Community Forums

Jshopes81 · 07-25-2020, 04:41 PM

Oh stop, you know you want that new 2021.

Ive had b&w hitches on a bunch of company trucks and on my dually. I can highly recommend them. Weve hauled some really heavy stuff and have never had an issue other than the ball rusting in place. Work now has about 50/50 trucks with the pucks and b&w system, i would definately do goosebox with the b&w and youll love it.

tuffr2 · 07-25-2020, 06:24 PM

Thanks - I really like B&B Trailers. They seemed to know exactly what they were doing.

It is true I like the new technology. Especially if it can keep me from hitting a bicyclist at night with the pedestrian detection sonar and software. Here in Florida they ride in the winter in the dark with dark clothing. They are hard to see when looking for car traffic.

tuffr2 · 07-26-2020, 08:03 AM

How difficult is it to hook up the safety chains with a gooseneck set-up? I am thinking the 5th wheel will be sitting in my way. Do you hook them up from the side as you reach over the bed rail?

My friend that towed his gooseneck horse trailer had a hauler bed so for him it was easy.

If you do it from the side I will need to carry a stool to stand on as I can not reach over my bed rails.

Jshopes81 · 07-26-2020, 01:44 PM

The bw hitches have a ubolt deal that the chains hook to and they retract flush when not in use. I havent figured anything out that doesnt involve getting in the bed. With the puck system, ive seen guys make up chain loops for the rear loops that mount to the bed and they can reach those from the corner of the bumper with the gate down. I dont know if there are any laws on chain length, but id imagine something similar could be done with the bw hitch too.

tuffr2 · 07-26-2020, 02:01 PM

On my old Reese Elite hitch I had to use a stool to put in the latch safety pin. But that was kinda easy plus it was only 1 thing to do. The chains seem more complex to hook up. I am sure I will figure it out. Probably leaning from the back corner of the bed like you said.

Thinking I will buy a 16K Reese Goosebox and probably a little air compressor.

Get this - I am afraid to walk onto an RV lot with the super aggressive salesman now. Last time (7 months ago) I stopped I was there 2 hours. The 1st thing you do is fill out a form with phone# and email address.
Then you get so many emails it is a hassle just to delete them. Oh well - it is what it is.

Jshopes81 · 07-26-2020, 05:16 PM

Ya i havent really figured out a good way to do it. The loops are in the center of the bed floor so theres not alot you can really do. My coworker was only able to make the looped chains work with the puck system. It could work with the bw setup, but the chains would need to be longer. If its legal, a clevice would make things easier too. Leave the chains in the center and hook the clevice to the anchor point.

Jshopes81 · 07-26-2020, 05:20 PM

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ose-box-4.html

Check that page out, theres a few pictures, i like that idea.

JDT · 07-26-2020, 10:29 PM

The Goose Box had a refresh/update a year or two ago. I may be wrong but I think one of things changed was adding connecting points and hanging slots for the chains. My chains are bolted to the hitch. I use the puck attachments that came with my Reese goose ball kit for attaching the chains to the truck. I crawl in the bed over my lowered tailgate to attach the chains and inflate the air bag. I'm well past Medicare age and it's not a problem for me. I know I've posted this picture several times but it does show the chains, which is the Reese 20K set. The hooks are connected to the hanging slots which makes the chains short enough to clear the tailgate.

tuffr2 · 07-27-2020, 03:35 AM

That is what I will do that too. Just crawl as far as I have to so I can hook up the chains.

I fell and hit my head because I was thinking for a brief moment, 'I could always put a hauler bed on my truck'. A hauler bed also takes the tailgate out of the equation.

In 2012 I had a standard 8' bed on my truck with a traditional 5th wheel hitch. I guess I figured how everything would work correctly. Like with the tailgate down the 5th wheel hitch would hit the pin before the truck's tailgate would hit the trailer. I had about 18" that I could shimmy between the trailer and tailgate. With a 6.5' bed I think I will need to take measurements to make sure it will work the same way.

Also I could see a 5th wheel hitch backing to the trailer. Not 100% sure if I could see a ball from a crew cab truck.

Can you guys see the ball from the driver's seat?

Danny Noble · 07-27-2020, 05:12 AM

I could not see the goose neck ball from my crew cab. Bought an Anderson style goose neck style so the ball sits higher and is easy to see.

Jshopes81 · 07-27-2020, 05:29 AM

No, i cant see a gooseneck ball from the driver seat. You figure out what to line up with. Ive seen cameras that mount on the 3rd brake light, that would be great.

TMyers17 · 07-27-2020, 05:38 AM

Been reading over your thread. I went through some of the same growing pains. I went with the B&W Turnover Ball for my truck. This alone will give you several options. I see you were quoted $1200 to install. That's high! I bought mine from Amazon and installed it myself in my front yard for $500. It took about an hour.

I went first with the B&W Companion then switched to the Reese Goosebox. I really like the ride quality of the Goosebox. I also like that my truck bed is empty when not towing. The only con is having to hook up the safety chains.

Also, I added a third brake light camera. I still need to paint a dot or something on the bed for a stopping point.

JDT · 07-27-2020, 06:28 AM

My truck has the high mounted camera on the cab brake light. I can see the ball with it and use the centering line to line it up with the hitch. I've gotten pretty good at knowing when to stop but sometimes have to make an adjustment either forward or back. Being able to center it with the camera is half the battle.

tuffr2 · 07-27-2020, 07:37 AM

I see that camera view as an option on the new trucks but my 2017 does not have it. I am thinking that camera view is kinda new. Like 2019 and 2020 trucks as an option.

When hooking up a boat or bumper pull trailer the rear camera is priceless. I have had a rear camera view on my trucks since 2011.

Back in January I priced out a F-350 with all the stuff I wanted and the fancy camera system was $1,600. That is an expensive option.