I am going to get a gooseneck hitch in the future, and I was wondering if anyone has a fold down/hideaway gooseneck hitch installed in their truck, if so did you have it installed or do it yourself? If you installed it yourself, how hard was it? How many $$ did you spend, and where did you get it?

Thanks for any advice that can be given.

 

I have the B&W turnover ball, with the 5th wheel "Companion" that mounts to the same receptical. I wanted a flat bed with no rails when the hitch is out.

They do warn not to have the ball stored upside down if you have a short box...

I installed it myself, and it is very straight forward. You need a 4" hole saw, good torque wrench (easier to get in there with a click type or digital), a 1/2" drill for the safety chain ancors, and a hack saw. I think I used a die grinder also, but not required.

As far as any tips I could offer: Keep the hole cut from the bed, so if you sell the truck you can weld it back in and touch up the bedliner. Having some primer on hand to paint the exposed metal is handy. I also used red high strength lock-tite for extra security, but in retrospect if I were to do it again I would tow something for a while first to let things settle in, then go through and lock-tite and retorque each bolt.

As far as price goes, I got mine from a local dealer who I trust, and he was able to match the best price I found on-line.

 

Appreciate the advice.

 

JC3, I just finished installing a B&W turn over yesterday and it is pretty straight foward. Like Jeff said, keep the 4'' piece you cut out just incase you sell your truck and want to keep your hitch to put on another truck. I bought mine from a outfit in Fowler, Colorado for $299 + $59 for shipping. Best deal I could find. Where I live they wanted $430. It pays to shop around.

 

JC3- Dittoes on the B&W- I've had one in two different dodge duallys and been extremely pleased with fit and performance. -Eric

 

I put one in the 03, it is not a B&W but works the same only you release it from in the bed.Same install 4" hole saw and 2 chain hooks whole thing is flat with floor of the bed.Just pull the ball up and flip over and pull tab and push down and twist.To release press tab and reverse. Rated for 30000 lbs.cost was 325.00.Don't rember the name but got it from Bob's Distributing in Frazer Park Ca.

 

go for the b&w its awsome i used a 5th wheel conversion to gooseneck hitch on my 5er . i bought it from camping world for 379.00

 

I was considering the B&W. (Don't need a gooseneck, Just a 5th wheel)
I am concerned about how well it would work in a short bed. Would I be better off with the SUPERGLIDE in my short bed?
I have never had a 5th wheel before, and I don't even know enough to know how little I know.

 

Ditto to what most have said. Just installed my B&W yesterday. Instructions are very good. Took me about 3 hrs. Next one I could probably install in about 1.5, but I read and reread the instrs. to be sure I was doing it right. Scariest part was cutting the 4" hole because that is the first thing you do and if you screw it up, everything after doesn't fit. So I measured and re-measured about 5 times to be sure I did it as the instrs. said. Also, I drilled a small pilot hole before going after it with the hole saw. And I cut a 4 " hole in a 2x10 to use as a guide to keep the saw from jumping around. Kinda hard to get a torque wrench on all the bolts so I just used the "armstrong" method on the ones I couldn't reach well. My .02.

 

THis guy on EBAY has some great prices on the B/W hitch and the 5th wheel Companion but it varies what he has available to sell. Keep checking.The hitch price was $250 plus $50 shipping to CA.

http://stores.ebay.com/id=66207925

Dan

 

Hope you hurry up and get it installed so your dad can haul those cows. My freezer is waiting for a fill up.