In our opinion, one popular standout is the Companion-and-Turnover Ball setup, which offers tremendous versatility and convenience from a manufacturer with a long history in the RV market. The Companion is essentially a B&W accessory to its popular Turnover Ball. Together it provides an irresistible solution for those towing large trailers.

There are many of reasons why this unique setup is at the top of the list, but the primary factor is that it allows you to use the full length of the truck bed at any moment when the hitch is not in use. There are no permanent railings mounted to the bed. Also, if you have a variety of trailers, the Companion-and-Turnover package can be used as a gooseneck (horse trailers) or as a conventional fifth wheel (toyhaulers), depending on your preference.

Tow Rig and Trailer
On our visit to Diesel Tech in San Jacinto, California, we met with owner Loren Taylor, who had put a tremendous amount of miles under tow on his Ford F-350. The Ford handled his 39-foot toyhauler trailer fine using a conventional fifth wheel, but his hitch setup was permanently mounted on the bed, and it wasn’t designed to tow the different types of trailers required to run his business. The smart solution for Diesel Tech turned out to be the B&W setup, and in a few days the gear arrived in separate packages. Since these B&W products are all designed specifically for each make and model vehicle, we requested Model No. 3000 and Model No. 1108R for the Ford F-350.

While the installation process was actually very straightforward and the instructions were written well and fully illustrated, we recruited nearby mobile RV specialist Chad Pastorius of Dedicated Express to assemble it, while prepping the Ford for the new hitch.

“My experience has been that you don’t want to sacrifice safety for saving a few dollars,” Chad said. “You can feel the difference in a well-engineered hitch versus a cheap one. Inexpensive hitches never seem secure and you get a lot of play between the truck and trailer.

“This is the Cadillac of fifth-wheel designs.”

It’s All in the Details
Because it mounts directly to the Turnover Ball hitch, the Companion doesn’t require permanently mounted rails. Everything needed is secured from under the bed at the chassis of the tow rig, and it is rated at 18,000 gross trailer weight (GTW). The Turnover Ball itself is rated up to 30,000 pounds GTW or 7,500 pound vertical trailer weight (VTW), if your truck was designed for these loads. Under no circumstances should you ever use a different aftermarket product in place of either the Companion or Turnover Ball, or you can void the warranty.