cLAYH

I'm thinking about getting a GN trailer and it looks like I have a GN mount on my truck. The last owner of the truck was a pipe welder and it looks like he made it himself. Its a thick piece of metal sandwiched between the box and the frame and is welded to the frame on each side. Looks solid to me. A big nut welded to the bottom of the plate. There is a wooden bow liner in the box of the truck so I can't see it from above. Do I just need to get a ball, drill a hole in the box liner and screw it in? What about safety chains? I don't see anything there for that. Is there just one size of GN ball and do they all have the same thread?

Thanks!

ET RAM

I'll tell you the little bit that I know. I have had 2 trucks with GN. The standard size ball that I use is 2 5/16. The ball could be bigger as I understand but 2 5/16 seems to be the norm. Best check the trailer you are considering. There are no provisions for safety chains. Most trailers have a battery box for a 12V battery for emergency power to the brakes. A pull line is in the trailer that you connect to the tow vehicle. If the trailer separates, the pull line will activate a brake switch that is supposed to stop the trailer.
You also should have an electrical connection for trailer hookup somewhere in the box. Mine have always been on the left side wall of the box.

If space permits, I would inspect the setup from below. Using a spotlight, my preferance, and a mirror look up the welded nut to see if you can see the wooden liner. Put a stick or wire up the nut and measure it so you get some ideal of length. Chances are he bolted the ball to that nut. If it looks good buy a ball, the right length, you can return and if space permits try screwing it into the nut from below. If it all looks like a go, I would try to drill a pilot hole from below so that you are in proper alignment. If drilling from the top you need to make sure you find that nut opening unless that liner is removable.

cLAYH

No safty chains eh? My last truck had a flip up ball and had provisions for chains but I never owned a GN trailer so never noticed the lack of chains. Did have a 5th wheel once and now that you mention it I don't remember any safty chains on it either. Wiribng is no problem, I currently have a slid in camper and when I wired the truck for it I anticipated a GN or 5th wheel down the road and wired the the plug fully with brakes and all.

I figured it was a 2 5/16s but wanted to double check that that was the norm. Thanks for the info!

infidel

My GN ball has a heavy piece of flat stock about 8" long welded to it's bottom lip for the safety chain.
It also makes it easy to unscrew the ball without any tools.
I always heard welding the GN frame to the truck's frame was a big no-no.
It should be bolted on.

can17

Any idea why? Just curious.

infidel

It can crack the frame at the weld.
After I learned about this many years ago I inspected a friend who tows heavy a lot whose hitch that was welded on. Sure enough the frame was cracked almost all the way around the weld on one side. Guess the frame steel just isn't heavy enough.

ET RAM

I rotated my tires this weekend and decided to look at my install. It is the same as cLAYH install. I have a heavy duty c channel welded across the frame between the box and the frame with a nut welded to the c channel. I did not see any visible cracks but next time I will clean the area and take a closer look. Interesting point infidel about the flat stock safety chain bracket. This is my second GN install, both were welded and the safety chain bracket has never been installed. This was done by a big time trailer shop in my area. I will have to check this out.

RowJ

Mine is also welded...... done by previous owner... Rancher who just hauled cattle, I think. First one I ever saw and I've always been a little suspicious of it. I have always resisted towing over 10,000 lbs because of it. Now I know why. Did a close inspection this weekend after reading above and looks ok. Just glad I'm cautious by nature.

RJ

6speeddeere

only problem with welded nut is a possibility of it cracking. most ***** and nuts are heat treated for strength and when welded on can weaken this process. as for safety chains, i highly recomend the use for safety reasons. you can use heavy eye bolts or u bolts for the hook ups.

Busboy

2 5/16 ball seems standard. As for safety chains I just did a little research and it sure woke me up. It seems in Canada that "safety chains ARE required on ALL trailers" including gooseneck ball AND 5th wheel. The only let is in Alberta and BC where it states that 5th wheel type trailers are exempt. I have been using 5th wheel type RV trailers for about 12-13 years and never been stopped in Sask or Man but recently picked up a 5th wheel equipment trailer that was new from the manufacturer and it did not have safety chains as it was made in Alberta. I told them I was going to use it to go to Manitoba and they installed chains on it for me for free. I remember a few years ago my Father in-law told me he was stopped in Manitoba pulling a 5th wheel RV trailer and the RCMP told him he was supposed to have safety chains on it. He told them he had never heard of such a thing and got off with a warning.

Like I said Alberta and BC are the only ones that spell it out as not required for 5th wheel. I admit I only glanced at some of the Eastern provinces but still I didn't see any let. I read on another post by someone in Texas that safety chains are not required there on gooseneck ball trailers.

clc

I have read that the frame is tempered so you should not weld to it. Safety chains are a good idea even if they are not required in your area. I'd rather scar up the bed of my truck than tear off the tailgate, roll my trailer, and possibly hurt someone. Both of my GN trailers have hitches for 2 and 5/16" *****.

tool

My understanding has always been that ball type trailers (including goosenecks) were required to have safety chains but pin type fith wheels did not, you'll notice that OTR I don't think any of the fith wheel travel trailers around herehave safety chains either.

I have a stock trailer that had a fith wheel pin it when I bought it and I switched it out for a gooseneck coupler, it had no sfaety chains when I bought it but I installed them after the change to gooseneck.

Busboy

I always understood it that way as well until a post from a guy saying that chains were required on 5th wheel trailers where he was. So I asked him where "here" was and it was Manitoba. That was when I remembered my Father in-laws incident. So I started looking online at the regulations and was surprised to see that chains were required on ALL trailers in Canada, the only exception was Alberta and BC where it stated that 5th wheel type trailers were exempt. It seems they don't enforce it as I have NEVER seen an RV type 5th wheel with them installed.