Hi, after doing research in the last few weeks, I finally am the new owner of an 07 Ram 3500 with the DRWs. Nice truck indeed and though its manual, I do just fine in it.

I already have a company lined up to do hotshot based work by leasing on with a company, but I know that I have to wait awhile before I can pull a trailer since the truck just has 175 miles on it so far. I let the company person I talked to know that I don't have a trailer right now.

So in the meantime, I have been reading about gooseneck and 5th-wheel hitches on the trucks to pull the trailers; though the system of the GN seems simple I am more familiar with the 5er since I drive semi's. Is it possible to maybe get a 5er that can attach in the bed of the truck (I have a long box) and be removable whenever I need to haul something in the bed? Or would GN be better? I have read that GN seem more suited for off-road type applications, but for normal highway driving and deliveries, I would assume that 5er's would be a better choice. Either way I would need to get one installed on the truck so when the time comes for a trailer I will be ready.

Speaking of which, I wonder if I should get some kind of bed liner for the bed, so as to protect the bed surface, or wouldn't matter since it will be a work truck pretty much.

Down the line I plan to get a trailer since I know there's more money when pulling loads with a trailer. I will need to do some research on trailers and find what brand is best and what will work best for me. Of course it will be awhile before that happens since I have to work on breaking my new truck in. Any thoughts would be great!

 

First off, Welcome to DTR! Congrats on your new truck!


You don't need to wait to go work that truck. The Cummins is ready to work right out of the box. In fact, that is what you need to do to break it in properly is go put a load behind it and go PULL. The only thing the owner's manual says is to wait for 1000 miles before towing to allow the rear differential gears to mesh and break in. I seriously doubt it would hurt them anyway, but it wouldn't take much to put a 1000 miles on it. Just go take a short trip somewhere.

I have a Drawtite 16k 5th wheel hitch that I had mounted in my truck on the standard bed rails. I sold my 5ver and now pull a Toyhauler TT so I don't use the 5th wheel hitch much anymore. Anyway, I bought a Curt Gooseneck 25k bent plate hitch that just mounts in the rails. You can swap them both out depending on the type of trailer you are pulling. http://www.curtmfg.com/index.cfm?eve...&categoryid=37

I think Drawtite makes one called "The goose" also. The CURT does the same thing and I found one on EBAY alot cheaper than ther Drawtites. Anyway, it is a good option if you want to be able to tow both 5th wheels and Gooseneck type trailers, imo.

Hope that helps!

..

 

If you are looking for doing both gooseneck and fifth wheel the only choice is B&W. They have what most will call the best gooseneck and then the companion fifth that goes right along with it is a great hitch also.

If you shop Ebay you can usually get them both shipped to you for under $1000, and then you will have a really nice set up that will work well in the commercial world.

 

Couldn't agree more. B&W is the best.

 

B&W is what I put in Dad's truck. It is hands down the best setup with the companion 5th and the GN. When not in use you get the whole bed. If I upgrade my toy hauler to a 5th that's what I'll put in.

 

If you plan to get a trailer of your own to pull stuff the gooseneck hitch is the way to go. It will have a max weight of around 25,000 or 30,000 lbs. Compaired to the 5th wheel pin box that is usually only rated at around 18,000 lbs. But the hitches mentioned above use a "common rail" setup that can be used with goose or 5er. I have a Reese 20k 5th wheel and a Reese 25,000 lb gooseneck for my truck.

 

I also have the Drawtite 16k 5er hitch but with the slider since I have a short box with the Mega Cab. (Note I have only had to use the slider once since my toy hauler has the extended kingpin and I come close to hitting the cab on very sharp turn, but have not hit it - knock on wood). Very easy to take out, but with the slider, I have 2 rails in the bed that stick up around 2".

My buddy has the B&W with his long box and if I could do it over (knowing I can make decent turns w/o sliding the hitch) I would have installed the B&W.

 

Thanks for the tips....so obviously looks like B&W will be the way to go for me for the hitch. I assume that these hitches have to be installed professionally correct, since they install inside the bed?

Also, since I currently don't have a GN trailer yet, I was thinking maybe I could rent one for awhile until I save enough to buy one on my own. Either that or find someone who has one that I can use until then. I know there are all different sizes and lengths, but for one to haul oilfield-based stuff I would guess a minimum length would be 40' or so.

 

Well look at what you see when you keep reading. Now those are good pictures and I think you guys just sold me on my next hitch option. Of course it will depend on whether or not I can find one in Canada for a descent price. Hmm wonder if Havre has any dealers. My wife is going there in the next few days. Not sure that our jetta would appreciate that thing in there. I dont need the GN but I like the option and the flat deck with the hithc out. Thanks for posting those pics.

 

Ok, one more question. If I order the B&W gooseneck hitch, where would I go to get it installed?

 

trailer wheel and frame on I-45

who are you going lease on with?

DO NOT BUY A CURT HIDEAWAY G/N

if your going to do oilfield just get a simple solid g/n(cheap and not as noisy)

 

I'm kinda new on here but Truck30haul, check out www.ltlhotshot.myfreefourm.org I just found that forum a few weeks ago and it's some great info for hottshotters.

 

you can install the hitch yourself. i just put a B&w turn over ball in my 04 on thursday. takes about 2 hours and the only tool besides hand tools are a drill and 4" hole saw.

 

Agreed, only 1 way to install it.

BW is best, gooseneck can hold 30k pounds, but I have heard people putting 40k on them.

 

Well if its something I can install myself, I can definitely do it and save the installation charge. Im pretty mechanically minded so it shouldn't be no trouble at all.