Positioning of the gooseneck hitch...
 

Hi, is it any "rule" where to fit the hitch in the bed when installing the hitch?

I thought one of the benefits with the gooseneck was that you could have the hitch a little longer foreward than the rear axle, giving also more weight from the gooseneck trailer onto the frnt wheels? I looked under the frame of my truck, and it seems like there are holes for mounting the assembily right over the rear axle...?? Where would you RECCOMEND to mount it?

Thanx!!!

Every goose-neck that I have had was installed directly in the center of the wheel wells.That way the weight is centered obove the axle.You can't go too far forward because of trailer clearance issues.

OK, thanks!

One other qustion... What do you do with the luggage on the bed? I use to have it full of everything. I wonder if there is a device that protect the luggage from coming in contact with the goose neck. What about weather protection?? If it rains the tonneau cover can't be on with a goose neck trailer, or is it a special cover?

I would say ,,,those are the downsides to a gooseneck trailer.

But then again ,,,why in the world do u need a gooseneck for a 29 ????LOL:eek:

HAHA, that is my personal boat. I work with Fountains and Nor-Techs in Norway, Europe. Here you see a gooseneck camper once every year.... (Different rules make it difficult to get registration). I run a lot of boat trailers, but have never driven a goose neck. I have one customer for a new 7, and we want a spectacular trailer. That means I need to fit a hitch ball for gooseneck on my GMC. But I am sure a 29 Fever would have looked cool on a goose too hehe....

It could be possible to fit some kind of "can" around where the goose goes down into the bed, and make a cover that fit around it. I have an electriv bed locker today that slides fron the front to the rear when locking.

I want to make a stand for a MV Agusta motorcuycle on top of the goose with a little electric crane to take it down!! And lots of extra goodies. :-)

if you are talking goosenecks and not fith wheels. There realy is only a ball in the bed, and the neck of the trailer doesn't take up much room in the bed. Luggage isn't a problem with a gooseneck.. Now a fifth wheel has a bigger mount in the bed, but again as long as the luggage stays below the bed rails or in front of the hitch there isn't a problem.

I have a gooseneck in the bed of my Ford F450 for towing my 47 Fountain and it works great. I got a B&W Turnover Ball Gooseneck. It has the highest rating (25K and 6K tongue weight) and the ball turns over so it is completely flush with the bed of the truck.

Ditto the B&W hitch. Best on the market.

I've got the same one in my F-450 very nice hitch.

Funny I have a popup hitch that is rated at 30,000 in my F350...My neighbor has one similar in his dodge that is rated the same. Not sure where you get 25K as a highest weight

I looked up the specs on the turnover hitch from B&W. You are right...30,000 GVW and 7,500 vertical weight...thanks

I've been installing goosenecks for a living for 12 years now. I have never seen one that wasn't 3-4" in front of the axle....that's if it was properly installed.

I might add that we use B&W only. Really no other reason to use anything else. You don't have a choice where to position this unit. It goes in one place only. If the hole is not drilled in the proper location the brackets will not bolt up to the frame.

EDIT...The B&W is not rated for 25k. That information is incorrect. They are rated for 30k.

Buck

I don't think your question has been answered in detail yet IMO.

In my years of installing goosenecks they need to be 3-4" in front of the axle. This would apply if you are trying to put some sort of universal gooseneck or plate in the bed of your truck. Personally I wouldn't touch a plate or fifth wheel plates with a ten foot pole.

Take a hard look at the B&W Turnover ball like has been mentioned in this thread. Hands down the best gooseneck on the market today. We have been using them exclusively at our store for almost ten years now. We install about 30 of them a month. It's one of those items you don't have to advertise for because it sells itself.

Here's a link in case you are not familiar with them. http://turnoverball.com/

Buck

Sorry. I stand corrected. I must have been thinking of one of the other hitches I looked at when shopping for one.

That is where mine is... a few inches in front of the rear. So Buck you would rather run a gooseneck? What if you need to tow a camper do those things they sell to convert from a ball to a plate thing really work well?

I wouldn't put a plate in my truck either, they take up to much space in the bed, Especially if those converters really are up to the task. I can say that right now as I have no use for anything other than a gooseneck ball.

I'm not a big fan of the covertors that change a fifth wheel trailer to a gooseneck hook up. Some manufacturers won't warranty their trailers if it has one on it. However, I do know several people that run them without issue.

B&W makes a product called a companion. It's actually a fifth wheel hitch that fits down in the gooseneck base that they make. Take a look at that link I posted and you will find it one there.

Buck

Thank you all. This is VERY useful information for me. Looks like I know what I need... THANKS!!!

Erik