How we made this guide: picks and specs come from our catalog and fitment data, owner quotes come from verified reviews and every guide is checked and edited by Trevor Hall.
The best fifth wheel hitch in our range is the B&W Companion 25K for Ram pucks, from $1,399, rated for 25,000 lb gross trailer weight with a 6,250 lb pin weight. Your truck's mount decides the rest: factory pucks, a B&W Turnoverball under-bed system or rails in the bed.
A Ford Super Duty with factory pucks wants the Companion 20K, from $1,199. A 2020 to 2026 Silverado HD or Sierra HD wants the Companion 25K, from $1,399. A short-bed Ram or Ford may want the Companion 20K Slider, from $1,699. A Turnoverball under-bed system takes the Single-Point, from $1,099. A bed with rails takes the Patriot 18K, from $799. All eleven are B&W trailer hitches, our only fifth wheel brand. Prices start at $699 for the Patriot 16K and reach $1,699 for the puck sliders.
| Best for | Pick | Mount | Gross trailer weight / pin weight | Base | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Companion 25K, Ram pucks | Ram pucks | 25,000 lb / 6,250 lb | Fixed | $1,399 |
| Best for GM | Companion 25K, 2020 to 2026 GM pucks | GM pucks | 25,000 lb / 6,250 lb | Fixed | $1,399 |
| Lighter trailer, GM | Companion 20K, 2020 to 2026 GM pucks | GM pucks | 20,000 lb / 5,000 lb | Fixed | $1,199 |
| Best for Ford | Companion 20K, Ford pucks | Ford pucks | 20,000 lb / 5,000 lb | Fixed | $1,199 |
| Short-bed Ram | Companion 20K Slider, Ram pucks | Ram pucks | 20,000 lb / 5,000 lb | Sliding, 12 in. | $1,699 |
| Short-bed Ford | Companion 20K Slider, Ford pucks | Ford pucks | 20,000 lb / 5,000 lb | Sliding, 12 in. | $1,699 |
| Turnoverball truck | Companion Single-Point | Turnoverball system | 20,000 lb / 5,000 lb | Fixed | $1,099 |
| Turnoverball short bed | Companion Single-Point Slider | Turnoverball system | 20,000 lb / 5,000 lb | Sliding, 12 in. | $1,599 |
| Steel flatbed | Companion Single-Point Flatbed | Turnoverball system, flatbed base | 25,000 lb / 6,250 lb | Flatbed, fixed | $999 |
| Budget, rails | Patriot 18K | Rails, sold separately | 18,000 lb / 4,500 lb | Fixed | $799 |
| Entry-level, rails | Patriot 16K | Rails, sold separately | 16,000 lb / 4,000 lb | Fixed | $699 |
How a fifth wheel hitch works
A fifth wheel hitch mounts in the bed and locks its jaws around the trailer's kingpin. Every listing here describes 1-inch thick machined wrap-around jaws in a coupler head that articulates front to back and side to side (the RVC3006 head on the Companions, the RVC3200 on the Patriots), a cam-action latching handle and a shock absorber with polyurethane bushings, in a powder coat finish.
B&W explains the cam. With the handle closed, the cam stops the jaws opening, which prevents accidental release. With the handle open, the cam moves out of the way so the jaws open as you pull away and uncouple.
How to choose a fifth wheel hitch: mount, rating and bed length
The mount decides first. Puck hitches drop into the four pucks that a factory fifth wheel prep package leaves in the bed. The Single-Point Companions need B&W's Turnoverball under-bed mounting system, the base of B&W's gooseneck hitch, already in the truck. B&W says the single-point Companion mounts into it, so one base can take a gooseneck ball or this head. Our guide to B&W Turnoverball kits by truck covers what those kits fit. The Patriots pin into industry-standard fifth wheel rails, sold separately.
Ratings come second, and the lowest in the chain wins: the hitch, your truck maker's towing and payload limits and, on a Patriot, the rails. Pin weight counts against your payload, so check it as well as tow rating. A short bed may call for a slide, covered below.
Each mount installs differently. Our fifth wheel install guide covers the puck and rail jobs. If you are not sure a fifth wheel is the right hitch type, our guide to trailer hitch types compares them.
How we picked these hitches
The picks come from each listing's ratings, mounting system, base type, listed weight and part number. Only two of the eleven hitches here have owner reviews on file: 33 on the Ram-puck Companion 25K, which also pools reviews from slider and Turnoverball owners, and 4 on the Patriot 18K. The other nine rest on their listings alone.
Best overall: B&W Companion 25K for Ram pucks
Best overall
From $1,399 · For a 2013 to 2027 Ram 2500 or 3500 with factory prep pucks.
This Companion ties for the top fifth wheel ratings in our range and has the most owner reviews on file of any hitch here: 33 on its listing, averaging 4.8. It drops into the four factory pucks and lists a shipping weight of about 213 lb, with a second person or a hoist for the lift. Five of the 33 reviews on file mention a slider or a turnover ball hitch, so read this listing's reviews as feedback on the Companion line, not on this exact hitch alone.
“It is very easy to adjust. I get no porpoise effect. Absolutely love the fact that it is removable.”
B&W Companion 25K Fifth Wheel Hitch for Ram Pucks, 25,000 lb GTW, 6,250 lb Pin Weight, Powder Coat (RVK3600) owner · 5 out of 5 stars
Pros
- 13 of the 33 reviews on file for this listing call the hitch or its install easy or simple (two describe a slider, one a turnover ball hitch)
Cons
- Fixed base, so a short bed may want the slider
- One review on file reports a lock washer splitting while torquing to spec
Skip it if your Ram has no factory prep pucks in the bed or your short bed and trailer call for a slide.
Best for GM trucks: B&W Companion 25K for 2020 to 2026 GM pucks
Best for GM
From $1,399 · For a 2020 to 2026 Chevy Silverado HD or GMC Sierra HD with factory pucks.
Same ratings as the Ram hitch, for the GM factory fifth wheel prep package with 2020 to 2026 bed pucks. The listing fits the Chevy Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD with a shipping weight of about 163 lb. For a lighter trailer, the Companion 20K for 2020 to 2026 GM pucks is rated 20,000 lb and 5,000 lb, from $1,199, with a listed shipping weight of about 160 lb.
Pros
- Same ratings as the Ram hitch
Cons
- No owner reviews on file
- Fixed base, so a short bed may want a slider
Skip it if your Silverado or Sierra HD is older than 2020, because the listing is for 2020 to 2026 pucks.
Best for Ford trucks: B&W Companion 20K for Ford pucks
Best for Ford
From $1,199 · For a Ford Super Duty with factory prep pucks.
Ford's puck version ties with the Companion 20K for 2020 to 2026 GM pucks as the least expensive puck Companion we carry, one step down at 20,000 lb gross trailer weight with a 5,000 lb pin weight. The listing fits the 2011 to 2027 Ford Super Duty with a shipping weight of about 148 lb. For a short bed, the Companion 20K Slider for Ford pucks keeps these ratings on a base with 12 inches of travel, from $1,699, with a listed shipping weight of about 305 lb.
Pros
- Ties for the least expensive puck Companion we carry
Cons
- Rated below the Ram and GM 25K hitches
- No owner reviews on file
Skip it if your Ford has no factory prep pucks, your trailer runs above 20,000 lb or 5,000 lb of pin weight or your short bed calls for the slider.
Best slider for a short bed: B&W Companion 20K Slider for Ram pucks
Best slider
From $1,699 · For a short-bed Ram 2500 or 3500 with prep pucks.
The slider adds 12 inches of travel to the Ram puck mount, which gives a trailer nose room to swing past the cab on a short bed. The trade-offs are a lower rating, a listed shipping weight of about 267 lb and the highest price in our fifth wheel range, level with the other puck sliders. Three of the 33 reviews on file for the fixed Ram listing describe a sliding Companion on a short bed or short box. Two of them say it works great.
Pros
- 12 inches of travel
Cons
- Rated 20,000 lb and 5,000 lb, below the fixed Ram hitch
- One 3-star review on file for the Ram listing says the handle will not latch to slide
Skip it if your trailer needs more than the 20,000 lb rating or clears the cab without a slide.
Best for a Turnoverball truck: B&W Companion Single-Point
Best for a Turnoverball truck
From $1,099 · For a truck with B&W's Turnoverball under-bed system.
The Single-Point fits B&W's under-bed system instead of factory pucks: its base post drops into the bed hole and the drawdown bolt tightens it. It is rated 20,000 lb and 5,000 lb and lists a shipping weight of about 209 lb. The under-bed system it sits on is vehicle-specific.
Pros
- No puck prep needed
- Priced below every puck Companion here
Cons
- Needs the under-bed system installed first
- No owner reviews on file
Skip it if your truck has factory pucks and no under-bed system, because a puck hitch drops straight in.
Best slider for a Turnoverball truck: B&W Companion Single-Point Slider
Slider for a Turnoverball truck
From $1,599 · For a short-bed truck with B&W's Turnoverball under-bed system.
This is the Single-Point with 12 inches of travel. It keeps the 20,000 lb and 5,000 lb ratings of the fixed version. Its shipping weight of about 305 lb ties with the Ford puck slider as the heaviest listed in our fifth wheel range.
Pros
- 12 inches of travel on an under-bed mount
Cons
- Ties for the heaviest weight listed in our fifth wheel range
Skip it if the fixed Single-Point suits your cab and trailer.
Best for a steel flatbed: B&W Companion Single-Point Flatbed
Best for a flatbed
From $999 · For a steel flatbed with B&W's Turnoverball under-bed system.
The least expensive Companion we carry also has the 25,000 lb and 6,250 lb ratings of the Ram and GM puck hitches. It has a flatbed base and lists about 119 lb shipping weight, the lightest listed in our fifth wheel range. It needs a steel flatbed with the under-bed system installed.
Pros
- Least expensive Companion we carry
Cons
- Only for a steel flatbed with the under-bed system
Skip it if your truck has a standard pickup bed.
Best budget pick: B&W Patriot 18K and 16K
Best budget pick
From $799 · For a bed with fifth wheel rails already installed.
The Patriots pin into industry-standard fifth wheel rails, sold separately. The 18K is rated 18,000 lb and 4,500 lb and lists about 138 lb shipping weight. The Patriot 16K is rated 16,000 lb and 4,000 lb and starts at $699, the entry-level price here. The 18K has 4 reviews on file, all five stars. One reports a hole that did not line up with their rails.
“The weight of the hitch is awesome and very manageable to take out and put in my other hitch weighted twice as much and a two person job to put in”
B&W Patriot 18K Rail-Mounted Fifth Wheel Hitch, 18,000 lb GTW, 4,500 lb Pin Weight, Powder Coat (RVK3255) owner · 5 out of 5 stars
Pros
- Budget prices
- About 138 lb listed for the 18K
Cons
- Rails are sold separately and their rating limits the setup too
- Assembly needs a socket set and a torque wrench capable of 110 ft-lb
Skip it if your bed has no rails or your trailer runs above 18,000 lb or 4,500 lb of pin weight.
Do you really need a sliding fifth wheel hitch?
Not on every short bed. B&W's FAQ says many people towing fifth wheels with short bed trucks use the Companion, and it lists what decides cab clearance. First is where the kingpin sits: even with the front of the trailer or recessed behind it, and some trailer makers build extended kingpin boxes for short beds. Next is width, since narrower trailers allow a tighter turn. Then the corners, since rounded corners leave more cab clearance than squared ones. Last is the kind of maneuvering you will do. B&W offers the Companion as a slider to help a short bed truck through tight corners.
Every slider we carry travels 12 inches: the Companion 20K Slider for Ram, Ford and GM pucks and the Single-Point Slider for a Turnoverball truck. B&W describes how its Companion slider works: flip the lever and the hitch slides back 12 inches so you can maneuver without the trailer reaching the cab, then flip it again when you are ready to tow and the slider locks into place as you back up.
B&W's 5th Wheel Turning Clearance video covers the room a trailer needs behind the cab in a tight turn. Measure your own trailer before you decide.
Care and lifespan
Every listing here carries B&W's Lifetime Exclusive Limited Warranty and lists a Humboldt, Kansas, USA build. If the jaws seem stuck after you open the handle, B&W explains that the cam has already released them even when they do not visibly pop open. On uneven ground the jaws can bind slightly on the kingpin, and with the cam open nothing holds them together, so they open as you pull away.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of hitch do I need for a 5th wheel?
One that matches your truck's mount and your trailer's weight: a puck hitch for a Ram, Ford or GM with factory prep, a Single-Point for a B&W Turnoverball under-bed system or a Patriot for rails in the bed.
Do I really need a sliding 5th wheel hitch?
Not on every short bed. B&W ties the answer to the trailer and how you drive: where the kingpin sits, how wide the trailer is, how rounded its corners are and how much tight maneuvering you do.
What is the best short bed fifth wheel hitch?
In our range, a puck slider matched to your truck. The Companion 20K Slider for Ram pucks starts at $1,699, the Ford version at $1,699 and the 2020 to 2026 GM version at $1,699. For a truck with a Turnoverball under-bed system it is the Single-Point Slider, from $1,599. All travel 12 inches.
What is better, a gooseneck or a fifth wheel hitch?
The trailer decides: a fifth wheel trailer needs a fifth wheel hitch and a gooseneck trailer needs a gooseneck hitch. Our gooseneck vs fifth wheel guide compares the two for your truck.
Which hitch brand is best?
We carry one fifth wheel brand, B&W, so we cannot rank brands. Every B&W fifth wheel hitch we list carries its Lifetime Exclusive Limited Warranty and a Humboldt, Kansas, USA build. The Ram-puck Companion averages 4.8 from 33 reviews on file. The real choice is which B&W matches your mount and trailer.
Does B&W make an auto slider 5th wheel hitch?
Not among the hitches we carry. B&W's Companion page offers stationary and slider versions and describes the slide as lever-operated: flip the lever and the hitch slides back 12 inches, then flip it again when you are ready to tow and the slider locks into place as you back up. Nothing on our listings describes an automatic slide.
Find the fifth wheel hitch for your truck
Related guides
- How to Install a Fifth Wheel Hitch: Factory Puck Systems, Rails and What the Job Involves
- Gooseneck vs Fifth Wheel Hitch: Which Is Better for Your Truck and Trailer?
- Types of Trailer Hitches: Receiver, Gooseneck, Fifth Wheel and Weight Distribution
- Best Gooseneck Hitch: Pick the Right B&W Turnoverball Kit for Your Truck