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stickdog
Somewhere, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/27/2002
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Right near 100,000 miles on my B&W hitch. It did need a good cleaning of grease road grit but operates as good as new after that. Now on our 13 year fulltime.
9-11 WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
FULLTIME SINCE 2010
17 DRV MS 36rssb3
17 F350 King Ranch CC DRW 4x4 6.7 4:10 B&W hitch
John
“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” Lao Tzu
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FishOnOne
The Great State of Texas
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Joined: 02/12/2011
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I would give the nod to the B&W.
'12 Ford Super Duty FX4 ELD CC 6.7 PSD 400HP 800ft/lbs "270k Miles"
'16 Sprinter 319MKS "Wide Body"
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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Joined: 06/03/2012
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"but to say it's not necessary is misleading , and just needs to left out of the thread ."
Don't think anyone said "not necessary"
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"
"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600
2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable
2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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Joined: 06/03/2012
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FishOnOne wrote:I would give the nod to the B&W.
WOO HOO we agree!!!
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TravelinDog
Nevada
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Joined: 07/20/2018
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Cummins12V98 wrote:Of course they ALL recommend a pull test. A pull test is no divergent than a visual test, it's a test!
My wife double checks me every time as she fully understands how the hitch works. Kinda like "did you put the butt plug in the boat" as she asks me every time before a launch.
I really don't care if people do a pull test or not. I think people should do what they feel comfortable with. Lot's of damage can be done not doing a pull test correctly.
I have a traditional style 5th wheel hitch and do a "tug test" every time I hook it up. As far as dropping the trailer on the bed if I did not lock the hitch properly, I only lift the leveling jacks about 1/2 inch off the ground so it wouldn't be able to fall onto my truck bed.
Just say no to the payload police ">
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RCMAN46
NorthWest
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Joined: 02/24/2008
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Good Sam RV Club Member
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Cummins12V98 wrote:Of course they ALL recommend a pull test. A pull test is no divergent than a visual test, it's a test!
My wife double checks me every time as she fully understands how the hitch works. Kinda like "did you put the butt plug in the boat" as she asks me every time before a launch.
I really don't care if people do a pull test or not. I think people should do what they feel comfortable with. Lot's of damage can be done not doing a pull test correctly.
Expand on the damage that can be done if a pull test is not done correctly.
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TXiceman
Bryan, TX
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Joined: 11/17/2000
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RCMAN46 wrote:Cummins12V98 wrote:Of course they ALL recommend a pull test. A pull test is no divergent than a visual test, it's a test!
My wife double checks me every time as she fully understands how the hitch works. Kinda like "did you put the butt plug in the boat" as she asks me every time before a launch.
I really don't care if people do a pull test or not. I think people should do what they feel comfortable with. Lot's of damage can be done not doing a pull test correctly.
Expand on the damage that can be done if a pull test is not done correctly.
If the front jacks are not raised enough, they can drag and bend. If they are raised too much and the hitch does not hold, the drop can damage the jacks as possibly the bed.
I clear my jacks about 1/2 to 1 inch from the ground.
Ken
Amateur Radio Operator.
2023 Cougar 22MLS, toted with a 2022, F150, 3.5L EcoBoost, Crewcab, Max Tow, FORMER Full Time RVer. Travel with a standard schnauzer and a Timneh African Gray parrot
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Durb
NW
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Joined: 01/15/2016
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It appears the award for "Best Hitch" has been given to the B&W Companion. I'm late to this thread (been camping), but I would like to nominate the Trailer Saver TS3 which I own.
- The Companion is made in USA, so is the Trailer Saver.
- The Companion uses heavy gauge steel, the TS3 is heavier, 1/4" plate with 3/4" solid steel risers.
- The Companion has thick jaws, those on the TS3 are thicker.
- The TS3 dissipates bouncing forces, the Companion doesn't.
- Due to the high hinge design, the TS3 dissipates chucking forces, the Companion doesn't.
- During panic braking, the TS3 causes the front of the trailer to push down loading the rear truck tires, a safety feature.
- The comfortable tow of the TS3 reduces driver fatigue, a safety feature.
- Shock mitigation of the TS3 protects the trailer's frame and the truck's electronics. The Companion doesn't do this.
The Companion is a good hitch, the TS3 just does so much more. In a "Best Hitch" competition, B&W would rank below Trailer Saver, Road master Comfort Ride, and Air Safe hitches. Due to the high prices, we just don't have as many fanboys.
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Learjet
Louisiana
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Joined: 02/21/2006
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Durb wrote:It appears the award for "Best Hitch" has been given to the B&W Companion. I'm late to this thread (been camping), but I would like to nominate the Trailer Saver TS3 which I own.
- The Companion is made in USA, so is the Trailer Saver.
- The Companion uses heavy gauge steel, the TS3 is heavier, 1/4" plate with 3/4" solid steel risers.
- The Companion has thick jaws, those on the TS3 are thicker.
- The TS3 dissipates bouncing forces, the Companion doesn't.
- Due to the high hinge design, the TS3 dissipates chucking forces, the Companion doesn't.
- During panic braking, the TS3 causes the front of the trailer to push down loading the rear truck tires, a safety feature.
- The comfortable tow of the TS3 reduces driver fatigue, a safety feature.
- Shock mitigation of the TS3 protects the trailer's frame and the truck's electronics. The Companion doesn't do this.
The Companion is a good hitch, the TS3 just does so much more. In a "Best Hitch" competition, B&W would rank below Trailer Saver, Road master Comfort Ride, and Air Safe hitches. Due to the high prices, we just don't have as many fanboys.
What kind of maintenance does the TS3 need? What are the failure points...airbags? Which one is easier to remove? Which one cost less? Which one has better customer support?
2017 Ram Big Horn, DRW Long Box, 4x4, Cummins, Aisin, 3.73
2022 Jayco Pinnacle 32RLTS, Onan 5500, Disc Brakes, 17.5" tires
B&W Ram Companion
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Durb
NW
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Joined: 01/15/2016
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Learjet wrote:Durb wrote:It appears the award for "Best Hitch" has been given to the B&W Companion. I'm late to this thread (been camping), but I would like to nominate the Trailer Saver TS3 which I own.
- The Companion is made in USA, so is the Trailer Saver.
- The Companion uses heavy gauge steel, the TS3 is heavier, 1/4" plate with 3/4" solid steel risers.
- The Companion has thick jaws, those on the TS3 are thicker.
- The TS3 dissipates bouncing forces, the Companion doesn't.
- Due to the high hinge design, the TS3 dissipates chucking forces, the Companion doesn't.
- During panic braking, the TS3 causes the front of the trailer to push down loading the rear truck tires, a safety feature.
- The comfortable tow of the TS3 reduces driver fatigue, a safety feature.
- Shock mitigation of the TS3 protects the trailer's frame and the truck's electronics. The Companion doesn't do this.
The Companion is a good hitch, the TS3 just does so much more. In a "Best Hitch" competition, B&W would rank below Trailer Saver, Road master Comfort Ride, and Air Safe hitches. Due to the high prices, we just don't have as many fanboys.
What kind of maintenance does the TS3 need? What are the failure points...airbags? Which one is easier to remove? Which one cost less? Which one has better customer support?
Maintenance - Zerk fittings for the pivot rod similar to the need to grease the rubber donuts on the Companion.
Failure points - Don't know, never had a failure in six years.
Easier to remove - Based on this Criterium, the lightest hitch would then be the best hitch. "Best Hitch" was the question.
Cost - You get what you pay for. Pay less - get less.
Customer support - Don't know, never needed to call customer support. My guess is if you are calling customer support, you have problems.
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