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GOOSENECK HITCH 101
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Most trailers over 18' long have a goose shaped neck that attaches to a ball mounted inside of the truck bed. This shifts the added weight weight of the trailer and load in front of the rear axel so its evenly distributed across the length of the frame reducing the strain on the truck by over 20%. Also the V shaped tongue design allows for sharper turns which makes maneuvering a long trailer much easier.
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Traditionally a gooseneck hitch was nothing more than a piece of 8" channel iron that was modified to accept a round shank 2 5/16" ball and then welded to the top of the truck's frame. This style of hitch was not very safe, did irreversible damage to the truck, and was technically never legal (in bed hitches are required by law to mount to the side of the frame, not the top). Some sellers still offer this inferior style of hitch but most buyers are looking for a stronger more user friendly hitch that is DOT approved, strength tested, and can be installed without damaging the truck or affecting its warranty.
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BOLT ON UNDER BED GOOSENECK HITCH
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B&W has been our best selling hitch since we picked the line up back in 1999. Their Turnover Ball gooseneck hitch has a solid reputation as being the absolute best hitch that money can buy. It installs under the truck bed to existing holes in the frame so the only drilling required is for the ball and safety chains. Each B&W Turnover Ball gooseneck hitch is sold complete with both crossbars, side mounting plates, the center section, spring loaded safety chains, a hardened 2 5/16" ball and a release lever that allows the ball to be flipped over for an unobstructed level bed. All B&W Hitches are manufactured in the USA.
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$399.00
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Draw-Tite has been our go to hitch manufacturer since we started this business. They offer the largest selection of trailer hitches for cars, trucks, suv's and crossovers. In 2009 Draw-Tite released a complete under bed gooseneck hitch kit comparable to B&W's called the Hide-A-Goose. The Draw-Tite Hide-A-Goose has the same high load rating as a B&W Turnover Ball and installs / operates basically the same way. Out of all the gooseneck hitches we have installed (which is all of them) this hitch from Draw-tite is the quickest and easiest to put on. If you are looking for a lower priced alternative to the B&W Turnover Ball we believe the Draw-Tite Hide-A-Goose is your best choice.
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$329.99
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What is the difference in B&W and other brands?
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Other hitches may share the same load rating but only because 30,000lbs is the max a gooseneck hitch can be rated. B&W hitches are made of noticeable thicker metal and include extra bends, gussets, and supports not found on most other brands. They may not be able to rate it above the competition but side by side on a table it is easy to see your money was well spent.
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Why is a square shank ball better than round?
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Shank is the lower part of the ball that fits into the hitch. B&W is the only brand of hitch that has a square shank. The advantage to square is it can be machined so the square ball fits inside the square hole with zero slack between the two. Because of the gap required to fit a round ball into a larger round hole you can wiggle the ball of most hitches in any direction just using your hand. Hook up to a trailer, add a couple thousand pounds, and that little bit of slack is amplified causing the jolt felt every time you stop or start. Another advantage to a machined fit square hole is that B&W offers a full line of accessories that attach to the same square hole allowing you to pull any type of trailer made with only one hitch installed in the truck.
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Should I convert my 5th wheel camper so it can be pulled with a gooseneck hitch?
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There are several products available now that can be used to convert the king pin of a 5th wheel trailer to a gooseneck coupler so a camper can be pulled using a gooseneck hitch. Just like with most things there are pros and cons both ways. Before deciding which will work best in your scenario you should be aware of the facts. |
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King pin to gooseneck hitch adapters cost about half the price of a good 5th wheel hitch.
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Most 5th wheel hitches take up over nine square feet of bed space. A gooseneck coupler is less than 10 inches round leaving lots of extra storage space.
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Once unhooked there is nothing left in the truck bed.
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When you get home there is no need to remove a heavy hitch from the bed.
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Once converted to a ball the truck and trailer will pivot independently which on uneven ground will allow the trailer to crush in the trucks bed side.
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On short bed trucks (even with an offset coupler) the distance between the pivot point and the back of the cab does not change so at full turn the trailer is more likely to damage the cab than with a 5th wheel hitch.
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You should also be aware that once converted you are require by law to install and use safety chains which are not included with most adapter kits.
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Got-Chrome chooses not to sell king pin to gooseneck adapters.
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