New 5th wheeler - about a hitch for my 2024 Silverado 2500

[Blaise]

Hi all. Been RV-ing for 30+ years, but always with a TT or class A. We need more living space, so we're getting a 5th wheel trailer. I got a good deal on a new Silverado 2500 with 6-3/4 foot bed and factory pucks.

Looking at a 20k B&W Companion slider (BWRVK3775). RV dealer wants $3k to sell and install the hitch. That's an estimate; perhaps it will be a bit less. The trailer GVWR is about 14k. According to specs, the truck can pull up to an 18.4k fifth wheel/gooseneck.

Thinking I can save a few bucks buying it at eTrailer.com ($1700). The B&W is 251 lbs. Hoping I can remove the head and then be able to lift the base into the truck (with a helper). Worst case, I'll put a winch on my garage ceiling!

My question is height. Specs say the hitch can be set to a height of 17" - 19". The pin box of the trailer when set level is 51-1/2" from the ground. The truck bed is 37-1/2" off the ground. I think this leaves the pin box 14" above the truck bed. Does that mean that the B&W is not a good fit for my truck? Not sure how much play there is in these hitches. I guess the pin box might also have a height adjustment.

Is doing it myself a bad idea? I'm pretty good with my hands, but I've never even entertained the idea of a fifth wheel hitch before, much less install/use one.

Lately I've been reading about the Andersen hitch with the gooseneck-to-fifth wheel adapter. They're very light - made of aircraft grade aluminum instead of steel. I'm skeptical about this ... looking at how it's designed and installed, it seems like it may move or twist or something. Anyone had an opinion on these?

I'd appreciate any help anyone might offer.

Thanks!

 

[Joezeppy]

Hi all. Been RV-ing for 30+ years, but always with a TT or class A. We need more living space, so we're getting a 5th wheel trailer. I got a good deal on a new Silverado 2500 with 6-3/4 foot bed and factory pucks.

Looking at a 20k B&W Companion slider (BWRVK3775). RV dealer wants $3k to sell and install the hitch. That's an estimate; perhaps it will be a bit less. The trailer GVWR is about 14k. According to specs, the truck can pull up to an 18.4k fifth wheel/gooseneck.

Thinking I can save a few bucks buying it at eTrailer.com ($1700). The B&W is 251 lbs. Hoping I can remove the head and then be able to lift the base into the truck (with a helper). Worst case, I'll put a winch on my garage ceiling!

Is doing it myself a bad idea? I'm pretty good with my hands, but I've never even entertained the idea of a fifth wheel hitch before, much less install/use one.

Can't comment directly on the cost but I assembled my hitch (RAM factory hitch made by Curt) in about a half hour. It's not a slider, though. "Installation" is nothing more than dropping the hitch into the pucks and locking in the legs. I have my future son-in-law help move it in and out of the bed but I think in the Spring I will install a winch of some sort as well.

My question is height. Specs say the hitch can be set to a height of 17" - 19". The pin box of the trailer when set level is 51-1/2" from the ground. The truck bed is 37-1/2" off the ground. I think this leaves the pin box 14" above the truck bed. Does that mean that the B&W is not a good fit for my truck? Not sure how much play there is in these hitches. I guess the pin box might also have a height adjustment.

Based on these measurements the hitch will be 3" nose high but keep in mind the truck will squat maybe 2" which brings it back to only 1" nose high which should be fine. The key measurement, though, is distance above the bedrails. Ideally you want 6" or more. Mine is slightly less - 4-1/2" to 5" but so far has been acceptable (came VERY close to hitting a few times).

Lately I've been reading about the Andersen hitch with the gooseneck-to-fifth wheel adapter. They're very light - made of aircraft grade aluminum instead of steel. I'm skeptical about this ... looking at how it's designed and installed, it seems like it may move or twist or something. Anyone had an opinion on these?

I used the Andersen Ultimate 5th wheel hitch in my prior set up (2010 GMC 2500 long box and 2016 Keystone Hideout) and loved it. I never experienced any twisting (though I did meet a guy that did) or other negative towing aspects. I did move to a traditional 5th wheel hitch with the new RAM, though, for a few of reasons:

• The gooseneck ball in the RAM uses a less-stable locking system - it has ball bearings of sorts rather than a through-pin on the Sierra (aftermarket under-bed system) - and I was nervous about the way the Andersen would be putting upward pressure on the ball bearings.
• Limited clearance behind the tailgate (could not walk between the truck and trailer or open the front storage compartment.
• I did hit the side rail once in a tight backing-in maneuver. My fault, though - I was not paying attention.
• It did get a little cumbersome backing under the hitch - more like a traditional tow-behind trailer.

Not sure where you are in "Upstate NY" - I'm near Utica - but I'd be happy to discuss the Andersen more with you. As I mentioned, overall, I was very happy with it but it was just time for a change. I've been meaning to post it for sale but have been lazy about it. PM me if you are interested.

Joe

PS, one my favorite features of the Andersen:

 

[SMR]

Call some hitch shops and see what they will charge, I wouldn't trust the dealer to do it correctly. Thats what I have do in the past with my travel trailers, toad for the motorhome and our current 5th wheel. JMHO
Congrats on the new camper!

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

A "nose high" fifth wheel attitude seems to be a common problem with modern pickups. Check around to see if you can find a lower hitch, but that may not be possible. And yes, you want a hitch where the head is detachable from the pylons so you can move it in pieces.

Does the truck already have trailer wiring (7-pin trailer connector) and a brake controller? If yes and you said it has the pucks, installation is a drop-in. Buy the hitch and you are ready to pick up the trailer. If no brake controller, you can DIY or get a hitch shop to add a good one, e.g. Tekonsha Prodigy.

 

[Blaise]

Hey @Joezeppy thanks for the comprehensive response. I think I've talked myself out of the Andersen, thanks.

The dealer wants $2100 for the B&W, plus $189 for installation. I told them of my intention to purchase it from eTrailer.com, and the parts guy said he saw the price on eTrailer but he can't match it.

I asked if I could pay them to install it after I purchased from eTrailer. He said their policy is not to install customer supplied parts. Not unreasonable in general, but if it's in the sealed manufacturer's box, what could be the problem?

So, I will buy and install the B&W myself. The dealer to adjust the hitch height if need be ("for a modest fee"). That makes sense to me ... if I already had a hitch in my truck, it might need height adjustment.

@Gary RV_Wizard yes, the truck has a built-in trailer brake controller and both 7-blade and flat four trailer connections in the bed. So I'm all set in that regard.

But I'm suddenly looking at the Demco 18k auto-slider (DM79GV) - it's only $125 more than the B&W. It's really tempting, the downside being that those Demcos are fricking heavy - 380 lb! Yes, in either case I'm getting 1 ton winch - actually, a hand chain driven hoist - but 380 lb is still a lot of weight to handle.

Anyone have any thoughts on the Demco?

 

[TonyL]

We have a short bed F350 and we don't need or have a slider hitch, just the B & W companion hitch
Towecmd around 20000 miles, no problems yet.

 

[Blaise]

Hi @TonyL wow, that's interesting. i guess it all depends on the specifics of the truck, trailer, hitch combination. Thanks for the feedback

 

[steveblonde]

On my 4th Curt (new truck new curt) look in the box of any RV delivery company 90% use Curt - ive sold 100s of 5th wheel hitches from Reese to Curt to Anderson to Patriot to B&W
I will stick to my Curt but i prefer the Q series over the A series on a dually

 

[Blaise]

@steveblonde That's interesting. I was considering the A20/Q20. I decided against them because their hitch won't fit into the GM pucks. They sell an adapter, but I was trying to avoid the extra height (about 2-1/2").

I'm not really sure what the difference between the A and Q series is. I was leaning toward the A because it has a limited lifetime warranty vs the 10 warranty on the Q.

My truck is a SRW "standard" bed = 6-3/4 foot bed. I ordered the B&W Companion 3775, which is a 20k slider that fits the GM pucks.

 

[steveblonde]

Unless Gm changed something in the last year they fit fine my buddy has one is his 2022 gmc
A stands for articulating head
Q stands for quiet

 

[Ray-IN]

Look around for an independent hitch installer, they are usually less money for installs. FWIW, Uhaul installs hitches of all kinds.
I would check out different brand 5er hitches; you want the 5er overshot a minimum of 4" above your bed sides/rails; otherwise there is a good chance of damaging both truck and trailer.
That is the most common cause of nose-high 5ers being towed.
This online towing weight calculator is accurate and impartial. It also eliminates all the salesmans hype about what they are selling.

 

[Blaise]

UPDATE: I bought the 20k B&W Companion slider on eTrailer. They said it might take 10 days (truck freight), but it arrived in 4 days! The assembly was really easy - maybe an hour, and I took my sweet time to avoid mistakes.

I install a 1 ton hoist in my garage and it worked perfectly. I was easily able to lift the hitch, back the truck into the garage, and just lower the hitch directly into the pucks. I'll be picking up my new RV next week, and I am really jazzed about it!

Thanks for the feedback @Ray-IN - I just decided to bite the bullet and do it myself. It was easier than I expected.

 

[rgsauger]

Congrats!

 

[Blaise]

BTW, here's a look at my new B&W 20k Companion Slider ...