Ive got a 95 dodge 2500 that has not had a gooseneck ball installed. Im wanting to go cheap and use aplate that i already have. Should i take off the bed and bolt it to the frame thenput the bed back on with a hole for the ball to slide through or just put it on top of the bed and bolt through the bed and the frame?

 

I think you should buy a B&W turnover gooseneck ball if you can afford a new one or find one used for cheap on craigslist. I personally have used these with 3 trucks through my whole life and loved it on all of them. Even though they are only rated for 30k, my dad once pulled 40k on one of them and it did not creek or bend it at all and we kept on using it up until we sold the truck that we pulled that with. Just my experience and 02 cents though.

But if you got the plate already for free, or you just want that plate, I personally think you should spend the extra hour or two, and put the plate under the bed. I had to use my grandfathers truck for 20 minutes hauling a few things for our horses in the bed of it (some feed sacks, a couple of corral panels, some trash that was headed to the pasture burn pit, etc.) and I was in the bed handing stuff to my brother. I was managing but I was constantly tripping over that dang plate and I hated using it. You can do whatever you want, I just think you will get tired of tripping over the plate and working around a ball that will not come out or turn over without a fuss. Good luck to ya!!

 

For aesthetic purposes I would take the bed off and mount the plate directly to the frame. Then cut the hole out in the bed to slide the ball through. Also it will be easy to line everything up when you can actually see what your bolting to with the bed off.

 

I just bought the fold down style from northern tool. It was about $130. But this is the second one I have had, and they work great for me. I do mount the plate on top, as per instructions, but I build a frame between the framerails, and bolt the hitch to that.

 

Thanks ill check into that. Used b&w's are going for 300

 

If you can get a B&W then I would go that route. Make sure the weight ratings on whatever hitch you buy will handle whatever you plan to pull with it.

 

correct me if i'm wrong, the highest rating on a GN hitch you can get for a pickup is 30K isn't it?

 

I believe so, I just have a feeling a hitch from harbor freight may not be up to the task.

 

I dont have faith in much from harbor freight. The one I spoke of from Northern Tool is stout. Look it up on their site. Its quality.

 

i see it like this. look at a skid steer, the working load limit is half of the tipping load. does that mean the breaking load on a B& W hitch is 60K? LOL