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Ball Extender
If the length of truck bed is less than six feet, whether the nose is
square or a wedge, the nose of a gooseneck will most likely hit the
truck cab when turning. 5 ½ foot beds are often found on Crew Cabs
(four full doors) because 6” is often taken away from the bed length
and added to the rear seat area. A removable ball extension solves
this problem by moving the ball back. Generally, short bed trucks with
extended cabs or club cabs will have six-foot bed lengths. Eight-foot
beds will eliminate this problem entirely for all gooseneck trailers.
A gooseneck hitch should be installed over, or ideally a bit in front
of the axles towards the cab. Most all qualified hitch installers have
precise instructions for specific brands on how and where to install
it. Before you buy or plan to install a hitch in a gooseneck, be sure to
check the truck bed length. Not all gooseneck hitches will work with an
extended ball.
There are different types of couplers available on gooseneck trailers.
Some require you to climb into the bed to close the coupler and drop
a locking pin in place to secure it. I prefer a quick-release coupler that
automatically secures to the ball when cranking the trailer on to it.
When unhooking it, it releases by crank the trailer up until the truck bed
begins to lift, then pull a release cord that drops the truck off the ball.
Among us who have been in the horse trailer industry for a long time,
it’s always been questionable why safety chains are required by DOT
on gooseneck trailers but not on fifth wheel trailers (camper trailers).
In our research, I believe the law was written for the RV/travel trailer
industry and those writing it were not aware that gooseneck horse
trailers attached to a ball in the truck bed. Thinking that only tag-along
trailers used a ball, they required all ball mounted hitches to use safety
chains. That being said, I do believe they serve an important purpose.
If the gooseneck trailer disconnects from the ball, the safety chains
keep the trailer from moving back off the truck bed. They also keep the
trailer from thrusting forward into the cab if hit hard in the rear. Attachments
for the safety chains are usually located on both sides of the ball
hitches in the truck bed.
Is your truck bed the
right length to prevent the
nose of your gooseneck
from hitting your cab?
Louisa Barton
Horse Talk Show Host
and Executive Producer
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