What Position to Set Up Pivot Arms on B&W Patriot 5th Wheel Hitch

Question

Question:

Good morning, I am In the process of installing the patriot 18 K hitch on my GMC 2001 2500 heavy duty long bed truck.I have everything installed to this point. I am in the process of trying to figure out the pivot arm location.The trailer I will be pulling is a Jayco 2021 30.5 MLOK. The pin box height from the ground says it is 50.5 inches from the ground.The pivot arms can be mounted in three locations it looks like closest to the cab, 2 inches back from the cab, or 4 inches Farther back from the cab. Is there a better location to mount that on a long bed truck? Should the height of the plate be set so it is right at 50.5 inches or should it be higher to allow for sag of the truck due to the weight of the trailer? Any other information would be helpful. Thank you.

asked by: David D

0

Expert Reply:

Where you'll attach the pivot arms on the B&W Patriot # BWRVK3255 just depends on how much clearance you need from the cab of the truck, but in most cases you'll be just fine using the closest setting to the cab. You'll want to make sure that the hitch height is in the 50-1/2" area before the trailer is coupled to the 5th wheel hitch; any squat that you're experiencing afterwards should be negligible as long as your suspension system is in good working order.

If you do couple the trailer and notice that you're experiencing a lot of squat, you'll want to add a suspension enhancement like the Timbren # TGMRCK25S to help level everything out and take some of the added stress off of your rear axle. The Timbrens are great because they offer an easy to install and durable solution for fighting squat from a 5th wheel trailer.

I've linked a great review video we did on the Timbren's that I highly recommend checking out, as well as some of our FAQ articles on installing a 5th wheel hitch for the best towing experience.

expert reply by: Erik B

0

Answer 1

Having the head of a B and W Companion like the #BWRVK3500 positioned with the pivot arms in the middle most horizontal and vertical setting would give you the most neutral position that should work the best for most trailers under most…

view full answer...

Answer 2

When installing the pivot arms on your B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch for Ram Towing Prep Package - Dual Jaw - 25,000lbs Item #BWRVK3600 you'll want to ensure that you have 6" of clearance between the bed rails and the nose of your…

view full answer...

Answer 3

Thanks for reaching out, Scott! The Blue Ox Base Plate Kit #BLU74FR on our site is actually the same thing as the Blue Ox part number BX2418 and I like that removable pin style much more than the etrailer Classic Base Plate Kit #e98945 with the fixed…

view full answer...

Answer 4

Hi Jeff; thanks for the question and sturdy is definitely a good word for the etrailer tonneau that fits your 2022 Ram 1500 with a 5-1/2 foot bed, the etrailer Hard Tonneau Cover #e35DR. It's made of a fiberglass-reinforced plastic which is a…

view full answer...

Answer 5

You will have to go with a sliding hitch to allow the trailer to make tight turns. For a trailer 8 feet wide the only bed length that's going to allow 90 degree turns without a slider is a stationary hitch. That being said you have two options.…

view full answer...

Answer 6

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

view full answer...

Answer 7

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

view full answer...

Answer 8

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

view full answer...

Answer 9

Choosing the right height setting for your 5th wheel hitch is a combination of a few different variables. First of all you want your towing setup to be as level as possible. With your Montana High Country 340BH level you will want to measure from the…

view full answer...

Answer 10

To get the B&W Patriot #BWRVK3200 to work with your 2006 Dodge Ram you're going to need a set of 5th wheel rails #DM8552016-71. These rails are custom fit to your vehicle so they'll just bolt right up to the frame. It is worth mentioning…

view full answer...

Answer 11

Yes you are - all 5th wheel hitches are going to require some type of rails in order to be used. So you'd need #DM8552016-71 for your 2006 Dodge Ram.

view full answer...

Answer 12

Beds shorter than 8 foot do commonly need a slider hitch David, but a lot of modern fifth wheel trailers are now made with tapered noses to help and in a lot of cases a slider isn't required. So if the trailer you plan to tow has a tapered nose…

view full answer...