Should the 16K or 18K B&W Patriot 5th Wheel Hitch be Used for a 16,000 lb GVWR Trailer

Question:

I am trying to decide on purchasing a BandW Patriot BWRKV3300 16K or the BWRKV3255 18K. I am considering a Montana 3120RL Fifth wheel that has a GVWR of 16,385 lb and a hitch weight of 2350 lb. It seems that I should go with the 18k version to give myself some margin. Do you agree? Thanks,

asked by: Tim T

Expert Reply:

You are correct. Even though the 16K B&W Patriot # BWRVK3200 is a great option, if the GVWR of your 5th wheel Montana 3120RL is 16,385 you do want to give yourself a safety margin. We typically recommend having at least 1,000 lbs - 2,000 lbs of "cushion" between the GVWR rating of your trailer the the hitch so the 18K Patriot # BWRVK3255 is the perfect solution.

It looks like you put a 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup in as your vehicle. If your Dodge Ram doesn't already have a 7-Way connector in the bed then I recommend installing the Hopkins # HM42137 to make connecting and disconnecting your 5th wheel trailer wiring much easier. I have attached a video of this being installed on a 2003 Dodge Ram for you to reference.

expert reply by: Jon G