wacdmc
TN
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Joined: 12/11/2011
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I'm having a B&W turnover ball and companion installed next week. My question is: once the companion is set up in the truck and u-bolts are tightened, can it be removed and re-installed in the same truck without having to loosen the u-bolts each time? I figured I could pull the handle and drop it in but a video on youtube said otherwise.
Thank you.
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DodgeVoltage
Nanjemoy, MD
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Joined: 12/08/2011
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No, you will have to torque it down each time you install it and loosen it each time you remove it. It will have so much tension on the locking pin that you wouldn't be able to pull the pin when it is installed.
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brirene
midwest
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The head comes off by pulling 2 handles, one on each side. To take the base off you can either loosen the 2 ubolts, or loosen the set bolt and remove the piece that fits into the bed while connected. Not difficult at all to loosen the bolts and remove. Great system; you'll love it!
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SWKansas4
Southwest Kansas
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X2 -britne- takes about 5-10 minutes to install or remove. Great system!
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fj12ryder
Platte City, MO
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Loosening the set bolt in the top won't allow you to remove the piece that goes in the bed. The 2 U-bolts have to be loosened, and also the set bolt, to remove the lower unit. If you can remove it any other way it is installed incorrectly.
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laknox
Arizona
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wacdmc wrote:I'm having a B&W turnover ball and companion installed next week. My question is: once the companion is set up in the truck and u-bolts are tightened, can it be removed and re-installed in the same truck without having to loosen the u-bolts each time? I figured I could pull the handle and drop it in but a video on youtube said otherwise.
Thank you.
As the others have said, you have to loosen the 4 nuts on the u-bolts and the top draw-down bolt before you can pull back the pin. You will also most likely have to jiggle the u-bolts up and down to let the vertical tube fall to the neutral position. You can then pull the pins to remove the hitch head and pull it all out in 2 pieces, you can use a hoist to lift the whole hitch out or leave it attached to the king pin on the FW and store it there. One thing I will tell you is that the nylock nuts used on the u-bolts have a finite lifetime and, when they decide to not work any more, they will lock up tight and you will either have to cut the u-bolts off or use a breaker bar and cheater to break the bolt (what I've done 2 times). I'm on my 3rd set of u-bolts in 8 years. Nice thing is that B&W will send you a new set free; they only need your serial #.
Lyle
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edatlanta
Panama City Beach, FL
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Thanks for the tip Lyle. My Companion is almost 2 years old and two of the nuts are getting hard to move. I just called B&W with my serial # and they are shipping 4 replacement nuts to me today at no charge.
I am a volunteer at a state park and I removed the hitch when I got here since I needed the bed to bring my golf cart and that is when I noticed the nuts were getting hard to turn.
Thanks again.
Ed
2006 GMC 2500HD CCSB 4x4 Duramax/Allison, Titan 52 gallon fuel tank, TTT/Schefenacker Towing Mirrors, Prodigy Controller, B&W Companion Hitch, Progressive Industries EMS-PT50C, TST Systems 507 TPMS
2010 Jayco Designer 35RLTS,Cummins/Onan RV QG 5500 EVAP
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Tango, AE7UI
Taylorsville, UT
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B&W is a great hitch and the company has the best customer service.
Bill
2007 Tango 2660RKS Fifth Wheel, 2006 Chevy D/A 3500 with service body,
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AZ T&T
Mesa, AZ
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I wanted to ask a question a little off topic. I had my Companion hitch installed last November. I just took it out last week and noticed my truck bed is slightly bent where the front corners of the hitch (closest to the truck cab) rest. It would seem that would be from hard breaking and the FW pushing on the hitch. Has anyone else experienced this?
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laknox
Arizona
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edatlanta wrote:Thanks for the tip Lyle. My Companion is almost 2 years old and two of the nuts are getting hard to move. I just called B&W with my serial # and they are shipping 4 replacement nuts to me today at no charge.
I am a volunteer at a state park and I removed the hitch when I got here since I needed the bed to bring my golf cart and that is when I noticed the nuts were getting hard to turn.
Thanks again.
My pleasure, Ed. Would that all companies were as good at customer service as B&W is. I take every opportunity to promote them.
Lyle
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