Re: gooseneck ball

Posted by JDseller on February 12, 2012 at 20:28:31 from (208.126.196.144):

In Reply to: gooseneck ball posted by Justin SE IOWA on February 12, 2012 at 19:41:08:

It would depend on how hard you are going to be using the ball. I have looked into them and the mounts on the removable balls are not the heaviest around. Some of them are just a bolt together angle iron setup. They did them that way so you don't have to remove the bed. To me they look light duty.

My brother had a B&W turnover ball hitch. It usually took two to change the ball. The hitch has a small spring that was supposed to pop the ball up so it would not re-latch but it usually would not do it. You usually had to take a hammer and rattle it to pop loose. Plus he had the cross frame crack at the side mountings. These are the angle iron type I am talking about. He does pull a 26,000 LBS trailer.

I have also seen the side flip ball hitches fold the ball over when making a sharp turn with a heavy load.

The one my brother has right now has two square tubes that are attached to two plates that bolt inside of the frame rails. These tubes slide together so you can get them narrow enough to get inside of the frame than they slide out to be bolted to the frame side rail. Then the center section bolts through the tubes locking them from moving. You do have to remove the pickup bed to install this hitch. To change the ball you rotate a collar under the ball it then comes out. You have a flat plug that goes back into the hole to protect it when you are not using the goose neck hitch. The only issue is that you have to store the ball or plug when using the other. It is a much heavier setup than the B&W and Draw tite hitches. I can't remember the name of it and I could not find it on the Internet. I will ask him tomorrow.

On my trucks I have always made the hitches myself. I usually remove the bed. I then make two plates that will bolt to the frame side rails. This is usually 3/4 or 1" thick. I then take a 3/4 plate the width of the frame and 24 inches across. I lay that across the top of the frame and then weld it to the side plates. I run 3 or 4 inch angle iron under the plate to stiffen it. I then weld the nut of the ball hitch to the bottom of this cross plate. I then remount the bed. Some times I will have to space the bed up maybe a 1/4 to make room for the cross plate. I then take a hole saw and put the hole in that the ball will go through. I use goose neck balls that have a hex cast into the ball shank. You then can take a three inch socket and take the ball in and out. I have never had one of these break or even crack. I used to mount 10-20 each year. I just quit last year when my insurance man said they would not cover the liability anymore. I still make our own but will not do it for anyone else.

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