gooseneckying

[paesan]

I will be in the market to install a goosneck ball on the bed of the truck,

First of all any suggestions?

I am concerned on istalling something if at all possible removable or that it can hide.

I want to pull my bumper trailer too sometimes, How to I deal with the connections of the light/brake controllers.

Do I need a special brake controller.

I will not do the installation myself but at least I want to act/look smart when I talk to the installer so he doesn't rip me off or installs useless parts.



Thanks for the help

 

[moparguy]

If I were buying today, it'd be a B&W Turnover ball. Several friends have these and they work breat. Have a high weight rating, fold down out of sight and install using existing frame holes. Only necessary to cut the floor of the bed.



As a plus, B&W has a companion 5th wheel hitch that hooks up to the gooseneck ball allowing you to pull a 5th wheel RV trailer.



On the coupler, most trailer wiring hookups will reach the below bumper factory connector. Or you could have the installer locate a second plugin in the corner of the bed.

 

[TPCDrafting]

Definitely get a turn-over ball or hide-a-ball of some sort that mounts to the frame, not the bed. You will thank me the first time you have to haul plywood or drywall or anything that needs to lay flat. Having in-bed light hookup isn't absolutely necessary, but it is a convenience. Most goose necks I've pulled have enough extra wire to reach the hookup under the bumper. You have to be careful that the slack won't let it drag on the road. The wiring is the same and if you have a elec. brake controller for your bumper pull, it should work fine for the GN. Test everything before heading out with a load. You will find that hauling heavy loads on a goose neck is much less painless than a BP. The load doesn't jostle the truck around or try to lift the front end off the ground which helps in keeping control. The steer much sharper and I think they're easier to back up. Good luck.

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

i have had 3 b&w hitches and they work great. you get a 30k# rating, and you have a normal bed when not in use.



jim

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

I have a Pop-up hitch that i've been really happy with...



http://www.popuphitch.com/



pull a lever and it disappears, push it and it pops up ready to use.



Later,

Mark

 

[KWentling]

I made my own turnover hitch because B&W looked flimsy to me. When I pull it is right around 20,000 lbs and I didn't want that to be a weak link. Since then I have see ads for Una-Goose (www.una.goose.com) that looks very substantial. Tested to 60,000 lbs! It appears to not self store the ball but that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing in my opinion. My ball collects dirt when turned over and if it isn't used frequently, it can be a little hard to get out because of dirt. I don't know if that is my design flaw or is true with B&D's also.



KIm

 

[KEarnest]

I have a UnaGoose gooseneck hitch and have been very pleased with it. When not in use, I just store the ball under the rear seat to keep it clean and also to keep it from getting stolen. The hitch comes with a little metal cover plate that is made to cover the hitch hole while not in use. You can also get a 3" ball, although it still has the same size shank as the 2 5/16" ball

 

[AH64ADMTP]

I have a Draw tite gooseneck hitch and am very happy with it. No problem with moving the ball and easy to clean mount area. It's rated at 30K and seems to handle 22K very well. Bolt's to frame in factory holes and is easy to do yourself or have another do. I have had three different types and most work ok. I have made the mount for the first two and bought this kit because it had everything including the bolt's to put it in. The hardest part was cutting a hole in the bed every time... . just doesn't seem right. I used a Jigsaw and had no problem but I did break a blade on the last install. I think the web site is Drawtite.com but can't remember.





Paul

 

[DLysne]

Unagoose

I believe the correct website for Unagoose is www.unagoose.com