Rails vs pucks vs gooseneck mount

[Hammerboy]

Hello all,

The plan is for a new truck within the next 6 months and one of the things I am stuck on is the fifth wheel hitch.

Currently I have a B&W Patriot slider, I have the slider mainly because it gives me better clearance between the truck bed sides/tailgate and the fifth when as I have it in the maneuvering position as I back it down the hill to our barn. I have about 5-6 inches clearance to keep the rig pretty level.

I have the bed rails now and they don't really bother me in the bed for what I do with my truck. Once I put the hitch in the spring it stays till end of the season. I have trailers I use most of the time anyway.
So I am wondering:

1. Forget the pucks system, go rail again and keep the hitch I have. Least costly option

2. Get the puck, sell the Patriot and buy OEM Companion Slider. Down side is I may have to sell it or the base someday with a new truck. I wish pucks were universal

3. Get the puck system and get a gooseneck mount Companion that I can keep no matter the future truck.

4. I realize there are puck adapter kits but not sure this is something I want as they likely would raise the hitch which I do not want. It's in its lowest setting currently, I do have one hole left to raise my pin box if need be however. It's also a second connecting point (not direct)for the hitch which seems like a potential for accumulative slop.

5. ?? (Your ideas 🙂

Anybody here have a late model truck but said screw the pucks? I realize I may be overthinking this but am curious on your thoughts.

Thanks everyone.

Dan

[Big1]

I did the same as you GBuilder, on my new ram I have the puck system and order the base B&W Companion hitch now I just need to sell my base of my B&W Slider. I can't comment on how it tow because I haven't tow with it yet but I did hook it up and it felt solid.

[GBuilders]

I had the 14 Ram with the puck system and Companion hitch. When i bought my 19 Ford F-250 I made sure it has the puck system. I’ve had rails and picks and the Puck with the B&W is hands down the best setup. Like others have said it eliminates the slack and on the Ram B&W I didn’t need a slide with my shortened because you set it behind the axle for more clearance.

[TxGearhead]

If I had it to do over I would go straight to the Goosebox. Get the OEM prep for the gooseneck ball hole.

[Hammerboy]

Thank you for your replies so far. For those of you who are using the adapter plates, have you notice any extra slop with the multiple connections?

I measured a 2020 Chevy 2500 the other day and the bedside or tailgate height is within an 1 inch or less of my current truck which is good. Bed height should be close as well because I believe the wall heights are the same. Not sure I really want to add any hieght with the adapter though.

I thinking the Companion non slider puck would be the most solid connection. Not really interested in the Anderson style . I just need to do some calculating and measuring to see how level and if I can pull it up the hill without contact with the tailgate, hence the real reason I have a slider. Next tonneau cover will be a flush roll up or quad fold and that will save me 1.5" over what I have with my current top mount cover.

Dan

[allen8106]

I bought a 2018 GMC last July with the puck system and added a Demco adapter plate. It only raises the height of the hitch a 1/2 inch.

So far it has worked well and was cheaper than purchasing a new hitch.

[Cummins12V98]

Sell what you have and buy the B&W puck hitch. Went from 18k Companion on 11 DRW RAM to Puck on 15 DRW RAM.
B&W's are easy to sell, sold mine first day.

[Durb]

Let's see:
- You like your current hitch which mounts on rails.
- Rails in the bed of your truck don't bother you.
- Rails are the least expensive option.

I'd go with rails.

[rhagfo]

Hammerboy,Here is some food for thought, your case may be different.

We moved from a 2001 Ram 2500 CTD to a 2016 Ram 3500 DRW CTD, difference in bumper height was about 1" taller 3500.



I got the Reese puck adapter for our existing Reese hitch, it added 2" to height of hitch from bed floor. that said the bed floor to top of rail is about 1-3/4" taller on the new Ram, so all came out about the same.



So once hitched up both setups look about the same.

[JTrac]

I went with a Reese puck adapter for my Trailer Saver BD3. It raises the heighth of the hitch 3 3/8", way more than I expected. Thankfully I was able to lower the hitch a couple of holes but it still sets slightly nose high. Demco makes an adapter that adds less than 2" but it is heavy and a little pricey. Also, the new trucks may sit somewhat higher than your current truck but that could be verified.

I had a B&W Companion that used the gooseneck hook up. It worked fine except it did dent my bed slightly. If I remember right it needed some shims in the slots on the bed floor. I had bed rails on my last truck and no problem with them.

[Learjet]

I sold my patriot that I had for my Ford and got the puck version for my RAM when I changed trucks. Stronger hitch and the pucks have no slop like you can have with rails. Can't go wrong either way. But, it's nice having a factory ready option including 7 way in the bed.

[4x4ord]

I have used B&W hitches since about 2005. I really like the puck system. I sometimes get a new hitch when I buy a new truck. Selling a used B&W has been no problem for me.

[ACZL]

IMO, I'd go w/ new B&W rails and keep current hitch. Can't see getting a new hitch or set up when you already have one and are not concerned about the rails when no hitch in truck. Yes there is an adapter that allows use of a puck system for rail hitches, but it also raises nose of 5er up more. I admit, I'm not familiar w/the B&W Gooseneck ball set up, but again, you'd have to buy another set-up/adapter and all. So FWIW, I'd keep the Patriot and get new rails (which are not all the same heft.....B&W's are beefy VS Reese).

[rhagfo]

If buying new get the puck system, cost is about the same as a B&W turn over ball. It gives you more options.

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

When I recently purchased my new truck I decided to do away with the 5er hitch and go with a Reese Goose Box. I like that the Goose Box has it has air bag and shocks in it. Nice part is I now have a clean bed with goose neck ball that is easily removed if needed.

Reese Goose Box

“Happy Trails’
Chiefneon