I'm looking at picking up a 2015 Longhorn, 3500, LB, 4x4, SWB and will be towing a midsized 5th wheel. I'm planning on getting the B&W Companion hitch once I get it home.

So, here are the questions. What does the "Towing Prep Group" include? I thought it was the holes in the bed, and caps, and a structural member under the bed that goes from frame to frame. Is this what the Companion connects to? Does that group have anything to do with the 7-pin plug? Trailer Brake? Should the truck I purchase have the Towing Prep Group or should I leave it up to the Companion installer?

The '03 is at about 296,xxx Miles.

 

I just picked up a 2500 Longhorn with the "5th Wheel / Gooseneck Towing Prep Group". It provides the holes in the bed, and caps, and a structural member under the bed that goes from frame to frame. It also provides a spot to drop in a goose neck hitch in the middle of the bed. It also provides a 7 pin plug in the bed wall on the driver side about halfway from the wheel well to the tail gate.
Yes the right B&W Companion hitch specifically for the Ram should fit right into the 4 points in the bed where the covers are.
B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch for Ram Towing Prep Package - Dual Jaw - 25,000 lbs B and W Fifth Wheel BWRVK3600
Looks to be as simple as placing the hitch into position and engaging the 4 locking fasteners into the mount points in the bed.
I believe the Trailer Brake controller is standard equipment with the Longhorn package. (at least that's what my window sticker indicated)

 

Not just the holes in the bed but the attachment pucks welded to the frame.
Yes get the 5er prep package!

 

Thanks, prep pkg it is.

 

But NO ball???
***???

 

Nope.
Only includes a sleeve to adapt the class 5 receiver to 2"

 

My son ordered a new truck sight unseen before the 2013's were available, he included the goose/5ver tow package. One day I was in the dealership and they had one just come in with the package so I went out to look at it. I had to check the date on my watch to make sure it wasn't April 1st one look at the 5 gaping holes made the Swiss cheese box a no sell for my son, he went and chose one off the lot without the package and installed a B&W turnover, you couldn't pay me to have a truck box with so many holes in it.

 

So I contact DS and they didn't have a Longhorn that met what I wanted and I eventually got the Limited. As for the 5th wheel prep pkg, I was told it was a factory option that would have put 5 holes in the bed for attachment and lockdown of the B&W hitch. I looked up the hitch and they had almost the identical hitch, but after market installation, that only required one hole for attachment and lockdown. I looked for a B&W Dealer in the area of DS so I can get it installed right away and low and behold, DS is also a dealer for the hitch.

A short conversation with the accessory mgr and the deal was struck. I now have the truck and the hitch. With the hitch removed, the turnover ball goes in the hole and the bed is smooth as a baby's ahhh, emmm, yeah, smooth as a baby.
Back to my coffee, and thanks everyone.