Goose Hitch

[HVAC]

What is working best for you?



I bought a Cody for my "03 but I"m not so keen on the system for retaining the breakaway chains. The ball can be pulled and flipped over to leave the bed clear, but the chains hook to a plate that drops over the ball. It's floats around and doesn't appear near sturdy enough to hold the trailor if it were to jump off the ball.



I'm going to try and leave a pic of the ball and the plate that fits over the ball that the chains attach to.

 

[Kickin Y2K]

Nowel, your trailer's not supposed to jump off the ball

We use the Draw-tite Remov-a-ball in all our trucks. That system uses spring loaded U-bolts to hold the chains.

 

[MMeier]

B&W in my rig, uses the spring loaded U-bolt to hold chains, also have the Companion set -up for any 5-er I might come across!!

 

[J.V.]

Gooseneck Hitch

I have the B & W hitch. Really like the way it installs and the convenience of the Companion 5th wheel hitch as well as the option of the ball hitch when needed. Nothing in the bed of the truck when the hitch is installed.



I took a tour of the factory in Kansas and was super impressed. Quality product and very impressive factory. I recommend a tour if in the area.



J. V.

 

[MMeier]

Yep, pretty nice facility and super friendly employees!!!

 

[SLinse]

I'm looking inot getting a hitch, and those B&W look pretty nice. How far forward of the axel are you guys sitting?? I would like to try to get at least 5 inches. Thanks

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

The B&W on my long bed sits around 2-3 inches forward of the axle. You pretty much have to put it right their because their are pins on the mounting brackets that go into holes in the frame.

 

[RobbieH]

How do they hit the proper location when you have a LWB?

 

[Elite1]

What is the approximate cost of the B&W unit with the optional 5th wheel adapter?

 

[OTRPU]

I haul lots, never know what hookup I'll need. So am rigged with all 3 set up fulltime in my trucks. Reese sort of screwed up in my mind, didn't allow for the Goose plate to be left on the rails under the 5th wheel hitch on the 20k. Took a side cutter and removed the flange front and back, now can leave the Goose Plate installed and just have to remove the 5th wheel plate crossmember to use the Goose ball. I have no provision for Gooseneck safety chains, usually just hook together and loop around the gooseneck. DOTs never had anything to say about it. Sometimes I just can't understand what the engineers are thinking when they design hitches.



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Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[HVAC]

Nowel, your trailer's not supposed to jump off the ball

No doubt about that Bill, however I did have one incident I didn't close the hitch on the ball and set the pin. The trailer jumped off the ball and headed for the back of the cab. Thank God I had the safety chains hooked up which helped avoid any damage. That was in my "99 with a welded in cross section the ball fit in. It had two threaded holes for which I purchased 3/4" eyes to thread in for the chains.



So, does anybody use a Cody hitch??? Not sure I can recommend them due to the funky retainer for the chains. Also, when I'm loaded the ex hits the hitch and makes a lovely noise. As everyone knows this is a bolt in hitch, no welding on the "03 chassis.

 

[SRadke]

I'm using the "Invertaball" made by Diamond hitch. It is a good product and is very similar to the B&W from what I understand. Spring loaded u-bolts for safety chains. I went with it rather that B&W because this ball releases from the top so the handle will not interfere with my upcoming air bags.



-Scott

 

[Kickin Y2K]

I have no provision for Gooseneck safety chains, usually just hook together and loop around the gooseneck. DOTs never had anything to say about it.

That's odd, when we were leaving a jobsite in Old Colorado City we stopped and had lunch and a DOT sat across the way the whole time we ate lunch to pull us over. Our goosenecks were old enough they didn't come with chains and he nailed us for not having them. He said all I needed was any piece of chain and could be bolted to the trailer. I took an old rusty piece of chain and ran a 3/8" grade 2 bolt to hold it to the trailers. That satisfied them I've since done it right, but that was just to make them happy.

 

[OTRPU]

Just lucky I guess, I've rolled the scales with gooses in Colorado, so far always gotta green light. I ain't sayin it's right, just haven't got any way to hook um right now. Need to rig something though, don't wanna feed the kitty.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[GSchroeder]

I have been using the Diamond Hitch mostly for my customers. I like the Inverta ball rather than the lever release under the wheel well. They are very stout and rated at 39,000 lbs. each hitch is model specific. Price is about the same as B & W.

 

[Spooled-up]

B&W vs. Diamond Hitch

I was planning on the B&W, but a dealer I talked to said that the B&W had problems with road debris such as sand and dirt that would make the ball release mechanism difficult to work. He said sometimes they froze up from this contamination.



Anyone with a B&W have this problem, or was this guy trying to sell me his brand of hitch?

 

[tcb]

mine works like a charm, i think he is just trying to sell something else.



tim

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

I had mine freeze in place one in the dead of winter after it hadn't been used for awhile. The release didn't freeze, it worked fine. The ball just got frooze in place in the upside down position. I just hit it with a propane torch quick and it came right out. If you were really worried about it in the winter you could just keep the ball in the cab, but if you keep it greesed up shouldn't be a problem.



I have on the other hand seen problems with the balls that just fold to the side. Spent a couple of hourse once getting one guys to work because the previous owner never used it I guess. And when they get stuck in the down position they are about impossible to get up. The B&W you can go under the truck and just hit the ball that is sticking through if it should happen.