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Best 5vr Slider for GM Puck Setup

ugeesta
Explorer
Explorer
Bought a new GMC Seirrra 3500 Denali standard bed over the weekend and now in the market for the fifth wheel hitch. The truck came with the factory installed Puck setup and I am quickly finding the hitch selection is very limited. Using an adaptor to fit a non puck hitch is out of the question because it looks to add another 2โ€to the hitch height. Height is a real concern as my trailer AC is at 13โ€™-6โ€ before adding the new truck additional 3โ€ bed height issues.

As far as direct fits, I see the 20k BW Companion or the 16k Curt. I like the height flexibility and weight of the Curt but the BW looks like a much nicer hitch though looks to be very heavy for one man to maneuver.

There are many more and possible better options if I scrap the idea of using the factory puck system. Has anyone done this? If so, how hard is it to work around the factory installed puck system? Is it easy to remove?

My old truck had a Husky 16k slider with the four way pivot. That was nice because my pit is not level side to side. I donโ€™t see that option in the BW or Curt setups with the factory puck system.

Iโ€™m so confused now. Thanks.

Last tidbit. My trailer Gross weight rating is 16,000 lbs and currently scales around 15,000 lbs so a 16k hitch should work. I was thinking of getting an 18k hitch for some extra capacity margin.
2018 GMC Seirra 3500 Denali SRW
2018 Jayco Talon 313t
2019 Polaris XP1000 Trail and Rocks edition
2016 Yamaha Grizzly EPS
1 wife & 5 cats
19 REPLIES 19

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
deltabravo wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
The Curt pic is from an in law he HATES it as it's a PITA to unhitch at times if RV and Truck are not on the same plane side to side.


I'm not a 5th wheel guy but I have helped my brother unhitch his Curt hitch when the truck is not level side to side. As mentioned above, it IS a PITA.


YES, I helped him a few times also and it is no simple task!
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

deltabravo
Nomad
Nomad
Cummins12V98 wrote:
The Curt pic is from an in law he HATES it as it's a PITA to unhitch at times if RV and Truck are not on the same plane side to side.


I'm not a 5th wheel guy but I have helped my brother unhitch his Curt hitch when the truck is not level side to side. As mentioned above, it IS a PITA.
2009 Silverado 3500HD Dually, D/A, CCLB 4x4 (bought new 8/30/09)
2018 Arctic Fox 992 with an Onan 2500i "quiet" model generator

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
ugeesta wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Welcome from the President of the โ€œB&W HeavyWeight Hitch Clubโ€.


Thanks.

Question. How noisy is the hitch? We pulled the trailer a mile down the road to the gas station in order to get a measurement on concrete and we got a couple clunks upon start and stop. Admittedly, the tension on the pucks is taught but not to the point to where I really had to work to lock in the hitch to the bed.

Are the clucks to be expected ore do I need to tighten things up better?


I think MeAgain would be one who can answer this as he has the B&W slider. All else fails a call to B&W as they are VERY helpful.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

ugeesta
Explorer
Explorer
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Welcome from the President of the โ€œB&W HeavyWeight Hitch Clubโ€.


Thanks.

Question. How noisy is the hitch? We pulled the trailer a mile down the road to the gas station in order to get a measurement on concrete and we got a couple clunks upon start and stop. Admittedly, the tension on the pucks is taught but not to the point to where I really had to work to lock in the hitch to the bed.

Are the clucks to be expected ore do I need to tighten things up better?
2018 GMC Seirra 3500 Denali SRW
2018 Jayco Talon 313t
2019 Polaris XP1000 Trail and Rocks edition
2016 Yamaha Grizzly EPS
1 wife & 5 cats

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
Welcome from the President of the โ€œB&W HeavyWeight Hitch Clubโ€.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

ugeesta
Explorer
Explorer
Well, I bit the bullet on the BW Companion hitch and got it installed today. Took the truck to the yard and hooked the trailer up to see how it looks and surprisingly, the trailer went up far less than anticipated. The edge of the roof came in a 147". add 14" for the AC and 2" for the crown in the roof, the top of the AC is around 13'7". I'd feel more comfortable with the height being a little lower but pleased its not more. If I can drop the front 2", the trailer would be level.

Here it is.
2018 GMC Seirra 3500 Denali SRW
2018 Jayco Talon 313t
2019 Polaris XP1000 Trail and Rocks edition
2016 Yamaha Grizzly EPS
1 wife & 5 cats

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
2012Coleman wrote:
I have the B&W Companion manual slider. It's very easy to see when your hitched correctly, easy to operate - hitch/unhitch. The only downside is that its pretty heavy and takes a couple of guys to move it. It fits under my tonneau cover and I lubricate the moving parts with white lithium grease.


Don't forget to grease the ZERK under the head.

2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

2012Coleman
Explorer
Explorer
I have the B&W Companion manual slider. It's very easy to see when your hitched correctly, easy to operate - hitch/unhitch. The only downside is that its pretty heavy and takes a couple of guys to move it. It fits under my tonneau cover and I lubricate the moving parts with white lithium grease.
Experience without good judgment is worthless; good judgment without experience is still good judgment!

2018 RAM 3500 Big Horn CTD
2018 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS

Soldier415
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 2017 Chevy 3/4 ton with factory puck system. Ended up adding the adapter rails to be able to use the pullrite 2700 16k auto slider. My tonneau cover closes fine even with the hitch installed as it is still below the level of the top of the bed.

ACZL
Explorer
Explorer
I was at 13' 4" w/ my '15 F350 SRW w/ 18" tires. My '17 350 dually has 17" tires, so I should be a tad lower (haven't measured it yet). Our B&W Patriot is on lowest setting.
2017 F350 DRW XLT, CC, 4x4, 6.7
2018 Big Country 3560 SS
"The best part of RVing and Snowmobiling is spending time with family and friends"
"Catin' in the Winter"

ugeesta
Explorer
Explorer
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Another thing about the Curt is the heads pivot point is several inches below the hitch plate. The B&W's pivot point is in line with the hitch plate/kingpin.

Reason I mention this is it is documented here several times that people have CHUCKING with this Curt setup!

The Curt pic is from an in law he HATES it as it's a PITA to unhitch at times if RV and Truck are not on the same plane side to side. He has said many times "I wish I had your B&W". His Curt came with his truck.


Good pics.

I measured the top of the trailer one day on my old truck. With the new trucks sitting higher, Iโ€™m assuming the trailer will sit higher still. The level height out of the factory is 13โ€™-4โ€ so I was sitting 2โ€ nose high with the old truck
2018 GMC Seirra 3500 Denali SRW
2018 Jayco Talon 313t
2019 Polaris XP1000 Trail and Rocks edition
2016 Yamaha Grizzly EPS
1 wife & 5 cats

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
Another thing about the Curt is the heads pivot point is several inches below the hitch plate. The B&W's pivot point is in line with the hitch plate/kingpin.

Reason I mention this is it is documented here several times that people have CHUCKING with this Curt setup!

The Curt pic is from an in law he HATES it as it's a PITA to unhitch at times if RV and Truck are not on the same plane side to side. He has said many times "I wish I had your B&W". His Curt came with his truck.


2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
ugeesta wrote:
So how tall are the trailers you guys are pulling? With my new truck and the BW hitch having a minimum 17โ€ height, the top of my ac will be above 13โ€™-6โ€. Guess I can put the stock pin back on my trailer but that wonโ€™t help much and would rather have that air bag smooth out the ride.


How did you come up with the 13' 6" height? I have a 3" lift on my Mobile Suites and set at 13' 5". Even at your number you will NOT have an issue.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

ugeesta
Explorer
Explorer
So how tall are the trailers you guys are pulling? With my new truck and the BW hitch having a minimum 17โ€ height, the top of my ac will be above 13โ€™-6โ€. Guess I can put the stock pin back on my trailer but that wonโ€™t help much and would rather have that air bag smooth out the ride.
2018 GMC Seirra 3500 Denali SRW
2018 Jayco Talon 313t
2019 Polaris XP1000 Trail and Rocks edition
2016 Yamaha Grizzly EPS
1 wife & 5 cats