Hitch Type: 5W or Gooseneck?

[kingchip]

It looks like it allows the ball to be mounted over the axle like it should be. The offset is on the drop from the kingpin to the ball.

[Blue01F250]

I'll take a pic of the 5er hitch I have installed in my truck... I like the way the rails mount on it and I can still basically use my bed as normal with the hitch out... will take a picture of it tonight for ya and post it... just to give you an idea...

[Heat]

I have a Husky 16k 5th wheel slider in my shortbed... The kingpin is basically flush with the front of my trailer and the only time I have to slide it to the rear is when backing... I can't turn sharp enough to come anywhere near the cab of the truck when moving forward....

Anyway, the mounting for any of the hitches is actually on the frame rails... The mounting system that I have only leaves 4 holes in the bed that have caps so you almost can't tell that a hitch was ever there unless you see the caps... Riese hitches also have a similar system for mounting... My wife and I take the hitch out with no problems....

Ken....

[quick26]

now in my situation i have a short box with the gooseneck already installed, so would i just need to get the offset adapter or would the standard adapter be ok

[720Deere]

FedEx delivered my B&W hitches today! I just pulled the companion hitch parts out of the boxes and I have to say that this thing is the most stout fifth wheel hitch that I have ever seen. I almost guarantee you that one man can't effectively set a fully assembled hitch in the back of the truck.

I plan to do my install Friday night. I'll update you on the gooseneck install after that.

[Blue01F250]

Here are the pictures of my bed rails for my 5er hitch...

[Blue01F250]

man that bed looks horrible!!! Guess I'll be goin to the car wash tonight!

[720Deere]

Well, I got the B&W setup installed on Saturday morning. That setup is the cat's @zz! I was supposed to pick up my 30' Rockwood last night, but the motor went up in the slide out. Now I am waiting for them to get the new motor in.

We hooked up to the camper last night and the hitch height was perfect. The camper rides about 1 bubble out of level and I have at least 8" of clearance over the bed rails. The hitch can be adjusted down 1" more, but I think I will leave it the way it is.

I can't wait to pick it up and see how that thing pulls. I have never pulled anything with a fifth wheel hitch before.

[msp]

Lippert components, who makes the frames for Forest River and others, has a memo that you can find on their website that warns against a gooseneck adapter, and will decline any warranty repairs related to the frame on a unit with said adapters. Get a B&W tunover gooseneck ball hitch, which leaves the bed flat and empty, and get the B&W Companion fifth wheel hitch that mounts into the turnover ball hitch. Expensive, but no rails when not towing.

[720Deere]

So far I have only pulled the 5er about 15 miles with the B&W hitch. This weekend I will be traveling about 150 miles round trip over all types of roads. This trip should give me a real good idea of how things handle.

The only thing that can be seen as a negative on the B&W Companion hitch is that it is cumbersome and not quick and simple to remove and install. I can live with the minor inconvenience for the peace of mind and safety factor of this hitch. It was expensive, but it is exactly what I was looking for to be able to do high capacity towing with a goose or a fifth wheel.

Thanks to MrJohnWayne and a few others for pointing me in that direction!