B&W Trailer Hitches Patriot 16K 5th Wheel Hitch Base Fifth Wheel Trailer Hitch Base Assembly RVB3200B&W Trailer Hitches$347.90In Stock
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B&W Trailer Hitches
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| GTW | 18,000 lbs |
| PROP 65 WARNING: | WARNING: This product may expose you to chemicals including Nickel (Metallic), which is known to the state of California to cause cancer. For more information, go to www.P54Warnings.ca.gov. |
| VTW | 4,500 lbs |
B&W Trailer Hitches is an American manufacturer known for durable, innovative towing products, including gooseneck hitches, fifth-wheel hitches, receiver hitches, and ball mounts. Built in Kansas by employee-owners, B&W products are engineered for dependable performance, easy installation, and long-lasting quality.
B&W Trailer Hitches is an American manufacturer known for building innovative, dependable towing products designed to make hitching easier and towing more comfortable. The company began in 1987 in Humboldt, Kansas, when founders Roger Baker and Joe Works combined their fabrication experience to build custom truck beds and solve common problems faced by truck owners.
B&W changed the gooseneck hitch industry with the introduction of the Turnoverball Gooseneck Hitch. Its under-bed mounting system and reversible hitch ball allowed truck owners to quickly store the ball beneath the bed, leaving a clean and unobstructed surface when the hitch was not in use. B&W later applied the same practical approach to the Companion Fifth Wheel Hitch, creating a removable fifth-wheel hitch engineered for a quiet, smooth, and secure towing experience.
Today, B&W manufactures gooseneck hitches, fifth-wheel hitches, receiver hitches, ball mounts, and towing accessories at its nearly 600,000-square-foot facility. The company is owned by approximately 500 employee-owners who remain committed to American manufacturing, trusted materials, skilled craftsmanship, and long-lasting product quality.
Whether you are towing a work trailer, livestock trailer, camper, or fifth wheel, B&W Trailer Hitches offers thoughtfully engineered towing equipment built to perform mile after mile.
Experts available to answer your questions
Call 888-634-9494The Patriot 18K is a gooseneck hitch manufactured by B&W Trailer Hitches (model 3255). It is rated for a maximum trailer weight of 18,000 lbs and a maximum trailer tongue weight of 4,500 lbs. The hitch uses a coupler that engages with a fifth-wheel trailer's king pin.
Yes. The Patriot 18K hitch requires the use of a rail kit to attach the hitch to the truck frame. The base mounts to a standard rail kit system in the truck bed. You must obtain the appropriate rail kit from your local B&W dealer.
No. The PullRite SuperGlide capture plate removes the pivot point between the trailer and coupler and should not be used with the Patriot 18K hitch. Towing a trailer without a functioning pivot point between the hitch and trailer will cause significant damage to the hitch and may lead to serious injury or death. Pin boxes with a wedge that relocates the pivot point, such as Reese Sidewinder or Reese Revolution, may be used.
Installation requires: a large torque wrench capable of measuring 110 ft-lbs, a 3/4" socket, a 7/16" socket or wrench, a 7/32" Allen wrench, and a hammer.
The base bolt bag (RVB3255) includes: 1 Pivot Arm A, 1 Pivot Arm B, 8 pieces of 1/2" x 1 1/2" hex cap screws, 8 pieces of 1/2" lock washers, 4 threaded blocks, 4 rail pins, 4 hairpins, 1 mounting clip, 1 wire torsion spring, 1 piece of 1/4" lock nut, and 1 piece of 1/4" x 1/2" cap screw.
The coupler bolt bag (RVC3200) includes: 2 pieces of 3/8" button head cap screws and 2 pieces of 3/8" lock nuts. These are used to attach the coupler handle to the arm.
The pivot arms can be mounted in one of twelve different locations to allow flexibility in coupler height (vertical adjustment) and distance from the cab (horizontal adjustment). Choose a location so that your trailer will be as level as possible and have adequate turning clearance while towing. Vertical positions range from 16" (lowest) to 19" (highest). Horizontal positions range from 11 1/2" (4" farther back from cab) to 15 1/2" (closest to cab).
Measure from the center of the coupler to the cab of the truck and from the king pin or pivot point of the trailer to the furthest forward corner of the trailer. Compare these measurements to ensure proper clearance when towing. Also inspect the clearance between the bed sides and the underside of the front of the trailer to ensure there is room for the pitch and roll of the trailer while towing.
The threaded blocks have threaded holes on one side and smooth bored holes on the other side. When installing the threaded blocks, it is critical that the side with the smooth holes is flat against the bolt plate. Installing the threaded blocks backward will not allow the pivot arms to be fully tightened in the base and could lead to hitch failure.
All eight 1/2" x 1 1/2" hex cap screws that secure the pivot arms to the bolt plate must be torqued to 110 ft-lbs.
Locate the four rail pins and hairpins. Insert each pin into the long slots in the base and through the rails. Lock each pin into place with a hairpin.
Locate the two 3/8" x 1-1/4" button head cap screws and the two 3/8" lock nuts provided in the coupler bolt bag. Using these carriage bolts and nuts, attach the coupler handle to the arm and tighten.
Lubricate the polyurethane bushings on top of the pivot arms with high grade lithium grease, available at your local hardware or automotive store.
Pick up the coupler by lifting up on both saddle handles, which will open the saddle latches. Place the coupler over the pivot arms and allow the saddle latches to fall back to their original positions. The saddle handles should be parallel with the base in the latched position.
Locate the 1/4" cap screw and nut, along with the wire torsion spring and mounting clip. Pass the 1/4" cap screw through the mounting clip and the wire spring. Thread the 1/4" lock nut onto the 1/4" cap screw. Tighten the lock nut just enough that the spring will stay in place but will still be able to rotate around the bolt if needed.
Locate the flange on the driver side pivot arm that will be closest to the truck cab. The clip should be placed so that when the spring's coil is in line with the edge of the arm there will be 1/2" of clearance between the bottom of the polyurethane bushing and the top of the spring. Drive the clip securely onto the flange with a hammer.
Adjust the resting angle of your coupler plate by rotating the spring on the driver side pivot arm. Pulling the top of the spring away from the cab will increase the angle of the coupler plate. Set the angle of the coupler so that it will tilt away from the cab when coupling. Tighten the 1/4" nut once the spring's orientation is set.
Remove the safety pin from the coupler handle and open it. Adjust the height of the fifth wheel trailer so that the king pin plate is slightly lower than the top of the coupler. Back the truck toward the trailer, centering the trailer's king pin in the coupler, until the king pin engages the jaws. Close the coupler handle and insert the safety pin through the handle and the coupler. Connect the brake and lighting systems before towing.
The pull test verifies that the trailer is correctly attached. Ensure the truck is stationary with the emergency brake engaged and the tailgate down, trailer wheels chocked, and landing gear down supporting the trailer's weight. Confirm no one is between the truck and trailer. Release the emergency brake and engage the trailer brakes. Gently attempt to pull the trailer forward with the truck. When properly connected, the trailer will prevent the truck from moving. If the truck and trailer are not correctly attached the trailer will separate from the truck.
A visual inspection of the hitch should be performed before each time you tow. Regularly check that all pinned connections are secure and that all bolted connections are at the correct torque specification. Check for cracks or damage to the hitch. Do not tow with the hitch if cracks or damage outside of normal wear is found.
Lower landing gear and chock the trailer wheels. Raise the trailer until the tongue weight is removed from the truck. Then unpin the coupler handle and rotate to the open position to unlatch the jaws. If the jaws do not open, readjusting the landing gear may relieve pressure and allow them to open. Use the safety pin to lock the handle in the open position. When you are sure that the landing gear will support the trailer, move the truck forward to release the jaws from the king pin. The jaws will always open when the pressure of the trailer is taken off the coupler as the truck pulls away.
Additional caution must be used when towing a wedge car trailer. Towing stability greatly depends on keeping the center of gravity as low as possible. Load heavy cars over the axles. Never tow with a single car on the front of the trailer. When towing a wedge car trailer, never exceed speeds that are reasonable for the roadway conditions (e.g. turns, going around a curve, etc.). Failure to account for proper trailer center of gravity and speeds that are reasonable for the roadway conditions may cause damage to the truck, trailer, towing components, and loss of attachment between the truck and trailer.
Without proper knowledge, towing can be a dangerous activity. Understand all the risks involved with towing before proceeding. For information on towing safety, see "The Trailer Handbook: A guide to Understanding Trailer and Towing Safety" from the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (www.NATM.com) and your trailer manufacturer's owner's manual. Do not exceed the tow or tongue rating of the coupler, hitch, truck or trailer. See vehicle and trailer manufacturer information for ratings. Exceeding these ratings may cause damage to towing components or loss of attachment between the trailer and truck.
Grease the saddle through the grease zerk approximately every six months with multi-purpose grease. This allows the coupler to pivot freely. Also grease the jaws with multi-purpose automotive type chassis grease and lubricate the top surface of the coupler with multi-purpose automotive type chassis grease or use a nylon lube plate to provide a lubricated surface.
All bolted connections should be checked for the correct torque specification regularly. Always perform a visual inspection before towing. Check that all pinned connections are secure and that all bolted connections are at the correct torque specification (110 ft-lbs for the pivot arm cap screws). Check for cracks or damage to the hitch.
No. Do not modify this product in any manner. Doing so could alter its integrity and lead to a loss of attachment between the trailer and the tow vehicle.
To uninstall the hitch, grab the saddle handles and lift to remove the coupler from the pivot arms. To remove the base, remove the rail pins from the base legs and carefully lift and position the base out of the attachment points.
The safety pin must be inserted through the coupler handle and the coupler after the handle is closed. Failure to correctly close the handle and attach the safety pin may result in a loss of attachment between the trailer and the tow vehicle, leading to property damage, serious injury, or death.
Allow adequate clearance between the bed side and the underside of the front of the trailer for pitch and roll of the trailer. The height of the king pin box and pivot arms should be adjusted so that the trailer is approximately level for towing. Approximately 15%-25% of the trailer weight should be on the hitch.
You need a torque wrench (110 ft-lbs capacity), 3/4" socket, 7/16" socket or wrench, 7/32" Allen wrench, and a hammer.
All eight 1/2" cap screws securing the pivot arms must be torqued to 110 ft-lbs.
Use high grade lithium grease on the polyurethane bushings before installing the coupler, and multi-purpose automotive chassis grease on the jaws and coupler top surface. Grease the saddle through the grease zerk every six months.
Perform a visual inspection to verify all pinned connections are secure, all bolted connections are at correct torque (110 ft-lbs), and check for cracks or damage to the hitch.
With the truck stationary, emergency brake engaged, trailer wheels chocked, and landing gear down, release the emergency brake and gently attempt to pull the trailer forward. When properly connected, the trailer will prevent the truck from moving.
The smooth holes side of the threaded block must be flat against the bolt plate. Installing them backward will not allow full tightening and could lead to hitch failure.
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