B & W turnover ball hitch

[tmpenner]

I have a question concerning the safety chain loops. Our hitch didn't include the loops and I was wondering if there is anything special about them or is they are just u-bolts with springs underneath to hold them down when not in use. We would just make our own unless but were wondering if they were stronger than a standard u-bolt. Any ideas? I can seem to find anyplace to order them separate from the hitch. TIA

 

[MacHaggis]

Call me fussy, but if it were me, I'd get in touch with B&W if my kit was shorted parts. Assuming you bought it new and they are responsible, I'd suspect they could get the parts to you as quickly as you could track them down on your own. If not, they can probably supply them or, at the least, give you the specs.



If you do have to find them yourself, the loops are flat on top so they lay flat in the bed, not the half-round of the more typical U-bolt. Can't speak directly to hardness/strength, but keep in mind that hardness and strength don't go hand in hand. I might be all washed up on this, but I'd think in a breakaway situation I'd want something to the softer end that might deform but would hold, as opposed to harder that might just break off under a shock load like a trailer breaking loose. Somewhere around here there's some threads about that being why many hitches, depending on the setup, are mounted with Grade 5s instead of 8s.



My 2 cents.

 

[Beast2B]

The fact that they are supposed to keep the trailer head in the truck box when the hitch fails makes me think they should be more than just a U-bolt ithrough the bed, but it wouldn't surprise me either! I would hope that you could find a way to get some strength on the underside in case they really get necessary in a hurry!

 

[RustyJC]

The u-bolts pass through the bed floor but also pass through the plate of the B&W gooseneck hitch assembly that's under the bed. If you picture mounting the hitch and then drilling the bed floor holes from under the truck by running the drill bit through the holes in the plate as a guide, you get the idea.



Rusty

 

[Dieselnerd]

If you are planning on using the companion fifth wheel hitch and not the gooseneck, you don't need the safety chain loops, I never installed mine. Of course if you need the gooseneck get the right parts from B&W as was said in earlier posts.

 

[c-hawk]

Call me fussy, but if it were me, I'd get in touch with B&W if my kit was shorted parts. Assuming you bought it new and they are responsible, I'd suspect they could get the parts to you as quickly as you could track them down on your own. If not, they can probably supply them or, at the least, give you the specs.

I agree with this 100% Get b&W to send you what you need.



chris

 

[SCosgriff]

Get the correct pieces from B&W. I'm sure that they have tested there product to advertised standards. Law suit comes to mind in an accident

 

[geusterman]

Seems a shame to have half in bolts laying on my flatbed after buying a hitch that disappears. I keep thinking I will install them but never get around to it. I have the flatbed B&W hitch. George