Placement of gooseneck ball?

[JBlackwell]

For you guys with goosneck hitches, was wondering if people are still putting the ball center over rear axle or offsetting it forward of rear axle? People around here in my area are offsetting the balls anywhere from 4" to 8" forward of center depending on the type of truck. I know my truck being a CTD and 4x4 I would might consider 4", but not more I think. Let me have your opinions. And are companys like B&W and Reese have there frame mounted goosenecks setup for adjustability on ball placement?



Appreicate your thoughts,

Justin

 

[TWilkening]

I don't remember on Dodges, but I believe if you installed a B&W on a Ford Super Duty, you had two options about where you put the ball. I believe if you went off of center, you had to take the ball out instead of flipping it over.

 

[SHobbs]

Mine goes right where the 5er hitch goes. Once I remove the 5er hitch from the bed rails I have a hitch that fits in the same rails and uses the same pins to hold it in place. It is an adapter made by Reese to utilize the bedrails with out adding another hitch or a hole in the bed. The gooseneck ball sits almost dead center in the bed of the truck just a little behind the axle. Due to the design of the bracing under the bed both my 5er hitch and gooseneck sit about 1-1/12in. behind the center of the axle if you look at it from the sideof the truck.

 

[GHill]

You might try looking at B&W website. They use to have install instructions for mounting which would show where to drill the hole in your bed.

 

[woodsrat]

I have the B&W in mine and it sits about 3-4" ahead of the rear axle.

 

[HeavyHauler]

You want your ball slightly forward of the center of the axle. 4-6" is fine.

 

[moparguy]

What Heavy said, I like 3 or 4" north of center.

 

[MacHaggis]

If you're working witha B&W, be sure to note their caution about heavy loads in a 2500 with the ball inverted. If you weigh it down and the bed sinks too low, the ball can hit the rear-end. Not good. The B&W doesn't give you any leeway to move the ball position. It is where it is, 3 maybe 4 inches ahead of the center line of the axle.

 

[RustyJC]

If you're working witha B&W, be sure to note their caution about heavy loads in a 2500 with the ball inverted. If you weigh it down and the bed sinks too low, the ball can hit the rear-end. Not good.

This is generally a 2WD problem - the inverted ball can contact the rear axle housing under severe rear suspension compression. If you let them know the hitch is going into a 2WD truck, they will supply a plug to go into the gooseneck receiver when the ball isn't in use (I have one).



Rusty

 

[bmoeller]

This is generally a 2WD problem

I would think even a GM 4x4 truck would maybe have an issue as well, since they sit lower to the ground.

 

[MMoroney]

4"-5" ahead of the axle centerline here, using the Reese/Draw-Tite rail setup. As I understand it, this distributes some of the weight across the frame and onto the front axle to help stability. Has worked great for me. Mike

 

[JBlackwell]

I e-mailed B&W and they e-mailed me back today and said the ball will be postioned 5 5/8" forward of rear axle. So I will probably go ahea and order a B&W hitch since it is a popular brand.



Thanks,

Justin

 

[RJOL]

I e-mailed B&W and they e-mailed me back today and said the ball will be postioned 5 5/8" forward of rear axle. So I will probably go ahea and order a B&W hitch since it is a popular brand.



Thanks,

Justin

Justin... I've owned several trucks with all sorts of 5th wheel hitches. My current CTD has the B&W with the companion hitch. It is the best 5th wheel hitch I've owned and is by far the easiest to hitch and unhitch. There are several "top quality" hitches out there, but I don't think you will go wrong with the B&W. Just make sure to measure 10 times before cutting that 4" hole in the bed...

 

[GWBourne]

I e-mailed B&W and they e-mailed me back today and said the ball will be postioned 5 5/8" forward of rear axle. So I will probably go ahea and order a B&W hitch since it is a popular brand.



Thanks,

Justin

io love mine, and yes some times i have had the ball close to the housing. next time i go to AZ i will be making a blanking plate for the hitch. not for this reason as i always have air in the bags and the overloads as well, but for the fact that if someone wants it it isnt easily taken.

Grant

 

[MChildress]

I have the B&W turn over ball and love it. It is about 4 inches in front of the axle. I have always made my goose neck hitches in the past and always placed the ball about 4 inches in front of the rear axle. The B&W sure beats the heck out of having to unscrew the ball every time you need the bed floor flat.

 

[TGibbs]

The farther you place it in front of the axle the better. I tell people to move it forward as far as possible depending on their conditions. If this is the only trailer they haul then I will fit the truck to that trailer and place it 16" in front of the axle if I can. It is a custom job but it rides a 100% better than having the weight center over the axle.

 

[RJOL]

The B&W hitch locks into the bed rails and is not adjustable. Just follow the instructions and measure LOTS before cutting that 4" hole in the bed...