A gooseneck hitch looks similar to a conventional one, using a ball fitted in the truck bed and a round receiver on the trailer tongue. More extensive than a conventional ball hitch, a gooseneck ball fits into a hole in the truck bed. The trailer tongue, which looks like a vertical section of pipe hanging under the trailer's front end, is lowered over the ball and secured after you back the truck up under the trailer tongue. Safety chains and wiring must be appropriately connected to ensure proper towing.
The advantage of a gooseneck hitch is its greater towing capacity, compact size, and relative simplicity. Gooseneck hitches can pull over 30,000 pounds, 3,000 more than the best fifth-wheel hitch. The ball hitch and safety-chain anchors take up very little space in the bed and are easy to install and remove. They're also relatively light. However, they require cutting holes in your bed if your truck didn't come from the factory with a gooseneck hitch. These hitches are more suitable for agricultural and industrial use.
Installing a gooseneck hitch in a vehicle might take a few hours, depending on the vehicle needing towing. If you want to learn about the steps that are used by our professionals while installing a gooseneck hitch in a vehicle are summarized below:
● Remove the spare tire and trim - You may need to remove or cut trim pieces on the truck to provide space for the gooseneck hitch.
● Measure and drill the ball hole - Double-check all measurements according to the manufacturer's instructions. Then, drill a pilot hole. Next, drill the full-size hole with the appropriate hole saw.
● Insert the cross-arm brackets - Once centered on the truck frame, use a wrench to rotate the cross-arm to the proper orientation. Next, insert the front cross-arm bracket and position it as specified.
● Install the gooseneck center section - Prepare the gooseneck center section to be installed by attaching any necessary hardware.
● Attach the side plate brackets - Attach the side plate brackets to the cross-arms with the included hardware. These will bolt into place inside the wheel wells.
● Torque the hardware - Torque the hardware, i.e.; nuts and bolts on the gooseneck hitch's center section, brackets, and side plates.
● Install the safety chain anchors - To attach the safety chain anchors, holes must be drilled into the truck bed. With the holes drilled, and touchup paint applied, drop in the safety chain loops and attach the necessary hardware.
● Install the operating handle - First, install the locking pin mechanism for the gooseneck ball. Then, slide the operating handle in through the wheel well access point.