Gooseneck ball in an 86 Chevy dually

biggerred · Oct 11, 2008

i want to put a ball in the bed, but have been told there are no "kits" for that year truck. Whats a safe and legal way to get one installed by me (and a friend, at home, under a shade tree, with a torch and a glass of tea)

jd plowboy · Oct 11, 2008

i had a 87 chevy dually that i pulled a 35 ft gooseneck with. i took a 1 1/4 plate and bolted it on top of the frame rails. i used 3/4 inch grade 8 bolts and have never had any trouble. the trailer weighed 7800 lbs and i had 2 tractors on it everytime i pulled it. i first started with a 1/2 inch plate and loaded it with logs and bent it in the floor of the truck. i dont think i would use anything smaller than 3/4 inch plate. just my opinion and experience. i have the same type of plate on my gmc 9500 and have had no problems with it either.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 11, 2008

WWW.TURNOVERBALL.COM
B&W Hitchs
i have used them for 5 years in 4 different trucks pulling heavy loads with no complaints.
ricky c

Dennis Benson · Oct 11, 2008

I think I found them here http://www.hitchcorner.com/gooseneck-hitch.htm

T_Bone · Oct 11, 2008

Hi biggerred,

When I built my custom hitch, GN/5th, I set up a test to prove my design. Tests were preformed with a new 1-ton and 2-ton hydraulic jacks as I wanted a rated capacity of 4000/lbs on the pin. My test plate length was 34" or the spead of the frame rail center line on a 02 F350 DRW.

Using a 3/4"x8"x34" plate with center 3/4"x8"x12" bolted plate located in the center of the 34"span. With less than 2000# I could easy deflect the 1-1/2" plate thickness.

Using two, 4"x34" channels with a center 3/4"x8"x12" plate, I could hold 4000# of center pin weight with a 3/8" deflection.

My final design was two 5"x34" channels with a 3/4"x8"x"12" center plate with zero deflection at 4000/lbs pin weight.

T_Bone

charles todd · Nov 5, 2008

I would recommend B&W hitches. They are not the cheapest, but they are the best. Also they install fairly easy with one person, but two ppl can do one in about an hour.

I have done the plate, and spacers, and bolts, ect. After installing a B&W hitch, I will never build one again. I found my B&W on EBAY used. It was removed from a truck by a camper dealer. New bolt kit, all the parts, I gave about $165 for a $400 hitch. I am happy.

Charles

mattofvinings · Dec 4, 2008

This may come in a little late, but on my 1988 Chevy 1-ton, I bought the B&W turnover ball kit. To be sure, the kit requries loosening and raising the bed about 6" to slide the hitch under. Then you must carefully drill from above to penetrate hitch channel and the frame rails.

It works great, never a problem. IIRC this is Model 1400 which you may have to get direct from B&W since the usual mail order sources don't stock so many of these hitches for the older truck bodies.

The fabrication is very heavy, 3/8" plate IIRC which is formed into a channel wit a press-brake...which makes it considerably heavier & stiffer than an equivalent size hot-rolled channel section.

Last recommendation is to place the hitch ball 6" ahead (Front) of the axle centerline to improve steering and handling on the truck. Mine rides like a dream loaded with 15k or just the trailer empty.

mattofvinings · Dec 4, 2008

I'm adding this: while the bed is up, it is a great time to take it off and replace either or both of the fuel pumps. Cheap insurance if you ask me, plus the job just got infintely easier since there's so much additional room and you don't have to fight with dropping a tank full of fuel.

Gooseneck ball in an 86 Chevy dually

biggerred

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jd plowboy

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Anonymous-0

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Dennis Benson

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T_Bone

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charles todd

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mattofvinings

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mattofvinings

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