Help me sell the wife on this hitch before bedliner idea

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff

Mileage...

welding to frame

Hey folks,



First, my disclaimer. I'm not trying to get this into a brand war, but peoples opnions are worth listening to, so if you have them, lets hear them. My choices about the products I've (pretty much)decided on are due to what ever reasons that I've weighed the other components available...



Here is the deal, I'm getting ready to do undercoating and a spray in liner (line-x) with in the next month or so. Before I do those, I've considered trying to squeeze in the Goose hitch (turn over ball) so I can get the bed cutting taken care of before I do the spray in liner and undercoating to help with rust prevention and to make it easier. Currently, I can use my Plasma cutter to remove the material from the bed, but after the liner and coating are done, it won't beable to be done that way.



Just as a side note, I've really decided on the turn-over-ball style of hitch because of 2 real reasons. First how clean and empty the bed is, and actually a larger reason is: When I get out of the military in about 3. 5 years, and move back to Michigan, I know that the wife and I will be buying our own property and building a house. I know that there will be a lot of property work to be doing, and even with my little 1/3 acre, I wished I had a dump bed, and trying to cover about 10 acres... . A dump bed when clearing your own property will be great. Having the turn over ball will allow me to still run a goose, 5th AND a dump bed.



Because I'll most likely be doing this install my self, I figure this would be the best way to go about it.



Also, if there is anybody in the Saltlake City area that knows of a good place to get the spray in liner and a good cost, please let me know.



I'd like to hear any thoughts you have about this idea.



Thanks in advance,



Corey Oo.
 
Last edited:
I know when I got my bedliner sprayed in the guy asked me if I was going to be drilling any holes in it for toolbox, hitch whatever. Said if I was drill it, cut it first before he sprayed it in. It would make the bedliner all the better and really cut down on the possibility of rust at the cuts or water making its way between the bedliner and the metal at those cuts/holes. So thats what I did.
 
I think your right on track and planning ahead. Definitely do all the cutting / drilling / hacking before the spray in.



Also - I would recommend using ArmaCoatings or Line-X brand spray in.
 
Last edited:
I have the B&W turnoverball and Line-X bed liner. You're spot on - install the hitch before getting the bedliner sprayed in. If they do yours like they did mine, they will just mask off the gooseneck receiver and pull the safety chain U-bolts before they spray.



By the way, a 4" holesaw works great as well and leaves a nice sharp edge around the gooseneck receiver. I measured three times using B&W's dimensions before I cut the hole, and everything fit up perfectly.



Rusty
 
What they said!!!



When I had my bedliner put in the dealer said drill the holes for the truck box and anything else PRIOR to the bedliner.



steve
 
Corey,



I agree with the others on punching the holes first.



A couple of thoughts, one is to check if the gooseneck mount will interfear with the hoist mounting. And the other is using a dump bed with the gooseneck you'll have to remove the safty chain loops which may cause you problems if you get stopped pulling a gooseneck trailer.



Anyways have fun.



Kevin
 
n7gxz,



two very good points. I didn't really think ever thing through in that aspect. Plus, the chains I didn't think about really at all! I'm a bumper pull kind of guy, so this Goose thing is going to be new to me...



Lots to think about.



Corey
 
I just did exactly what you are contemplating - installed the B&W hitch by cutting the hole, spraypainting the edge of the hole, and then installing the hitch minus the safety loops (but I did drill those holes too). Then I had the bed sprayed. All that's left for me to do is re-install the safety chain loops.



I got the hitch off of ebay for about $250 from a guy in NC. It showed up in a couple of days via Fedex, he was great to deal with.



I figure the Line-X also seals the hitch to the bed floor and should prevent crud from getting down in there and causing rust.



I don't even own a gooseneck trailer yet, and bet I won't for a year or more. I bought the optional metal plug for $15 so the ball isn't upside down in the bed rusting while it's not being used.



Oh, and if you want a dump bed, maybe the Una-Goose would work better for you since the chain hooks are part of the removable ball.
 
Last edited:
Call Brent Brown Dodge in Provo about Turboxxxx (I think it's Turboliner). Sprays on really nice and seems really tough. Looks great and a bit less money than either Rhino Liner or Line-X. Wouldn't be surprised if it didn't turn out to be a better product.

Toll free 877-373-2570:D
 
May I suggest you buy yourself a Dump Trailer goose neck style. You will do far more good with a nice dumptrailer than the bed of your truck and will save alot of wear and tear on your trucks body. I love my dump trailer would not ever be with out one. They can be had for about 5K :D
 
Pathaymond,



I had considered a dump style trailer, but I"m looking into the 35' Flatdeck (equipment hauler) type of trailer I have seen some where the back 15 or so feet are tiltable, but then I still have to build sides on it to beable to use it as a dump. Its always a consideration. I havent got the trailer as of yet, so the options are still available.



Fiver,



I think I've seen the Turboliner before, and if its the liner I'm thinking of, it does look good. There is a truck on base in the parking lot I park in, and I'll check for it again, Im sure it was the same one you were talking about. One of my main concerns is, I need something that is nation wide, and warr. I"ll be headed back to Michigan in about 3 years.



Corey
 
We just had a www.quality-s.com gooseneck put in a furd.

The ball is removeable with a pin, rather than a flip, and the safety chain loops are spring loaded and fit nicely in the ridges of the bed when not in use.

The hole size in the bed is just enough to get the base of the ball into the structure that holds it. Pretty nice. Might not work for a dump, or for a 5th wheel obviously, but something to consider if you are gooseneck only.
jon
 
That was a fear that I had, and I don't really have the ability right now to actually sit 2 trucks next to each other and figure out where a conflict may arise from. My first and primary concern is the Goose, a Dump bed may get used once a year after the initial purchase/use when I buy the property and start cleaning it up. After that, I doubt it will be for much more than for an occasional trip to the dump or something. If it came down to one or the other, it would be goose/5th all the way.



Corey
 
I second the idea of a dump trailer instead of a dump bed. Once you are done with the property, you can sell the tailer if need be. My bro-in-law has a bumper pull style dump trailer that is soooo handy. It has twin 7k lb axles, ramps for hauling skid steers and an electric pump for the dump. I've borrowed it several times to haul trash, manure you name it. What's nice is you can park it on the site and load it at your leasure. When it's full you just hook up and away you go. It's a big hit at the dump when you pull up to a bunch of guys hand unloading. You jump out, open the back gate and press a button. I didn't even put gloves on. EVERY time I've taken it somewhere I ended up with at least a few guys asking me where I got the trailer and how much it cost. The goose neck versions are much bigger, but likely more $$.



Oh and get the B&W turn over ball, and spray the bed after you drill. Drilling after the bedliner will still leave bare metal and it will rust. Doing it the right way will seal the whole thing and you wont have to worry about damaging the liner and leaving an unsitely scar.
 
Back
Top