B & W Turnover Ball

[RGardner]

Has anyone installed one of these hitches themselves? If so how difficult is it? Where did you get it and how much? What about the extended ball that is available? Looks like it would give you about 2 more inches of clearance on the 4x4 trucks. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[Jerry R]

I have the rapid hitch. I have it with the 2 5/16 and 2". It's high polished, billet aluminum and easily adjustable. Cost me $139



http://www.hitchsolutions.com/rapidhitch.html

 

[lschultz]

I am going to get one of those B&W hitches shortly. From what I have read they are easy to put on just bolt up. Only hole you drill is in your bed for the ball.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

My B&W should be in this week. I've read the instructions on B&W's web page twice. Hope to get that 4" hole right the first time!



I'll let you know.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I have one in each truck. Installed them myself. Takes about two hours and instructions are complete. Great hitch. I use the 2" extended ball on the 2WD truck to make it the same hight as the 4X4. Great hitch. I have hauled over 26,000 lbs with it, no problems... ... Greg

 

[dmurdock]

Forget the measure twice cut once... measure 4 times



It's a pretty easy install skillwise, but some of the pieces are pretty heavy (definately recommend 2 people... 1 person might take all day).



A neat trick I used was to put a floorjack in the bed and lower a chain thru the hole I cut in the bed down to the main hitch-rail. I used tension from the floor jack to hold the hitch rail up while I was lining it up and bolting it all together...

 

[TexBamBam]

I got one they are great... I cut a hole in the fender liner and used a part that I had to take off of to get the fender liners in... and it covered it perfectly. Cant hardly tell there is a hole there for the lever. Great product and you can also use it with a 5th wheel.

 

[dgieson]

I have had 3 over the years. the 03 was the easiest to install. Just make sure of the measurements and use a guide board on the hole saw. It took me about 4 hours to install this one, was slow as I have just had hernia surgery 4 weeks before. I used a 2x4 across the bed rails and a chain fall to pull the main hitch rail up in to place. I also had it in before I had the liner sprayed it made a nice job and covered the gap between the bed sheet metal and the hitch. Best advice is follow the instructions. Cost is about $350.



Dave

 

[sluper]

B&W Install

Yes, we installed our B&W. Took about 2 hrs. still need to put the companion hitch together. Bum knee has that on hold. Love the flat bed, missed this with the last two hitches I have had. All that have the B&W seem to be happy with it. Try this place if you order the B&W" C. A. Stewart Construction, Telephone 985-735-8900, They are in Bogalusa, La. This is the best price I found .



Scott

 

[robobx]

do a search, I can't remember who, but someone said they found a place in Charlotte, NC that sells them for $250.

That's cheap!!! Cost through my distributor is $300

 

[David Muench]

Very easy install. Another trick to cutting the hole is to run the drill in reverse at first to dig a groove, then go to forward. It won't catch and jump then, though it's hell on the hole saw.



I haven't even used mine yet, nor do I own a gooseneck at the moment. But for about $300 off ebay, it made sense to do before I line-x'd the bed.



I had my brother help out getting the center section bolted in, other than that it's a one person job.

 

[crabjoe]

From what I've seen, non of the beds are perfectly aligned to the cab. What are you guys doing about the bed alignment? Does it matter if the bed is off center by a cenitmeter or so?

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I installed them in both of my trucks. The instructions give exact measurments on where to drill. It worked great in both trucks. Takes about two hours on a dually to install by myself.

 

[sluper]

B&W Turn Over Ball

Like I said it is the "BEST PRICE" e-bay or not, waste the call and see for yourself. C. A. Stewart Construction 985-735-8900 tell Charlie that Scott in Tylertown recommends them.

 

[TCDiesel]

B&W

The B&W is to far ahead for most of my applications, if you do any off road use with certain goose-necks,the bed rails can hit not to mention the tail gate. The B&W is 48. 5 TDC from the rear of the bed. 43. 5 is dead center axle. OK if you think the front axle needs more weight most 2500/3500 have front axle weight 4300/4800. with my auxiliary fuel tank and truck full up,with driver my front axle weight is 4860 LBS.

 

[Agades]

I sell the B&W

IMHO its the best for the money

full retail is $350

someone mentioned you can get one for $250 earlier. My cost is slightly more than that, plus shipping and tax , so I would take them up on that price. Obviously that guy isnt getting rich on these things

 

[RGardner]

I think that there is another brand of turnover ball on the market that doesn't use the rod in the wheel well and has a rectangular hole in the bed. For the life of me I cannot think of the name. Has anyone got one of these? If so how does the ball lock to the housing? I like the idea of not having to cut a hole in my new wheel well liners.

 

[BSkinner]

Originally posted by RGardner

I think that there is another brand of turnover ball on the market that doesn't use the rod in the wheel well and has a rectangular hole in the bed. For the life of me I cannot think of the name. Has anyone got one of these? If so how does the ball lock to the housing? I like the idea of not having to cut a hole in my new wheel well liners.

This may be the hitch you're thinking of:



http://diamondhitchinc.com/



Bob

 

[y-knot]

Yes I bought a B&w Turnover ball hitch, and I did do the install myself. The hitch is very well made, and to everyone who had it installed, you just can not appreciate the quality and stout design unless you bolted it together yourself.

The hitch does come with instructions, they may not be the best in the world, but they will get you thru it. There isn't much to it unless you have rear mods, like air bags and some traction control bar (like I had) to get in the way.

First thing to do is get yourself a 4" hole saw and a mandrel (make sure you buy a good one, the cheap crap isn't what you want for this job, something like a Greenlee, or Milwaukee bi-metal). I used a 4 3/8" it worked perfect and it is a size that is readily available. Also you will need a good 1/2" drill motor, I used a 1/2" right angle by Milwaukee, it needs to be a slow speed drill.

Next remove the spare tire and get it out of the way. You will be doing yourself a big favor.

Find the center of the bed going across(you can go with the center of the bed between the wheel wells), the instructions will give you a measurement from the back edge of the bed forward. This measurement will place the center of your hole 8" forward of the center of the rear end. Now you should have a cross section and know where to drill. There is nothing under the bed to worry about, the area is clear, so you will not hit anything. First drill just a 1/4" hole at the intersection, then put on the hole saw and slightly till the drill to one side, this will help. Keep a tight grip, as you go thru there are ridges in the bed that the hole saw likes to catch on. There you now have a big old hole in your nice truck bed.

To hold the center section up while you insert the cross members, I took and ran a chain to the center section and used my engine lift to hold it up in place. If you have help , I suppose they could also hold it for you. Then just bolt everything up and do a final torque.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

I put mine in myself, nothing to it really. Worst part in convinsing your self that the measurment they give you to drill that big whole in your bed it correct, it was dead on.



Took about 2 hours. I don't know what the deal is wish jacks and stuff to hold it up their. I bolted mine in by myself and just held it up their, never took the spare out either.