Has anyone been able to use the B&W turnover ball hitch and companion in a short bed? I'm wondering if the 4" horizontal adjustment that is built into mount is enough to make it usable for the shortbed.
Sure you will be able to use it if you don't take too sharp of corners or need to get close to 90 degrees when backing. Most short beds are 78" long most trailer are 84 to 96 inches wide and the pin should be 1" ahead of the rear axle. You figure it out.
Amberjax, I have the exact setup you're talking about. It really depends on the trailer. My prowler's pin box has almost no offset so I've had to a RV5 10" extender. If you're buying a new fiver you can purchase a 5th airborne sidewinder that moves the pivot point back by 20 inches. B&W does not recommend that combination but ultimately that decision is up to you based on trailer weight, etc. If I was doing it over I might go with a gooseneck adapter with built in offset and not bought the B&W companion.
PM me with more questions if you want.
03 Ram 1500 Quad Cab with Hemi 5.7, HD tow package, K&N Cold Air, B&W Companion + Ball, Prodigy,
1987 Prowler 27.5',
Macbook Pro 17" (Fastest Vista Laptop, iPhone)
Me and the DW and our
2 Dogs: Jackson (golden), Pumba (min-pin)
That's what I use. My fiver has an extended pinbox. Most newer fivers come with extended pinboxes these days. I have the head of my B&W Companion set to teh furthest back position. The jaws of my hitch are about 7 inches behind the B&W gooseneck receiver in the bed. This combination allows me to jacknife to almost 90 degrees. we are talking maybe 85 degrees, and at that point the trailer axles are groaning, the tires are flexing and your not even backing the trailer anymore. Heck, your not backing anymore when you go past 60 degrees, your just decreasing the angle between the truck and trailer but the trailer and pushing it sideways.
The Ford is the longest "shortbed" on the market so your results may vary depending on the fiver and the length of your bed.
Moving the hitch head to the furthest back position only makes a 70 pound difference on my front vs rear axle distribution compared to the furthest forward position. 70 pounds on my front axle (which weighs about 4,400 pounds when the truck is empty) makes absolutely no difference in steering at all. I know weight distribution is an issue and you want to load right over the rear axle as many will tell you, but come on, 70 pounds difference in distribution, that is one person in the passenger seat!
B&W even tells you it is ok to mount the head in any of the three forward to rear positions. In the forward most position (closest to the cab) the pin is already about 3 inches behind where the gooseneck ball insert is. In the rear most position it is about 7 inches back. Leverage difference and weight distribution is minimal and relatively insignificant on a HD truck with 4" of movement. With 1800 pounds of pinweight I would say 70 pounds difference on my front axle between 4" of forward or backward movement certainly confirms what B&W told me.
2004 Ford F250 Harley Davidson Edition
Crew cab short bed 4x4
6.0 PSD 5spd Auto 3.73LSD
2006 Cherokee 285B+
B&W companion 5th wheel hitch
I have the same set up in my shortbed. My 5er comes with the extended pin box but also has a recessed cap at the corners. The manufacturers guarantee 88 degrees before hitting the truck. I haven't ever come close to that yet. Love the hitch and versatility it provides. My folks have nothing but goosenecks, so I can whatever they need my to tow also.
2005 Ford F250 6.0 Super Duty
2007 Cyclone 3795
2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 Special Edition
2006 Yamaha Wolverine 450
2005 Yamaha TTR 125
2004 Yamaha WR450
2001 Honda 70
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