Bought the 08 Mega awhile back now i need to get it set up for the 5r. I really like the looks of the B & W and companion. Will this work with a pin extender on my 5r. I think the super glide web site has a pin extender. Do you think this will work? Pro's cons?

 

Anything you put on the trailer to extend the pin is going to put a lot of extra stress on the trailer frame. My 5th wheel was designed with an extended pin box, some are not designed for the extra strain and will break after a while. I am using the Reese signature series slider on my mega. It works great and is built very well. The B&W is a nice hitch but at some point during your travels you will need a slider of some sort and will regret not having that option. I normally dont need to use mine, except when backing into tight camping spots, normal driving I have enough clearance.

 

Ok so i sorta screwed myself up here the extender is the 5th airborne sidewinder. i really like the B & W so i am trying to come up with something to be able to use it.

Ok so now any ideas if this will work?

 

I've heard that the 5th Airborne set up works perfectly with the B&W companion. It's supposed to be the same money, essentially, as an automatic slider 5th wheel only. Of course, the benefits are that the B&W can be a gooseneck and a 5th wheel. So when I do it, that's my choice for a set up.

 

That's the setup I decided on a little more than a year ago, just before the Sidewinders were actually released. I bought the Turnoverball and installed it but never got around to buying a 5th wheel! Honestly the change in economy has put that on hold for a while. But when the time comes, that is the hitch setup I'll be using.

 

I really want this set up but now i'm worried. I did some more reading and here's what i found. Not really sure now if this is the route to go with. Here it is direct from B & W website for you all to see.

Q:I have seen products, such as converters and extenders that say they can be used with your products. Is it true?
A: At B&W, there is nothing more important to us than the safety of our customers. Because of our commitment to exceptional design and quality, we often see products on the market that refer to B&W products or state that they can be used with B&W products. As a rule of thumb, we do not recommend any product that is used in conjunction with our mounting system that has not been manufactured and tested by B&W, even if that product states that it can be used with B&W products. Doing so will void our warranty, but more importantly, could create a safety issue.


Recently, we became aware of a product that is of special concern. This product replaces the pin box on a 5th wheel trailer and changes the pivot point from the hitch jaws to a point rearward of the hitch. It is our opinion that this configuration creates stress loads that fall outside the normal testing done on 5th wheel hitches. We are concerned that moving the pivot point rearward as much as 20 inches puts stress on the hitch (and the truck) that has not been widely studied. Therefore, we strongly discourage the use of our Companion 5th Wheel Hitch with one of these pin boxes. Any product that prevents the king pin from rotating within the jaws of the Companion with a wedge or other device and moves the center of rotation to a point other than the locking jaws should not be used with the Companion

 

very interesting

 

I know you've looked at it, but you might reconsider the superglide, it too has a gooseneck conversion and IMO its the best slider made.

 

You will void your B&W warranty if you use a sidewinder with a companion. We have seen the B&W companion hitch actually bend from the stress of the sidewinder. Colibert now has a new fifth wheel hitch with a slider that will work with the B&W turnoverball. It installs in your turnoverball like the companion. I have ordered one (non slider) for our company truck to test it. It looks like a nice setup, a bit smaller than the companion, and comes out of the bed out as fast, or faster than the companion, supposedly. If anyone is interested, I will keep you posted on the installation details, and how well it works.

 

Please keep us informed. I almost went with the Colibert but couldn't find anyone that sold it!

 

got a link or some pics of the colibert setup? i couldnt find it anywhere on the net

wes

 

Colibert

There stuff looks great, just nowhere to be found.

 

It should be on tweetys.com late next week, under tweetys hitch center

 

very interested in this colibert product. keep us posted for sure

 

I was looking at the B&W, but this Colibert hitch now has me intrigued even more with only one hole in bed as well instead of additional for chains. Maybe it'll even be cheaper from tweety's - one can only hope.