Need HELP on a goosenck hitch

[EEngel]

Hey Guys!



Well, I made the jump to a gooseneck dump trailer last night. The problem, my truck currently does not have the hitch. This will be my first non bumper pull trailer.



I installed Firestone airbags last fall, so I hope that does not interfere with the hitch. I use the box of the truck all the time, so I would like something that hides or folds away.



I would like any comments on the brand / model and if there is a good installer around forest lake / north branch mn.



The truck is a 2500 shortbox.



Thanks Guys.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

There will be some very opinionated replies to your question. Here is mine- I really like the quality and toughness of the UnaGoose hitch. It is a no drill fit,clamps to the frame and has a removable ball that disconnects like a hydraulic coupler. I had a FlipOver style and got tired of fighting with the levers under the wheel well after a few years of use. The UnaGoose is rated to 40,000# and tested to 60,000# far far beyond the weight you will haul. Also they are one of the few that is STILL MADE IN THE USA!!!!

\

una goose gooseneck

 

[goodguys75]

B and W turnover ball is very popular... works great...

 

[EEngel]

Hitch

Thanks for the input Goodguy and Gonzo.



A local shop quoted $700 for the B&W flip hitch with install. They can do it tomorrow morning. Think I will run with that.

 

[JDKammin]

I have had 2 trucks with the B&W and like them alot. I have a Curtis with a pop-up ball in another truck that works well, but if it does not get used for a while, it needs penetrating oil before it will pop up.

 

[RDeFayette]

I have the B & W flipover.

Great hitch but do 1 thing.

Grease the living (you know what ) out of the sides of the ball.

And, take it out every once in awhile to clean it out!

It will rust up in the hitch and be all but impossible to get out.

Had to cut a block of wood to go between the ball and rear diff then get 4-5 friends to jump up and down in the back of the truck to get it out! Way to much fun.

 

[WesJohnston]

Used the B&W flipover for many years. Use anti-seize instead of grease (small tubes available at most parts houses). I'll be checking out Gonzo's UnaGoose hitch. He's right, after a few years the lever in the wheel well can get hard to use.

 

[Mark31]

I've got a Unagoose. When I was "lookin", I liked the way the safety chains attached instead of the u bolts like other brands use. One thing I learned on installing it was never use an air tool on fine thread grade 8 bolts. Some of them seized and were torment to get out. The only (other) install problem I had was I tightened up the mounting brackets so tight that they bowed. The solution was to put in washers to shim the gap (between the inside and outside brackets), then tighten to your heart's content. I kinda used to have a reputation for "makin sure things were tight". The advantage to the B+W is their Companion 5th wheel hitch and other hitch-type options. Like Gonzo says, I don't think you will tear it up. Mark PS $700 for a B+W installed? Must have a Benz payment to make!

 

[Nyoest]

Reese makes a rail system that will accommodate a gn hitch or fifth wheel. The rails were in my truck when I got it and the versatility is nice. B&w has a similar setup but it is spendy.

 

[TCDiesel]

The box hitches work for the weekend warriors,but if use for commercial 20K plus, install custom built. A&R welding in Ham Lake. Not to incite fear but 2 more People were killed when their hitch failed after losing control of vehicle on I90 in Dec 2011. i posted last year in thread of 2 more People being killed in SD In 2009 when their Box hitch failed after losing control of vehicle on I90 in Murdo. When the box hitch manufactures start having crash tests that show the frames buckling before the hitch. . snaps then I will start buying them otherwise every vehicle I own will still have the Custom builds. If you check out the Hitches that are in My vehicles You would have A&R build yours.

 

[RVTRKN]

Reese makes a rail system that will accommodate a gn hitch or fifth wheel. The rails were in my truck when I got it and the versatility is nice. B&w has a similar setup but it is spendy.

I would never recommend rails under any circumstance, had the Reece rails in my 04. 5 and until my brother bought it, they in there. What ever is installed is much better than rails. Sorry Nyoest, just had to vent. The turnover ball system is made in the USA and the labor force is intelligent, I know because I toured the plant. You will be very happy with the B&W setup and will also be able to install a Companion 5ver hitch.

 

[HBarlow]

Reese makes a rail system that will accommodate a gn hitch or fifth wheel. The rails were in my truck when I got it and the versatility is nice. B&w has a similar setup but it is spendy.

I used that system when I was transporting. It was easy to pull the four pins and set the hitch aside and attach the gooseneck plate for towing horse trailers then reverse the process when that haul was completed.

The pickup bed (or flatbed) rails work fine for me. They don't suffer from corrosion that makes removal of the hitch nearly impossible.

My flatbed has a recessed pocket below the bed with a 30k ball hitch attached to a structural platform so I don't need the gooseneck platform any longer.

 

[NIsaacs]

The box hitches work for the weekend warriors,but if use for commercial 20K plus, install custom built. A&R welding in Ham Lake. Not to incite fear but 2 more People were killed when their hitch failed after losing control of vehicle on I90 in Dec 2011. i posted last year in thread of 2 more People being killed in SD In 2009 when their Box hitch failed after losing control of vehicle on I90 in Murdo. When the box hitch manufactures start having crash tests that show the frames buckling before the hitch. . snaps then I will start buying them otherwise every vehicle I own will still have the Custom builds. If you check out the Hitches that are in My vehicles You would have A&R build yours.

Just a possibility, but, I would guess the wreck was first with the hitch failure second.



Nick

 

[TCDiesel]

Yep... Both crashes would have been avoided if the drivers would have been driving according to conditions (Snow packed Road). None the less the hitch should not snap when twisted.

 

[MAshley]

X 2 trucks with the B&W and turnover hitch, mine and the neighbors. But we also agree grease, anti sieze the ball... I actually just leave it out as I only use it with the 5th wheel right now.

 

[VanOverbeke]

You should be able to find the B&W for $400 uninstalled. I got a quote at 2 different shops to install and they each wanted $150. I still thought that was too much and I will install it by myself. It should be here on Monday.



Bryce

 

[DGamelin]

We have sold most of them, I like B&W. They make for a nice clean install. Be careful of cheep work you will get what you pay for. We get $700 installed. If you install it your self read the direction close so you get the megurments right for drilling holes in the bed. I have a B&W in one truck and a rail set up in the other, I like them. The rails come in handy for tying things down. We stop making custom hitches when we heard of 2 different cases of someone getting sued. The hitch had nothing to do the accident, wasn't even the trucks fault but the hitch wasn't DOT approved. One of them lost his business over it.

___________________________
93 250 2wd xc 354 auto 295k
04. 5 3500 4wd cc dully 373 6speed

 

[Nyoest]

I would never recommend rails under any circumstance, had the Reece rails in my 04. 5 and until my brother bought it, they in there. What ever is installed is much better than rails. Sorry Nyoest, just had to vent. The turnover ball system is made in the USA and the labor force is intelligent, I know because I toured the plant. You will be very happy with the B&W setup and will also be able to install a Companion 5ver hitch.

Well what was it you didn't like? It obviously couldn't had been too bad, you sold it to your brother equipped with them.



If they are set up properly there is little difference from them to most other hitches. To each his own. My only complaint is it is a real pita to clean them when I haul mulch.

 

[TCDiesel]

We have sold most of them, I like B&W. They make for a nice clean install. Be careful of cheep work you will get what you pay for. We get $700 installed. If you install it your self read the direction close so you get the megurments right for drilling holes in the bed. I have a B&W in one truck and a rail set up in the other, I like them. The rails come in handy for tying things down. We stop making custom hitches when we heard of 2 different cases of someone getting sued. The hitch had nothing to do the accident, wasn't even the trucks fault but the hitch wasn't DOT approved. One of them lost his business over it.





When I was out of town back in the Jan 95 . . My Dad other owner of our construction company decide to take our new truck to NSP hitch. What a POS it was . . I was so mad I never pull with that truck I refused to pull with it. When we sold it I welded the Ball gate closed. DOT approved hitch are just submission forms, and are just minimum requirements.



All of TWR trailers and Power must be approved for stated use. . Never have the DOT officials ever ask for certification of hitch, the requirement is it must meet the standard of use. If the inspection show signs of failure it what be Red-tagged. That business made poor hitches,suing on the platform of NOT DOT approved wouldn't get passed the 1st hearing.

___________________________

 

[DGamelin]

I don't think a DOT officer was the issue it was the lawyers twisting things around in court. I think the charge was criminal negligence, for towing a load without a certified hitch. He did lose nevertheless. In Michigan my insurance company said we had to have a manufacturer's license, product liability insurance and a certified welder to stay out of trouble. It wasn't worth it to me. We had a hitch in one of our trucks that we made and I am sure you couldn't buy one stronger. But it is gone now, when you're running a business nowadays you don't look for trouble, there is too many people out there that are too lazy to earn a living like the rest of us. We are in the trailer business and we have heard of some suits that sounded crazy but thats the times we live in. The latest thing we are hearing more of is using the wrong rated ball mount for a trailer rating. Even empty, a ball mount has to be rated for the specified GVW or more then the trailer is. Or it is criminal negligence, in the case of a fatality in the crash. We have lost sales when a customer wanted to tow a trailer out of here with the wrong ball mount. Buy Michigan law we are partially responsible for the first 50 miles or until the customer gets home witchever comes first.



I'm not pretending to be a lawyer. If I'm looking for a fight I'll ask the wife for sex.