Options for Increasing 5th Wheel Turning Clearance in 2014 Ram 2500 Shortbed

Question:

I ordered a B and W Companion fixed hitch with under bed mount from you a little less than a month ago at your recommendation for a 2014 Ram 2500 shortbed. Ive since installed it, but now Im concerned that Im not going to have enough spacing to make adequate turns. The fifth wheel I have is a Vengeance 320A. Its 102 inches wide and has an improved turn radius front cap. Im not really interested in the slider hitch option because I do not want to remove or replace my tailgate. Are there any other options left? I thought about maybe the sidewinder and lock it out as required with the B and W Companion. At 22 inches this should give me an additional 10 - 12 inches over what I have now. My concern is any stress that this may place on the front cap of my fifth wheel. Thoughts? Thank you.

asked by: Rodney

Expert Reply:

Thank you for all of your prior purchases from etrailer, including your B&W Companion Hitch # BWRVK3500-5W.

A Sidewinder replacement pivoting pin box will not add stress to a 5th wheel trailer frame the way other types of towing adapters can, and as you noted it will provide 22-inches of additional turning clearance by having the trailer pivot point be at its rear turret assembly, rather than at the king pin itself. However, a Sidewinder cannot be used along with your Companion hitch.

The reason is that the mounting method for the Companion, the square-shank center post that fits into the B&W install kit # BWGNRK1384-5W, is not compatible with the twisting forces that a Sidewinder would transfer to that post. Hitches that use a 4-point mounting system, such as the Companion model # BWRVK3300, can be used with a Sidewinder.

What you can do for more turning clearance is install your Companion head into their slider base assembly # BWRVB3405. This will give you 12-inches of additional turning clearance and will be a lower-cost modification than a Sidewinder installation.