B&W Trailer Hitches Patriot 18K Fifth Wheel Hitch

Curated from 144 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: October 6, 2024

B&W Trailer Hitches Patriot 18K Fifth Wheel Hitch

Brand: B&W Trailer Hitches
Price: $799
Snoop Score:
4.5
Sentiment
8.6
Popularity
6.3
Technical
2.7

Snoop's Take

The B&W Trailer Hitches Patriot 18K Rail Mounted Fifth Wheel Hitch is a high-quality towing solution designed for heavy-duty applications. With a robust 18,000 lb GTW and a fully articulating head, it ensures a secure and stable towing experience. Consumer sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with users praising its ease of use and reliability. "B&W is the best; the release handle is easy, and the locking system is easy," one user noted, reflecting the general satisfaction with the product. Many also appreciate its lightweight design, making it easy to lift in and out of the truck bed, and its ability to accommodate various trailer types and heights. Based on user feedback, the B&W Trailer Hitches Patriot 18K is highly recommended for those in need of a dependable fifth-wheel hitch. Its combination of quality, ease of use, and stability while towing makes it a standout choice in its category.

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Positive Feedback

A dually is such a pain that nobody drives them unless they need them.

Negative Feedback
Product
4.5
B&W Trailer Hitches Patriot 18K Fifth Wheel Hitch
Heavy-Duty Towing
5 / 10
Daily RV Use
8 / 10
Off-Road Adventures
8 / 10
Ease of Installation
6 / 10
See how this compares to all Fifth Wheel Hitch

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
High quality and reliability
Their the best hitches on the market.
B&W all the way.
WORK. TRUCK.
Easy to use locking handle
B&W is the best. release handle is easy, locking system is easy.
High weight ratings and reliability
B&W is a great brand with high weight ratings.
Excellent mounting system for specific trucks
The best fixed fifth wheel hitch on the market is the B&W.
Positive user experiences with B&W brand
The puck system is great, easy in and out in case you need the full bed.
It’s perfect and well worth the money.
Easy to lift in and out of truck bed
It separates into two pieces which makes it much easier to lift in and out of the bed.
User satisfaction with B&W products
It seems to work good so far.
Stability while towing with the 5th wheel
IMHO, 5th wheel is the way to go. It feels more stable with less trailer movement transferred to the steering.
Great hitch for minimal bed impact
This is a great hitch, and while true it's impact to the bed is minimal, it really sucks lining the ball up each time.
Positive user experiences with B&W products
The B&W Companion is easy to hitch and unhitch, good ride, and comes out of the truck bed in 2 pieces.
Versatile for different trailers
I can flip this and tow any of my three different ones. Also height adjustable depending on the trailer and load.
Height adjustable for various loads
being able just flip the ball sizes over is great.
Users are extremely happy with the B&W Companion hitch.
I have a turnover ball which works well, but makes for a very heavy companion base which I don't necessarily like.
Lightweight for easy installation
Plus it's super light, so easy to put in and out of the truck.

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Duallys can be impractical for everyday use
A dually is such a pain that nobody drives them unless they need them.
Can become a rattle trap over time
Hearing a hitch going clunk, clunk, clunk is rather unpleasant.
Potential weaknesses in design under heavy loads
This thing isn’t designed all that well. It’s susceptible to shearing during acceleration and braking.
Not secure without additional locking mechanisms
it looks like you can just unbolt the ball end from the hitch and remove the trailer; not very secure.
Andersen hitches prone to failure under loads.
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.

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

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B&W Trailer Hitches Patriot 18K Fifth Wheel HitchB&W Trailer Hitches Patriot 18K Fifth Wheel Hitch$799
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3.9
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Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Discussion about towing capacity and suitability of truck for specific RV
Help…towing capacity safely will my truck work?
Maybe a little close on the hitch.... but hitches are easily replaced, and cheap especially used.
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.
Discussion about the height adjustment for towing
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.
Clarification on the stowing feature of the hitch
you must turn balls to behind hitch, otherwise, gate WILL hit ball.
Discussion about the tailgate step feature and hitch compatibility
Mine comes into contact with the ball and won’t open all the way.
Take ball out when not using.
Curt makes the best option.
Discussion about different hitch brands
It has been a great hitch.
Reese makes great products, I'm a huge fan.
Discussion on various hitch brands and options
Check out B & W hitches.
If it can be done with a hitch they do it.
this would be handy.
Discussion about the differences between Andersen and B&W hitches.
From the reviews I've just about talked myself into the companion, but one RV dealer showed me the Andersen and it looked pretty interesting.

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Discussion on using gooseneck adapters with fifth wheels
12 years in the rv business and I'm not aware of any pinbox manufacturer (for an rv) that endorses use of a gooseneck attachment...
Lippert themselves sells gooseneck pinbox adapters that don't void the warranty.
Discussion on rental options for trucks with gooseneck hitches
Enterprise rents 1ton single wheel with goose balls in bed.
Queries about non-permanent hitch solutions
I need a 5th wheel hitch that doesn’t bolt in and also goes on a variety of different trucks.

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Suggestions for selling fifth wheel hitch
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.
Comparison with other hitch brands
There is a lot of review on both.
I don’t think you can go wrong with the Companion.
Price variations observed in the market
I found one on OfferUp for pretty cheap and was really surprised when I looked up the retail.
User discussing compatibility with specific truck models
Any recommendations or ones to stay away from?
Mention of alternative hitch options
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.
General discussion on price variations
I see much cheaper ones like a Curt 16k Home Depot has online for less then 300, but we were in a rush because of a incoming hurricane when we bought ours.
User excitement about purchasing the hitch for a new truck
Thanks I just ordered one of these!
Inquiry about hitch receiver height for new truck
Hey, that’s sweet! Got a 2024 Sierra on order (my first truck!) and was wondering if you had a measurement of the height of the hitch receiver.
Preference for lighter hitches for easy installation
No more heavy hitch to take in and out between trips.
Light to put in and out and smooth while towing.
User inquiry about fifth wheel hitch recommendations
Any recommendations or ones to stay away from?
Considerations for hitch systems compatible with modern HD trucks
This means mounting points in the truck bed, you need to buy the hitch separately.
Inserting the ball requires zero bolts or adjustments and will save your back from needing load or unload a fiver hitch every time.
Concerns 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.
Concerns about weight affecting performance
This is a very heavy and expensive solution to an already solved problem.
Comment about the company behind Andersen hitch's vandalism incidents.
Great hitch. Guy who owns the company is a dickhead who got caught vandalizing Arches National Park.

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