You just opened up a can of worms with the adapter story

 

Hey rattletrap,that is exactly what my neighbor's is like,he goes to alaska every summer and has for the last 15 yrs,I actually helped him reinstall it in a different truck this last summer before he left,I tried to offer to make him one that bolted in and he would'nt hear of it, The one mine has is bolted and can be taken off, His was a mess to take out, I after seeing his would not be afraid to use yours if need to use. I am just one that does not believe in paying someone else to do something for me that I can do my self, It comes from being raised on the farm, I guess, Or just being a tightwad,Ha Ha Goodluck Rick

 

I have heard that some have had bad experience's with going from pin to goose,I was very hesitant to do so too,till I ran on to the mfg,that sells the adapter,I checked local Highway patrol,and DOT of my state,and found nothing that prevents it. Now I did find out that alot of states prohibite ball to ball,as in pulling a boat behind the fith wheel.Other than that,I am at a lost for info, If I am doing something illegal please enlighten me,as I can and am able to be taught the right way. Let me know,and thanks, Rick

 

Hide-A-Ball, takes 5 hours to install, costs $425. Dealer job. No welding! Best to have done after Ultimate spray on liner installed. Easier to cut the box. Plus removed plate can be used to cover. Never had one break. We pulled 14-16k hay/horse trailers all the time.

 

Like my Draw-Tite Remov-a-ball BUT, I wouldn't like it if my plastic bedliner weren't flush with it. I do believe it is indestructable.

 

[quote author=kandgo link=board=11;threadid=21995;start=0#msg205583 date=1067981326]
Do you have a welder and torch? If so I can show/tell you how to build your own a lot cheaper! [/quote]

That's the scariest thing I've heard in a while. Not that you can build your own. I'm sure you can. I'm a welder and I can too, but just because someone has a welder and a torch, doesn't mean they should try to fab up something that will have the weight of a gooseneck trailer pulling on it. It's not safe for the person or anyone behind them. If someone is positive they have the skills to try it, by all means do it, but it's not the kind of project the weekend welder should be doing.

 

Unless you're a structural engineer with a welder and a torch, I wouldn't recommend building your own.

 

We have been putting our own in with a welder for ever at our ranch and never had a problem. I wouldn't trust a mechanical engineer to do it unless they new how to weld. You don't need a college degree to look up metal strength. That can be found at any library. What you need is a good welder.

 

[quote author=scooter link=board=11;threadid=21995;start=15#msg206328 date=1068092807]
What you need is a good welder.
[/quote]
Good welder as in the person doing the welding. Good welder as in the machine is what scares me. I know people who have a pretty good welding machine, but I wouldn't trust their welds pulling 1000lbs, let alone 10,000. Yes, it doesn't take a college degree to weld properly, but it takes knowledge that the average person doesn't have. I just don't want someone reading this who has a welder in the garage and decides to make a gooseneck hitch for his first or second or sixth welding project. It's not as easy as cutting out pieces and just slapping them in the frame. If a person has those kinds of skills, go for it. If a person has any doubts or questions about it, don't do it. Buy a kit from a company. Yeah it costs $400. That's because it has to pull around 20,000lbs and not fail. That $400 spent on a hitch made by a company that's been makeing hitches for decades is $400 worth of piece of mind and safety to me.

 

I know a number of good welders. Welds are stronger than bolts and often times stronger than the original metal. I also know what a good weld and sturdy design looks like. I'm a machinist an have fab'd stuff that would handle way more than 20K.

No I wouldn't have Joe across the street do it unless I knew he knew his stuff.

Mine is very clean and stout...I just don't have a need for it. The mount is way stronger than the threaded shank on the ball.

I don't think I'd bother cutting a welded one out for a new truck.

 

I recomend the B&W. I have had as much as 37,900lbs on a B&W before, and it doesn't move an inch. Our trucks are hooked up more than their not. The B&W is a simple install that I believe is probably a lot stronger than 99% of the hombrews out there. I used to patch hombrew hitchs together but after we started using and selling B&W's, I will NEVER use anything else.

 

[quote author=scooter link=board=11;threadid=21995;start=15#msg206328 date=1068092807]
We have been putting our own in with a welder for ever at our ranch and never had a problem. I wouldn't trust a mechanical engineer to do it unless they new how to weld. You don't need a college degree to look up metal strength. That can be found at any library. What you need is a good welder.
[/quote]

Not a mechanical engineer....a structural engineer. The strength of the metal isn't the only factor. You have to consider shear, moments, bending, twisting, etc. I'm just saying that I wouldn't go welding on my frame and making my own hitch....not when there are engineered systems out there that are DESIGNED for the purpose.

 

[quote author=Tow Monster link=board=11;threadid=21995;start=15#msg206406 date=1068122896]
Got a 1/2" steel plate bolted and tacked to my frame. I wont go with a BW or any other fold away. I tow a lot of weight all the time. I just cant take that chance. Period.

Not to say B&W is not a top notch product. But I (like an idiot) towed a load of floor tile about 4 miles. My gross combined weight was around 52,000 lbs. I was worried about blowing wheel seals - not my hitch.

.02
[/quote]

No offense...and I'm sure your hitch is great, but I'd trust an engineer designed hitch rated for 30,000 pounds before I'd trust a 1/2" steel plate "bolted and tacked to the frame."

 

If I need to appologize for offering some advice to someone that has started a lot of animosity,I will appoligize,did not mean to start a touchy subject! We all have are own opinions that is what makes us different,the problem comes in to play when we cannot respect the other person's opinion,we all are in this world together,and neen to try to help each other all that we can,we all have heard money does'nt grow on trees,If you will reread my suggestion,I stated that the factory hitches are nice,I was simply trying to give the guy some help,and maybe I was not descriptive enough,If the guy would have asked for help and he was not a welder,I would have instructed him to buy a factory one, Hope this clears up this, and I never meant to stir the pot!! Just here for info and to help anyone I can, Goodluck Rick