wheatfarmer
Western Nebraska
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I got a B&W companion hitch from a dealer that had pulled a trailer a couple hundred miles. He give me a good price on it, but I didn't get any directions with it. My dodge is a quad cab 4 door with the short box. A couple questions. The square tube that goes in the pickup hitch-- does the locking pin go in the bottom or top hole? I put it in and locked it and I presume it is in the top hole, When I go to put the bolt that tightens up the frame to the square tube there is a gap between the frame and the tube of about 1 inch. Do you pull the locking pin on the pickup hitch and then draw the square tube up with the bolt so it is flush and tight with the frame and then see if the locking pin will go in the bottom hole? Then tighten the square clamps up? Also I moved the arms (part A and B) around so that it is as far back as it can go.
It looks like I will be about 6 to 7 inches behind the square shank which is about 2 to 3 inches ahead of the axle. Is this too far back? I had a gooseneck adapter on it with a 4 inch B&W offset extender. The way it is now it looks like it will be about 2 to 3 inches farther back then it was with the gooseneck adapter on. This will be good for turning and give more room to get the front storage door open, but was wondering about how it would affect the pulling.
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wheatfarmer
Western Nebraska
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Forgot to mention I am pulling a 2003 27RL Keystone Laredo if that makes any difference. My old trailer that I used with the gooseneck adapter was a 27 ft. Skyline Nomad and was a lot lighter trailer. Thought the companion hitch would make a lot better set up.
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wheatfarmer
Western Nebraska
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Found mounting direction on the internet for the hitch. I guess I should have looked first before posting. Now only wondering about if the hitch is too far back. Will hook up in a couple days and find out. Other short box dodge owners --- where do you place your arms to get the correct distance back from the square tube to the kingpin so you have enough clearance to turn without hitting the cab. Forward -- middle-- or back?
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jamway
Ranger TX.
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wheatfarmer wrote:Found mounting direction on the internet for the hitch. I guess I should have looked first before posting. Now only wondering about if the hitch is too far back. Will hook up in a couple days and find out. Other short box dodge owners --- where do you place your arms to get the correct distance back from the square tube to the kingpin so you have enough clearance to turn without hitting the cab. Forward -- middle-- or back?
I do not have a short bed but I set my hitch with the arms to the back first. When I weighted the truck the front wheels had 50 lbs less weight when the trailer was on the truck. I then moved it to the front. I have not weighted it again.
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laknox
Arizona
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wheatfarmer wrote:I got a B&W companion hitch from a dealer that had pulled a trailer a couple hundred miles. He give me a good price on it, but I didn't get any directions with it. My dodge is a quad cab 4 door with the short box. A couple questions. The square tube that goes in the pickup hitch-- does the locking pin go in the bottom or top hole? I put it in and locked it and I presume it is in the top hole, When I go to put the bolt that tightens up the frame to the square tube there is a gap between the frame and the tube of about 1 inch. Do you pull the locking pin on the pickup hitch and then draw the square tube up with the bolt so it is flush and tight with the frame and then see if the locking pin will go in the bottom hole? Then tighten the square clamps up? Also I moved the arms (part A and B) around so that it is as far back as it can go.
It looks like I will be about 6 to 7 inches behind the square shank which is about 2 to 3 inches ahead of the axle. Is this too far back? I had a gooseneck adapter on it with a 4 inch B&W offset extender. The way it is now it looks like it will be about 2 to 3 inches farther back then it was with the gooseneck adapter on. This will be good for turning and give more room to get the front storage door open, but was wondering about how it would affect the pulling.
The locking pin in the vertical receiver can go in either hole; it just depends on how your combination goes together. There =has= to be a gap between the tube and the Companion frame, or you'll just be drawing the bolt tight into itself and not against the pin. I had this happen one time and actually pulled my FW about 10 miles without the Companion being secured into the hitch. I was having trouble getting the tube to slide inside the u-bolts and the locking pin missed the hole, so I was simply drawing the tube up against the frame. The "hold down bolt", as it's called, should be torqued to 40 lb ft and the u-bolts to 80 lb ft. Check the Support section at B&W's web site for all the Companion instructions.
Lyle
2002 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax Crew Cab 4x4
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laknox
Arizona
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wheatfarmer wrote:Found mounting direction on the internet for the hitch. I guess I should have looked first before posting. Now only wondering about if the hitch is too far back. Will hook up in a couple days and find out. Other short box dodge owners --- where do you place your arms to get the correct distance back from the square tube to the kingpin so you have enough clearance to turn without hitting the cab. Forward -- middle-- or back?
FWIW, I have my Companion adjusted as high and as far forward as it will go. Even then, B&W has told me that I'm only about 1-1.5" ahead of the axle centerline. I'd like at least 1 more inch, but this works. Also, I can not hit my square-front FW going forward, at full lock left or right, but have hit going backwards. With the Dodge, YMMV. :-)
Lyle
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wheatfarmer
Western Nebraska
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Had some time this afternoon to work on getting the hitch set. I ended up moving it down one hole as I had it too high. Also moved it from the far back setting to the center position. This is pretty close to what it was when I was using the gooseneck adapter on it. I am back about 1 inch farther. Have 7 to 8 inch clearance on side of box and trailer sets nice and level. Good to go as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for the replies everyone.
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JDMopar
Asheville,NC
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My truck is an 04 dodge quad cab 4WD short bed. I have my B&W Companion set all the way back, and all the way up. That's just what works with our Sunnybrook. You want to drop the square bar all the way down into the hole, and let the pin catch in the top hole of the bar. Set your hitch on it and torque the bolt that goes down into the top of the bar to 40 ft lbs. There will be a gap, but that's fine. Then tighten the u bolts to 80 ft lbs. Be sure to tighten them evenly, or it will pull the Companion around cockeyed in the bed. I love my B&W Companion hitch, and wouldn't want anything else. Good luck, and have fun.
* This post was
edited 10/15/11 08:05am by JDMopar *
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