B&W let go so I guess you gotta look!!!!

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Have you lubed your B&W jaws - there are two zerks if I remember and always do a pull test with the landing gear down, just off the pavement (catches the trailer it it comes out). Last always visually inspect the jaws and arm is closed and pin fully inserted. It's all in the owners manual. Might read up on it.

No zerks on my companion jaws. Just one on the head pivot.

 

[powerscol]

No zerks on my companion jaws. Just one on the head pivot.

Your are correct my mistake https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/sites/default/files/RVK3300 Installation Instructions.pdf

 

[tdginctr]

Hmmmm... Thats the second testimonial on a B&W hitch releasing a king pin after visual verification (by multiple folks as well) of jaws closed properly around the king pin. I sure am glad I got my el cheapo Reese 16k instead - no failures in 5 yrs... knock on wood!

BTW, I too have a ('23) Super Duty SB with 7.3 and love it. I also have the Turning Point too. Some have said they have locked the TP out with use of their Super Duty SB and didn't use a slider.... I'm sure they don't do full 90 degree 5er turns, but claim they get by without a slider. Might be worth looking into..... I'm thinking I gonna try it - even if I had a slider or used the full TP would never get close to that angle anyways.

I also tow a 295RL with the Turning Point pin box and have never unlocked it while towing with my F250 short bed B&W non-slider. I’ve never had the need, nor would want to, do a 90-degree turn for fear of what it might do to the tires/wheels/axles.

 

[phonemannn]

The B and W companion 5th wheel hitch, by design, cannot open with the handle closed. EVER! The way it is made, will not allow it to open with handle locked, closed. There are no springs that might be left open. The handle moves a cam that has a physical interference with the jaws. Only way if is the hitch breaks, which I have never seen.... If handle is closed, then the jaws are locked. UNLESS the pin was not seated in the hitch. All the way in. Once jaws are around the pin and handle is closed, not going to open by itself.

 

[traveldawg]

You have made me feel "disenfranchised" since I don't have a B&W hitch!

Seriously, I've been considering getting one, but I have a 15 year old Husky hitch with a Blue Ox Bedsaver and it just keeps working. Wonder if these hitches eventually wear out?

By the way, I'm guilty of never doing a pull test. The Husky is a single jaw hitch, so I just use a flashlight to make sure the jaw is wrapped around the pin.

[MENTION=19847]dryfly[/MENTION]
Before you go out and get a B&W just to be part of the crowd, check out the DEMCO hitches. They have a much better and more positive way of latching around a hitch pin. The jaw locks around the pin and a bar slides across the back. Nice design.

 

[Silverbeard]

I used the B&W Companion hitch for four plus years and dozens of times hooking and unhooking. It’s a great hitch. The only time it didn’t hook up right, was my fault. The kingpin was a little bit too high and the fat part of the pin hit the jaws and closed them before the pin was in the jaws. I knew something wasn’t right, so I got out and checked. I rectified the problem and the next try was successful. I switched to the GooseBox, because I didn’t like the amount of effort required to get the B&W in and out. If the tow vehicle was only used for towing, I would go back to the B&W.

 

[lorend]

Maybe add a step or two or just re-arrange the order of your hook-up may help to avoid that in the future. I back into the 5th wheel and watch the handle "lock-in" and then do a pull test before getting out. If the king pin did not seat well then you would know it and no harm done. After the pull test to verify a lock in, then I do a visual check of the king pin and jaws and if that looks good then I pin the handle. When you have a 53 ft semi trailer not lock in you learn real quick to do the tug test before getting out of the drivers seat. Glad nothing happened except for a little time to hitch up after calming down. It is nerve racking when it happens. Safe travels.

 

[ardvark16]

The point of my thread was that checking the jaws and the pull test are important. Sadly many people seem to disregard the pull test as unnecessary because they don’t make mistakes.

 

[trailrydr]

To err is human... for sure. Its unfair to say that those who dont do a pull test think they dont make mistakes. We apparently ALL make mistakes.