Community Forums

spock12 · 01-17-2022, 10:06 AM

I am having trouble with my B&W Companion fifth wheel hitch. I brought the hitch in February when I brought the truck, the dealership had the hitch installed. The handle has got really hard to open and close. It now takes both hands to work the handle. I called B&W and they sent me pictures and instructions on how to take the hitch head apart. I looked at the instructions and it’s above my pay grade. I called 8 dealers and was told by all that they had never taken a hitch head apart. Most told me to buy another head, this hitch is still under warranty. I have greased the zerk fitting, my son who is a truck driver said the clean all the grease out which I did and it wasn’t any help. I pumped more grease into the hitch using my air compressor. Still no help. I’m taking the hitch back to the person that installed the hitch tomorrow but he has never taken a hitch head apart. This is my 3rd B&W hitch. I installed one on my 2012 but I traded that truck for another Silverado 2020 but that truck came with a puck system. Unfortunately that truck couldn’t pass a dealership without going in. I traded for a 2021 GMC and the dealership installed the B&W. Any help would be appreciated

Old-Biscuit · 01-17-2022, 11:14 AM

Handle rotates to open jaws via cam action
Stiff handle movement......jaws are binding
*no jerk to grease the pins that hold jaws in the head (jerk just greases the saddle pivot points so head can tilt side to side

4x4ord · 01-17-2022, 11:57 AM

I would expect B&W's dealer to look after it if it's new but it looks to be very simple to take apart the B&W head. Simply pull out the large bolt and after removing the snap rings you can pull the pins. I guess there is a couple springs that you need to make sure you hook back up properly. About the only thing that could possibly be wrong is that the pins that hold the latch mechanism into the head are gummed up.

rarebear.nm · 01-17-2022, 12:27 PM

I also have a B&W 5th hitch and love it.

There are not many places for the locking arm and cams to bind. I would suspect some dirt/sand/grime got into something. Also possible something is bent. Never had this issue.

Try using some brake cleaner on all exposed lever and jaw areas. Not on the main horizontal shaft. Then follow that with compressed air at max PSI for your compressor. Then cover all these parts with spray silicone lub. Might try sliding some thin metal or similar into the various gaps of these parts to see if that knocks anything loose.

Good luck. Otherwise I'd return it to the seller.

GPCPL · 01-17-2022, 12:56 PM

Are you having trouble with the head / jaws by themselves, or trying to hitch / unhitch your trailer? If your pin is in a bind, the jaws will not release. I found that out the hard way, as the area where I store my 5th wheel is not level. As long as I make sure the pin isn't bound in the jaws, I haven't had any more issues. As others have said, it's a great hitch. I'm surprised your having issues on a newer hitch. Best of luck figuring it out.

spock12 · 01-18-2022, 01:34 PM

I took the hitch back to the shop that did the install and they fixed it. 3 bolts in the middle and one was froze up. He said I wonder why B&W didn’t put anti-seize on the bolts. I think B&W paid for the work. Handle works great now. I’m happy now with the hitch.

4x4ord · 01-18-2022, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spock12

I took the hitch back to the shop that did the install and they fixed it. 3 bolts in the middle and one was froze up. He said I wonder why B&W didn’t put anti-seize on the bolts. I think B&W paid for the work. Handle works great now. I’m happy now with the hitch.

They might have told you bolts but I'm quite sure they meant one of the three pins. Anyway I'm glad they looked after you and you definitely did the right thing by bringing it to the dealer.

GPCPL · 01-18-2022, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spock12

I took the hitch back to the shop that did the install and they fixed it. 3 bolts in the middle and one was froze up. He said I wonder why B&W didn’t put anti-seize on the bolts. I think B&W paid for the work. Handle works great now. I’m happy now with the hitch.

Glad you got the problem figured out and thanks for reporting back.