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.
Yes, the B&W Companion is worth it if your heavy-duty truck has factory fifth wheel pucks or a B&W Turnoverball: it drops in without rails, and the fixed puck versions start at $1,199 (20,000 lb) and $1,399 (25,000 lb). Pick a slider (from $1,699) only if a short bed leaves too little cab clearance, the single-point (from $1,099) for a Turnoverball truck, and skip it if you want a rail-mounted hitch.
For a ranking by truck, see the best-of by truck.
Quick answer
The Companion is B&W's fifth wheel hitch family, in 20,000 and 25,000 lb gross trailer weight ratings, with fixed and sliding bases, for Ram, Ford and 2016 to 2026 GM puck systems and for B&W's under-bed system. Prices run from $499 for a coupler head alone to $1,699 for the puck sliders. Reviews on file: 33 on our Ram 25K listing (4.8 average), several from slider and Turnoverball owners, plus 3 on the Ford base.
What the B&W Companion is
A fifth wheel hitch sits in the truck bed and grips the trailer's king pin. The Companion is B&W's version, made in Humboldt, Kansas and sold with the B&W Lifetime Exclusive Limited Warranty, as each of our listings states. Every Companion listing that names its head uses the same one, the RVC3006: 1 inch thick machined wrap-around jaws that articulate front to back and side to side, with a cam-action latching handle. The ride comes from a shock absorber plus polyurethane bushings. The finish is powder coat.
What changes between versions is the base under that head. It decides which trucks the hitch fits, whether it slides and how much weight it is rated for. The product names read like codes:
- 20K or 25K is the gross trailer weight rating, 20,000 or 25,000 lb.
- "For Ford pucks", "for Ram pucks" and "for GM pucks" name the factory fifth wheel prep package the base drops into.
- Slider means a sliding base.
- Single-point means the base post goes into a B&W Turnoverball under-bed system instead of pucks.
The Companion versions we carry
We list 14 complete Companion hitches. Beyond the rows below there are the Ford 25K (from $1,399), the 2016 to 2019 GM 20K and 25K (from $1,199 and $1,399), 20,000 lb puck sliders for Ford, 2016 to 2019 GM and 2020 to 2026 GM (from $1,699, $1,699 and $1,699) and a single-point slider for Turnoverball trucks (from $1,599). They follow the same naming.
| Version | Ratings (GTW / pin) | Base | Fits | From | Reviews on file |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ram 25K (RVK3600) | 25,000 / 6,250 lb | Fixed | 2013 to 2027 Ram 2500 or 3500 with four factory bed pucks | $1,399 | 4.8 from 33 |
| Ram 20K slider (RVK3670) | 20,000 / 5,000 lb | Sliding, 12 in of travel | Same Ram trucks | $1,699 | None |
| Ford 20K (RVK3300) | 20,000 / 5,000 lb | Fixed | 2011 to 2027 Ford Super Duty with the factory prep package | $1,199 | None |
| GM 25K (RVK3715) | 25,000 / 6,250 lb | Fixed | 2020 to 2026 Silverado HD and Sierra HD with the prep package | $1,399 | None |
| GM 20K (RVK3710) | 20,000 / 5,000 lb | Fixed | 2020 to 2026 Silverado HD and Sierra HD with the prep package | $1,199 | None |
| Single-point 20K (RVK3500) | 20,000 / 5,000 lb | Fixed | Trucks with a B&W Turnoverball under-bed system | $1,099 | None |
| Single-point flatbed 25K (RVK3050) | 25,000 / 6,250 lb | Fixed | Steel flatbed with a B&W Turnoverball under-bed system | $999 | None |
| Base only (RVB3300) | 20,000 lb GTW | Fixed | 2011 to 2027 Ford Super Duty pucks | $700 | 5.0 from 3 |
| Coupler head only (RVC3006) | 25,000 lb GTW | None | Sets onto a Companion base | $499 | None |
Skip it if
- Your truck has no factory pucks and you do not want to add an under-bed system. A bare bed can take a B&W Turnoverball kit first (see our gooseneck hitch picks), and the single-point Companion then drops into it.
- You want a rail-mounted hitch. We list no Companion rail kit. The rail-mounted B&W is the Patriot, a separate model.
- You tow a goosenecked trailer. A fifth wheel hitch grips a king pin; for that other style see gooseneck vs fifth wheel.
- You are shopping for a weight distribution hitch. The B&W Continuum is a different product and not part of this review.
How the Companion works
The base mounts to the bed and the coupler head sets onto its pivot arms. When you back under the trailer, with the king pin plate set slightly lower than the top of the coupler, the king pin enters the head and the jaws close around it. B&W explains that with the handle closed, the cam stops the jaws from opening. Its manual then has you check that the handle has closed completely, put the cam handle safety pin through the handle and coupler, and do a pull test against the trailer brakes before you tow. Follow the manual for your model.
B&W's video "Companion: Jaws" shows the 1 inch jaws closing on a king pin. The listings put a shock absorber and polyurethane bushings in the hitch to soften the ride.
Which Companion fits your bed
Puck mount is the core of the line. The base drops into the four factory pucks and needs no rails, so the table's Fits column is your checklist: look in the bed, count four pucks and match your truck and year. Each GM generation has its own part.
Ram, 25,000 lb
From $1,399 · The listing the owner reviews sit on.
Ram, Ford and both GM generations also come as 20,000 lb sliders. A slider lets the hitch move up to 12 inches rearward, toward the tailgate, for tight turns, then forward again to tow. A short bed with a long-nose trailer is where it earns its place. B&W's video "5th Wheel Turning Clearance" covers the room a trailer nose needs behind the cab in a turn. One owner on file reports a slide handle that would not latch, so check that the slide locks in both positions before you tow. In our range the puck sliders for Ram, Ford and both GM generations are the most expensive complete Companions at $1,699, and each is rated 20,000 lb rather than 25,000 lb.
Ram puck slider, 20,000 lb
From $1,699 · The Ram puck slider, with 12 inches of travel on the listing.
The single-point versions skip the pucks. Their post seats in a vehicle-specific B&W Turnoverball under-bed system, which has to be installed first. The 25,000 lb flatbed version (RVK3050) needs a steel flatbed with that system.
Single-point, 20,000 lb
From $1,099 · For a truck with a B&W under-bed system and no pucks.
Base only and head only
Two listings sell half a hitch. The RVB3300 is the base for the Ford RVK3300 and cannot tow on its own. The RVC3006 is the coupler head, the part with the jaws and release handle. Each listing shows B&W's photo of a complete hitch; only the part in the title is in the box.
Base only for RVK3300
B&W Companion Fifth Wheel Base, Base Only for RVK3300, 20,000 lb GTW, Powder Coat (RVB3300)
From $700 · Mounts to the four pucks of a Ford; needs a coupler head.
Coupler head only
B&W Companion Fifth Wheel Coupler Head, Head Unit Only, 25,000 lb GTW, Powder Coat (RVC3006)
From $499 · Replace or reuse the head on a Companion base.
The reason to buy a half is to reuse the other half. One owner on file did exactly that after changing trucks:
“We traded that truck off and the new one had a puck system that wouldn't work with the B&W Companion we had. So we thought we were going to have to purchase a whole new fifth wheel hitch. But we found we could just buy the stand part and the top works perfectly with it.”
B&W Companion Fifth Wheel Base, Base Only for RVK3300, 20,000 lb GTW, Powder Coat (RVB3300) owner · 5 out of 5 stars
That is one owner of the Ford base, not a pattern. The base has 3 reviews on file, all five stars; another is from a 2024 F-350 owner whose base needed a shim or two to fit.
What owners report
The 33 reviews on file sit on our Ram 25K listing, but at least 5 describe another version: four owners mention a slider and one a Turnoverball mount. Read them as feedback on the Companion family, not on the fixed Ram 25K alone. The set is a featured selection: 30 five-star ratings and one review each at four, three and one stars.
“Super easy to hook up and to unhook. No more fighting to pull the handle free!!”
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
The critical side is small. One 3-star review filed on our Ram 25K listing says the handle would not latch to slide. That describes a slider's slide handle, not the fixed Ram 25K. It is the only latch complaint among the 33. The 1-star review is about a canceled order. Searches for noise, rust, leaks and damage turn up nothing.
Pros
- Drops into factory pucks with no rails on the Ram, Ford and GM versions.
- Ratings of 20,000 or 25,000 lb GTW and 5,000 or 6,250 lb pin weight, as the listings give them.
- Shock absorber and polyurethane bushings in the head, plus 1 inch wrap-around jaws.
- B&W Lifetime Exclusive Limited Warranty on every listing, made in Kansas.
Cons
- Needs a factory puck system or a B&W under-bed system.
- The sliders are rated 20,000 lb and cost more than the fixed 25,000 lb Ram.
- Most versions have no owner reviews on file.
- Shipping or product weight is not on file for any listing.
Installing a Companion
On a puck truck the job is dropping the base into the pucks and setting the head on the arms. Owners on file mostly call the install easy, but one had a lock washer split while torquing to spec, one had to adjust the feet to fit the bed holes and one says it takes two people.
“Fit perfect with just one adjustment to the feet to fit the OEM bed holes.”
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
The Ram factory puck mounts can be adjusted, and B&W's video "Puck Adjustments for RAM" shows how. Check them first if the base feels loose.
For the full job, see how to install a fifth wheel hitch. For the other main styles, read our guide to trailer hitch types.
Is the B&W Companion worth it?
Yes, for a Ram, Ford or recent GM heavy-duty owner with a puck-prepped bed who wants a drop-in fifth wheel hitch. The owner evidence is one pool of 33 reviews on file (4.8 average) that mixes fixed, slider and Turnoverball owners, but the specs are clear: a fully articulating head, a shock-damped ride and a lifetime limited warranty on the listing. Choose a slider only if short-bed turning clearance is a real problem, and single-point only if the under-bed system is already in the truck.
Frequently asked questions
What is a companion fifth wheel hitch?
It is B&W's fifth wheel hitch family. A base mounts in the bed and a coupler head with jaws grips the trailer's king pin. The versions differ in the base: factory puck mount, sliding or single-point for a B&W under-bed system.
What is the towing capacity of a B&W Companion 5th wheel hitch?
Our listings give two ratings: 20,000 lb GTW paired with 5,000 lb of pin weight, or 25,000 lb GTW paired with 6,250 lb. What you can pull is the lowest of the hitch rating and your truck's own limit, so check your owner's manual and door sticker. For pin weight and payload, read our guide to tongue weight and pin weight.
Does the B&W Companion work with the Ford puck system?
Yes. The Ford puck Companions drop into Super Duty beds with the factory fifth wheel prep package and four pucks; the RVK3300 fit list on file runs 2011 to 2027. One owner on file with a 2024 F-350 reports the base needed a shim or two to seat, which B&W supplied. If a puck latch will not lock fully, do not tow: call B&W first.
How heavy is a B&W Companion hitch?
The weight is not on file for our listings, so we do not give a number. The hitch comes apart into the base and the coupler head (each also sold on its own), and one owner on file says it takes two people to install.
How does a B&W Companion hitch work?
The king pin enters the head and the jaws close around it. Check that the handle is fully closed and the safety pin is in, then do B&W's pull test before you drive.
Is the B&W Companion hitch good?
Owners on file rate our Ram 25K listing at 4.8 from 33 reviews, with one 3-star report of a slide handle that would not latch. Most other versions have no reviews on file, so judge them by the listing specs and fit.
Ready to match a Companion to your truck? Browse fifth wheel hitches or the full B&W trailer hitch range.
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Related guides
- Best Fifth Wheel Hitches: B&W Companion, Slider and Patriot Picks by Truck and Rating
- 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
- Tongue Weight and Pin Weight: What They Mean, How to Measure Them and Matching Your Hitch