gooseneck hitch

Finally bought a gooseneck trailer. Now for the hitch. How far ahead of the axle should the ball be? 1, 2, 3 in"? Here's the set up. 96 ford 250, 8' box regular cab. 8600 gvw. 20ft. trailer 2 7000 lb axles. Thanks in advance.

A few years ago I had a B&W installed. The guy asked where I wanted the ball and I think he gave me the 3 options you gave us. I asked what difference it made and he said not much it just depends what the customer wants or feels it should be. So I picked 2 inches just to be in the middle. It was fine I never had any complaints about the ride. I bought a new Ford in 2012 that had the gooseneck hitch already installed from the factory. I just took a peak at it and Id say its no more then 2 inches in front as well. I guess it all depends on what kind of trailer you got too. Some have more distance/clearance between the truck and the hitch then others. If you get on uneven ground and turned too sharp you could make contact if the ball was up too far..

I installed my own about ten years ago. I don't recall what the distance is, but I don't believe that there were options.

The farther forward the ball the more weight your front axle carries.

(quoted from post at 11:01:48 08/12/15) Finally bought a gooseneck trailer. Now for the hitch. How far ahead of the axle should the ball be? 1, 2, 3 in"? Here's the set up. 96 ford 250, 8' box regular cab. 8600 gvw. 20ft. trailer 2 7000 lb axles. Thanks in advance.

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If you buy a hitch designed and engineered for your specific truck. the ball will be located where the hitch designer has determined would be the optimum location. If you install that hitch according to directions, the ball WILL BE in that pre-determined location. You have no choice in the matter.

I have a 99 F250 and with the B&L hitch I believe the instructions said 47 inches from the tail gate.

Bob

Why not just put in a fifth wheel no safety chains and easier to hit hooking up.

My B&W hitch wound up about two inches ahead of center of back axle.

Because I don't want the rails in the bed. They would interfere with some things I use the truck for.

Right. That's the reason I asked. I have seen hitch balls as far as 8 in. ahead of the axle and a couple that was actually behind it. Mine I think is going to end up at about 2" ahead. Seems to be the most popular.

(quoted from post at 08:57:40 08/18/15) Right. That's the reason I asked. I have seen hitch balls as far as 8 in. ahead of the axle and a couple that was actually behind it. Mine I think is going to end up at about 2" ahead. Seems to be the most popular.

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I wouldn't depart an eighth of an inch from mfg. instructions. Insurance liability ya know.

Had a 75 F100 4x4. Put a gooseneck ball in the bed 8" in front of the axle. Weighted the front axle empty. Then with 300 by of corn in the trailer. The front never gained any weight. This was a 4 speed 300-6 truck with enough springs to handle the weight and 11X15 tires. My 03 truck I have now I have the ball over the axle. So I can see it hitching up. Pulls excellent!

(quoted from post at 11:36:17 08/18/15)

(quoted from post at 08:57:40 08/18/15) Right. That's the reason I asked. I have seen hitch balls as far as 8 in. ahead of the axle and a couple that was actually behind it. Mine I think is going to end up at about 2" ahead. Seems to be the most popular.

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I wouldn't depart an eighth of an inch from mfg. instructions. Insurance liability ya know.

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Insurance and liability is a VERY good reason to buy and install a manufactured hitch, designed for your specific truck. Don't even think about building your own from scratch.

Gosh, it sounds like your putting a hitch in MY TRUCK! If you have a PSD & auto trans you already are heavy on the frt axle. 1 or 2 inches would be best. If you have 351-W then 3 inches. A 460 would be best at 2 or 3 inches, heavier than 351 but less than PSD. The ZF manual trans is lighter than the E4OD, and 2wd lighter than 4wd so you could install hitch more forward.

Every semi-tractor I ever drove had a sliding 5th wheel, and Never Once, not a single time, was I ever asked if I had it set at the center of the drive axles, or one, two, or three inches ahead or behind the centerline of the axles. They ran you over the scales and you were under maximum weight or you got ticketed for being over weight and had to get legal before you were allowed to leave.

I will say this, when you really start loading your trailer heavy, you will overload your rear axle first and the most. Guys who buy big heavy camper trailers all post on The Diesel Stop that they can't get their rear axle within their rated load capacity. The F-250's only have around 1000-1200# load capacity on the rear axle once the trailer is hooked up. That's why it's important to mount the hitch as far forward as possible.