B&W Trailer Hitches 20K Companion OEM Fifth Wheel Hitch

Curated from 119 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: October 6, 2024

B&W Trailer Hitches 20K Companion OEM Fifth Wheel Hitch

Brand: B&W Trailer Hitches
Price: $1199
Snoop Score:
7.1
Sentiment
7.0
Popularity
9.1
Technical
6.5

Snoop's Take

The B&W Trailer Hitches 20K Companion OEM Fifth Wheel Hitch is designed for heavy-duty towing, specifically compatible with the Ford OEM puck system. Users rave about its ease of use, with one stating, "the locking handle is peace of mind in its self," and many consider it the best option on the market for fifth wheel hitches. While it is praised for stability and versatility, some users have noted concerns about potential noise and security over time, leading to a mixed but generally positive sentiment overall. When it comes to towing reliability and user satisfaction, the B&W Companion hitch stands out among competitors. Many users recommend the B&W brand, with comments like, "Do yourself a favor and just spend the money on the B&W Companion," affirming its trustworthy reputation. Overall, despite a few concerns, the B&W Companion is highly recommended for those seeking a durable and efficient towing solution in its category.

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Positive Feedback

They're good but turn into rattle traps. Hearing a hitch going clunk, clunk, clunk is rather unpleasant.

Negative Feedback
Product
7.1
B&W Trailer Hitches 20K Companion OEM Fifth Wheel Hitch
Heavy-Duty Towing
6 / 10
Daily RV Use
10 / 10
Off-Road Adventures
7 / 10
Ease of Installation
7 / 10
See how this compares to all Fifth Wheel Hitch

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
B&W is considered the best hitch on the market.
Their the best hitches on the market.
I don’t think you can go wrong with the Companion.
The best fixed fifth wheel hitch on the market is the B&W.
B&W is a great brand with high weight ratings.
Ease of use with cam action latching handle.
the locking handle is peace of mind in its self.
Compatible with Ford OEM puck system.
The puck system is great, easy in and out in case you need the full bed.
Stable towing experience with 5th wheel
IMHO, 5th wheel is the way to go. It feels more stable with less trailer movement transferred to the steering.
B&W Companion is considered a great hitch.
5th wheel hitch recommendations I have a F250 with the fifth wheel prep package and we are purchasin
The B&W Companion is easy to hitch and unhitch, good ride, and comes out of the truck bed in 2 pieces.
Best hitch for puck system compatibility.
5th Wheel Hitch - Not sure what to get. My family is going to upgrade from a bumper pull to a 5th wh
I'm personally partial to B&W Hitches, as they are extremely well built.
Versatile for multiple trailer sizes
I can flip this and tow any of my three different ones.
Height adjustable for different trailers
being able just flip the ball sizes over is great.
Good for towing various trailers
If he’s running a bunch of different trailers that just have different heights however, this would be handy.
B&W is a recommended brand for hitches
Check out B & W hitches.
Users are extremely satisfied with the B&W Companion hitch.
Looking for the Reddit reviews on this one.
I have a turnover ball which works well, but makes for a very heavy companion base which I don't necessarily like.

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Can become loose and noisy over time
They're good but turn into rattle traps. Hearing a hitch going clunk, clunk, clunk is rather unpleasant.
Not secure against accidental disconnection
it looks like you can just unbolt the ball end from the hitch and remove the trailer; not very secure.
Potential weakness in height adjustment mechanism
It’s susceptible to shearing during acceleration and braking and dependent on the weight of the hauling load will fatigue it significantly faster.
Concerns about the reliability of alternative hitches like Andersen.
I would never use the Anderson. It is prone to failure under loads regular hitches handle without problem.
Agreed would not buy/use Andersen because of vandalism acts.
Requires permanent frame bolted to the vehicle.
But that still requires a permanent frame bolted onto the vehicle frame.

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Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Discussion about the height adjustment of the hitch
Overall it’s an awesome hitch and matches the truck perfectly.
Don’t think a 4” drop is available for the multipro tailgate.
I use it at the max height setting for my cargo trailer and drop it down a notch or two for my 5x8 utility trailer.
you must turn balls to behind hitch, otherwise, gate WILL hit ball.
Discussion about gooseneck vs 5th wheel hitches
I wanted to get some opinions on whether or not it's better to tow as gooseneck or 5th wheel.
General insights on adjustable hitches
This is a very heavy and expensive solution to an already solved problem.
Mention of factory-installed puck systems in modern HD trucks.
All the modern HD trucks are now available from the factory with a fifth wheel/gooseneck puck system.

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Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.
Mention of gooseneck pinbox adapters
Lippert themselves sells gooseneck pinbox adapters that don't void the warranty.
Discussion about alternative hitch brands.
Andersen hitch all the way.
I find the Anderson to be the easiest and most versatile of my experiences.
Turns out it is super easy to hook up and unhook.
It is heavy, but if you need to remove it it can be done to use the whole bed.
Discussion on alternatives to B&W hitches
If it can be done with a hitch they do it.
This one looks way sturdier than the cheap ones.

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Suggestions for selling fifth wheel hitches
I'm looking for suggestions (other than Facebook) on where to list it. I'm at a loss and just don't want to store it forever.
They may even be interested in taking it off your hands if the price is right.
I guess you could try the places that sell 5th wheels.
Discussion of alternatives like Curt and Gen-Y hitches.
There is a lot of review on both. The light weight of the Curt is appealing.
Trailer Saver hitch.
Best ride I’ve ever had towing.
allowing it complete 360 degree mobility.
Discussion about the need for truck-specific hitches.
A dually is such a pain that nobody drives them unless they need them.
Shopping for hitches on OfferUp and price comparisons.
I found one on OfferUp for pretty cheap and was really surprised when I looked up the retail.
Discussion of alternatives like Anderson and Reese hitches.
I will tell everyone that hitch was a pita to get into and out of the truck.
biggest plus is it’s super easy to remove when you need the bed back.
Anderson is popular and very cost friendly if you have a roll over ball.
We have driven cross country and back with the hitch we bought.
General recommendations for fifth wheel hitches.
Any recommendations or ones to stay away from?
Discussion on calculating towing capacity and hitch compatibility
Can anyone help us figure out if our truck is capable to safely tow this RV?
I’m unsure how to calculate it, that’s why I’m asking for help.
Your hitch cuts it close, but your truck itself is fine.
Sounds like your weak link is the hitch, but it’s still rated for more than the camper weighs.
People sharing their experience with ordering and using the hitch
Thanks I just ordered one of these!
Discussion about alternatives like Curt and Gen-Y hitches.
Curt makes the best option. Its not a hitch but a great solution.
General advice against gooseneck adapters
As other commenters have mentioned avoid the gooseneck adapters.
Discussion of different hitch brands and experiences.
It has been a great hitch.
Reese makes great products, I'm a huge fan.
Discussion about renting trucks with gooseneck hitches.
Enterprise rents 1ton single wheel with goose balls in bed.
The whole point is that the thing is bolted down tight.
Suggestions for alternative hitch types like Gen-Y.
Inserting the ball requires zero bolts or adjustments and will save your back from needing load or unload a fiver hitch every time.
Discussion about hitch installation costs
Is this a normal price? For some reason I was thinking it would be a little over $2k.
I'd drive a long ways to save 1k.
Sounds expensive to me.
not enough for $4200 to make sense.

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
General advice on hitch replacement and safety
Maybe a little close on the hitch.... but hitches are easily replaced, and cheap especially used.
People sharing their experience with ordering and using the hitch.
It seems to work good so far.
Preference for lighter hitches like Andersen
I use an Andersen hitch and love it.
Discussion about the adequacy of different hitch designs and their reliability.
Great hitch.
I don't recommend the Andersen.

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