B&W Trailer Hitches RVK3050 - Manual (Page 3)

PREPARING TO INSTALL
WARNING: Components of the Companion hitch are
heavy and cumbersome to handle. Failure to use
proper lifting techniques when moving and handling
these parts could result in property damage or
serious injury.
Tighten the 1/2" x 3−1/2" draw−down bolt to 40 ft−lbs,
see figure C4.
WARNING: Check the latch pin under the truck. Make
sure that the latch pin has passed through both sides
of the socket and that the pin is covered up inside the
socket by the socket adjuster, see figure C3.
Using a tape measure, square the Companion base
with the sides or cab of the truck.
Carefully lift and position the Companion base into the
receiver hitch socket in the back of the truck bed as
shown in figure C2.
Re−engage the latch pin handle under the truck bed.
NOTICE: DO NOT lubricate the draw down bolt, the
torque value is for dry threads only.
WARNING: B&W also recommends that you check
the clearance between the bed side and the underside
of the front of the trailer and to allow adequate
clearance for the pitch and roll of the trailer while
towing.
WARNING: B&W recommends that you check the
clearance between the truck cab and the trailer.
Compare the measurement taken from the center of
the Coupler to the cab, to the measurement taken
from the center of the king pin to the farthest forward
corner point of the trailer. These measurements will
allow you to see how much clearance you will have
between the cab and the trailer while towing and
turning.
3.
4.
5.
6.
ASSEMBLE BASE
Locate six 1/2" cap screws, 1/2" split lock washers
and, 1/2" nuts. Pass three cap screws through the
outside of each base leg and hand tighten each cap
screw with a split lock washer and nut as shown in
figure A1. While securely holding each leg against
the bottom of the center section, torque each bolt to
80 ft−lbs, see figure A2. 1.
INSTALL COUPLER HANDLE
1. Locate the two 3/8" x 1−1/4" button head cap screws
and the two 3/8" flanged lock nuts provided in a bolt
bag. Pull out the coupler arm and pin it with the
safety locking pin near the base of the arm as shown
in figure D1.
CAUTION: Pulling the arm out away from the coupler
creates a pinch point. Use caution when installing the
handle to avoid injury.
Using the button cap screws and the lock nuts attach
the coupler handle to the arm and tighten, see figure
D1. Pull out the coupler cam handle safety pin.
2.
INSTALL COUPLER
1. Lubricate the polyurethane bushings on top of the
pivot arms with high grade lithium grease (available
at your local hardware/automotive store). Place the
coupler over the pivot arms. (The saddle handles
should be parallel with the base in the latched
position.) Place the saddle lock pins through the
saddle, then insert the hairpins through the holes in
the end of the saddle lock pins to secure the coupler
to the pivot arms, see figure E1.
2. 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 head
will tilt away from the cab
when coupling, see figure E2.
Tighten the 1/4" nut once the
springs orientation is set.
With the remaining ten 1/2" cap screws, 1/2" split lock
washers and, 1/2" nuts, attach the pivot arms to the
base. Start by passing four cap screws through the
top of a pivot arm down through the base and hand
tighten with split lock washers and nuts as shown in
figure A3. Next, pass a single 1/2" cap screw through
the side of the pivot arm and hand tighten with a split
lock washer and nut as shown in figure A4. Repeat
these steps for the pivot arm on the other side of the
center section. Torque each bolt to 80 ft−lbs. 2.
Check that the bed of the truck is clean, and that all
debris is removed before beginning installation.
Locate the latch pin handle of the gooseneck hitch
located under the truck bed. Retract the latch pin
handle all the way to disengage the pin from the ball,
see figure C1. Remove the 2−5/16" ball from the hitch
receiver socket. 2.
1.
INSTALL COMPANION BASE
INSTALL LEVELING KIT
Locate the 1/4" cap screw and nut, along with the wire
tension spring and mounting clip. Pass the 1/4" cap
screw through the mounting clip and the wire spring
as shown in figure B1. 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, see figure B2.
Locate the flange which will be closest to the truck cab
on the driver side pivot arm, see figure B3. The clip
should be placed so that when the springs coil is in the
line with the edge of the arm there will be 1/2" of
clearance between the bottom of the rubber bumper
and the top of the spring, see figure B4. Drive the clip
securely onto the flange with a hammer.
2.
1.
FIGURE A1: Underside view of center section and legs.
FIGURE A3: View of center
section and pivot arm.
FIGURE A4: View of center
section and pivot arm.
FIGURE C2: View over truck bed.
FIGURE C4. View of Companion base.
FIGURE A2: Front view of center section and legs.
FIGURE C1: View under truck bed.
FIGURE C3: View under truck bed.
FIGURE D1: View looking down at side of coupler head.
FIGURE E1: Coupler installed on base.
FIGURE E2: Cutaway view of
driver side pivot arm and saddle.
FIGURE B4: Driver
side pivot arm.
FIGURE B2:
Assembled leveling kit.
FIGURE B1:
Leveling kit parts.
FIGURE B3: Base View.
CENTER OF
COUPLER
TO CAB
KING PIN TO EDGE OF TRAILER
CENTER SECTION
BASE LEG
PIVOT ARM
CENTER
SECTION
LATCH PIN HANDLE
RECEIVER SOCKET
SOCKET ADJUSTER
LATCH PIN
DRAW−DOWN BOLT
SOCKET
3/8" BUTTON HEAD
CAP SCREWS
COUPLER
HANDLE
COUPLER CAM
HANDLE SAFETY PIN
COUPLER
ARM
3/8" LOCKING
FLANGE NUTS
COUPLER PLATE
SADDLE
LOCK PIN
HAIRPIN
SADDLE HANDLES
(Latched and parallel to base)
1/2"
WIRE
SPRING
1/4" LOCK NUT
MOUNTING
CLIP
DRIVER SIDE
PIVOT ARM
CAB
RECEIVER SOCKET