Keith B.
Verified
04/04/2025
Hitch review
Easy to install and easy to use
B&W Patriot 18K Rail-Mounted Fifth Wheel Hitch, 18,000 lb GTW, 4,500 lb Pin Weight, Powder Coat (RVK3255)
$799.00
$40 OFFOrders $500+
Apply at checkout. One use per customer.
- Guaranteed FitmentTeam-confirmed fit or money back
- No Sales TaxZero sales tax on every order
- 30-Day Money-Back GuaranteeReturn it within 30 days of delivery for a refund
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Fits the same truck
Features
- Machined wrap-around jaws: B&W machines the jaws to fit the king pin closely, leaving no room for slop between pin and jaw, so the trailer has less to bang against when you start and stop.
- Cam-action handle: A cam in the handle does the locking. With the handle shut, the cam holds the jaws locked on the king pin so they cannot let go by accident. Swing it open and the cam moves aside, freeing the jaws to let go of the pin when the truck drives forward.
- Shock absorber and bushings: A shock absorber lets the coupler shift side to side without banging, and polyurethane bushings under the coupler absorb rough pavement. A smooth ride was B&W's stated goal for the design.
- Two-piece design: The Patriot comes in two parts. Rail pins hold the base in the rails, the coupler head pins onto the base's pivot arms, and each piece goes in and out of the bed on its own.
- Rated by B&W: B&W rates this Patriot for 18,000 lb gross trailer weight and 4,500 lb pin weight. Your rails and your truck have ratings too: stay under the lowest.
- Built and tested in Kansas: B&W builds the Patriot in Humboldt, Kansas, and certifies its fifth wheel hitches to SAE J2638, the industry standard for fifth wheel and gooseneck hitches.
Description & Fitment
B&W's 18K Patriot Rail-Mounted Fifth Wheel Hitch, part RVK3255, is rated to pull 18,000 lb GTW and carry 4,500 lb of pin weight. It needs industry-standard fifth wheel rails in the bed, sold separately: the base pins into them and the head sits on its upright arms. B&W pairs base RVB3255 with coupler head RVC3200. Its twelve pivot-arm positions set the coupler from 16" to 19" high, per B&W's sheet.
Fitment & Compatibility
Check your fit: your truck has industry-standard fifth wheel rails installed. B&W says the whole Patriot line mounts to any industry-standard rails.
Not for: trucks without rails (the rail kit is not included and is sold separately). Other Patriot models: RVK3200 (16K, fixed base); RVK3270 (18K, slider).
About B&W Trailer Hitches
B&W.
Roger Baker and Joe Works founded B&W Trailer Hitches in 1987, working out of a garage where they built custom truck beds; the company name comes from their initials. Customers wanted a gooseneck ball that would not sit welded in the middle of the bed, and their answer was the Turnoverball: it mounts beneath the bed, and the ball flips over to stow in the same hole it tows from. The Companion fifth wheel hitch came next and uses the same under-bed mounting.
B&W still builds its hitches in Humboldt, Kansas, from American-made steel, and Joe Works began handing the company to its workers in 2007; today it is employee-owned. B&W counts itself among the few hitch makers still building in America.
Buying B&W from Prestige Truck. B&W honors its warranty whether or not you register the product, so there is no card to mail. Keep your Prestige Truck order email with your records in case you ever need to make a claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does RVK3255 mount to?
Industry-standard fifth wheel rails, which B&W's sheet says are required and sold separately. The base pins into the rails, so it does not fit a specific truck by itself.
How high does the coupler sit?
From 16" to 19" off the bed floor, set by twelve pivot-arm positions on B&W's sheet, which also move it closer to or farther from the cab.
Will it fit my rails?
B&W says its entire Patriot line mounts to any industry-standard fifth wheel rails. The rails are a separate purchase.
Will it work with my short bed truck?
Many short bed owners tow with a Patriot, B&W says. Cab clearance depends on where the king pin sits on the trailer, the trailer's width and corner shape, and how much tight turning you do. The 18K Slider slides back 12" for extra room.
Why won't the jaws open when I pull the handle?
B&W uses a cam release on all its fifth wheel hitches. On uneven ground the king pin can bind slightly, which is normal: with the handle open the jaw tension is released, and the jaws let go as you pull away.
What color is the Patriot?
Medium gray powder coat, per B&W.
Installation
Install time
Not printed on B&W's install sheet
DifficultyNot printed on B&W's install sheet
TypeTwo-piece fifth wheel hitch pinned into industry-standard rails, rail kit sold separately (B&W install sheets)
ToolsTorque wrench to 110 ft-lb3/4" socket; 7/16" socket (or wrench); 7/32" Allen wrench on fixed-base models; hammer (B&W install sheets)
Here's the short version. Follow B&W's install sheet (below) for the exact positions and hardware.
- Choose one of the twelve pivot-arm locations (Table A1), mount both arms with the four threaded blocks, eight 1/2" cap screws and lock washers, torque each bolt to 110 ft-lbs and check truck-to-trailer clearance.
- Set the base on the rail kit in the truck bed and lock it with the four rail pins and hairpins.
- Assemble the leveling kit (1/4" cap screw and nut, wire torsion spring, mounting clip) and attach it to the cab-side flange of the driver-side pivot arm.
- Lubricate the polyurethane bushings on the pivot arms with high grade lithium grease and place the coupler.
- Attach the coupler handle with the two 3/8" x 1-1/4" button head cap screws and 3/8" lock nuts.
- Set the coupler resting angle by rotating the spring on the driver-side pivot arm.
Stuck on a step?
Specifications
| Brand | B&W Trailer Hitches |
|---|---|
| Part Number | RVK3255 |
| Series | Patriot |
| Type | Two-piece rail-mounted fifth wheel hitch |
| Mounting | Industry-standard fifth wheel rails (sold separately) |
| Jaws | Machined, wrap-around |
| Handle | Cam-action, locks the jaws closed |
| Ride control | Shock absorber, polyurethane bushings |
| Finish | Medium gray powder coat |
| Certification | SAE J2638 |
| Made in | Humboldt, Kansas, USA |
| Model | 18K Patriot Rail-Mounted Fifth Wheel Hitch |
| Gross trailer weight | 18,000 lb |
| Pin weight | 4,500 lb |
| Base | RVB3255 |
| Coupler head | RVC3200 |
| Base type | Fixed |
| Pivot arm positions | 12 |
| Coupler height | 16" to 19" (bed floor to top of coupler) |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime |
| UPC | 843233004731 |
Warranty, shipping & returns
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Lifetime Limited warranty
B&W Trailer Hitches covers this hitch with its Limited Lifetime Warranty. B&W's promise is simple: it stands behind what it builds, and when something goes wrong, it sets it right.- B&W builds its products to be free of design and quality defects. If you believe one falls short of that, B&W wants to make it right with you.
- Accident or misuse: B&W says it will still help you get towing again at the lowest cost and with the least hassle it can.
- Normal wear: the product and its finish age with use, and B&W does not promise to keep them in new condition.
- Use it only as designed and keep up the light maintenance B&W calls for.
- Registration is optional: B&W applies its warranty whether you register the product or not.
- To start a claim, contact us with your order number and photos and we will take it up with B&W for you.
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Free shipping
Ships free to the lower 48 states, with no minimum order.- Order by 5 PM ET on a business day and it starts processing the same day.
- Most orders arrive within 1-5 business days.
- We email your tracking number as soon as it ships.
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Inspect on delivery
Before you install, check the base and coupler bolt bags against B&W's parts list for your model, and confirm your rails are installed and the rail pins seat fully through the base pin tabs. Check it as soon as it arrives.- Look for crushed ends, punctures or tears in the carton.
- If something looks wrong, take photos of the box and the parts (and if a driver asks you to sign, note the damage on the receipt).
- Open the box and check the parts against the parts list before you install.
- Email support@prestigetruck.com right away with your order number, a short note and photos. We send a replacement or a full refund at no cost to you.
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30-day returns
Return it within 30 days of delivery, unused, in the original packaging, with proof of purchase.- Email support@prestigetruck.com with your order number. We reply within 1-2 business days with instructions.
- Damaged, defective or wrong item: we send a prepaid label or arrange a pickup.
- Changed your mind: you pay return shipping. No restocking fee.
- Refunds go back to your original payment method within 7 business days of approval. See our returns policy.
What our customers say
5 · 4 reviews
Robert A.
Verified
08/03/2024
One of the hole didn't
One of the hole didn't line up on my rails, other than that I love the hitch...
Arlyn L.
Verified
07/03/2024
Aloeschke
Very satisfied with my purchase fast delivery easy installation
Pat M.
Verified
01/21/2024
The weight of the hitch
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