw online there is a TSB for the issue. Mine was tight but did fit in the picks.
1911LVR
Member
Well built..... hell OVERBUILT. Nothing wrong with that though.
ExitStrategy
New member
After 2 hours of trying to get it to fit in my 2024 F350 DRW long bed today I decided to research. Was so happy to find this on the Alliance forum. We are supposed to close and pick up our new 2026 Valor 36V11 this coming Friday. So need to call my dealer first thing in the morning. When you brought yours in did you bring the Companion hitch with you? I assume they would want the base there to check it.
Got the TSB number from a different member in this thread. Thank yall and glad to join the Alliance!
So it sounds like I found the answer to the question I was about to ask...a B&W Companion for my 2023 F350 SRW CC is the general consensus? I'm very close to pulling the trigger on ordering a new Avenue 30BH. I will have to install the puck system, since it doesn't have it from the factory, but I think that will be money well spent since it makes things such a "plug-and-play" operation, no matter what setup I choose.
The specs say the trailer will be roughly 12k gross, but is there any drawback to getting one that is considerably over-rated like the 25k one y'all were talking about above (would it be too stiff, etc.)? Or better to stick with one more closely matched to the actual weight I'll tow? I just never know if I may decide to go with a bigger 5 down the road...
Specs show the trailer will have the "Rota-Flex" pin. Any yeas or nays on that? The Helux looks significantly more substantial, but is that worth swapping right away? Or any chance they'd install that one for me if I have one built?
The specs say the trailer will be roughly 12k gross, but is there any drawback to getting one that is considerably over-rated like the 25k one y'all were talking about above (would it be too stiff, etc.)? Or better to stick with one more closely matched to the actual weight I'll tow? I just never know if I may decide to go with a bigger 5 down the road...
Specs show the trailer will have the "Rota-Flex" pin. Any yeas or nays on that? The Helux looks significantly more substantial, but is that worth swapping right away? Or any chance they'd install that one for me if I have one built?