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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 304
Location: Up and over to the right | Hey guys a few quick questions regarding trucks and hitches
I have an F250 6 foot bed
Just got a B&W turnover ball hitch
Someone told me my bed is too short to properly install the hitch.
She also said the trailer will bust out my rear window when I make a turn because I won't had enough clearance.
Does anyone pull with a regular bed and have these issues or is she crazy?
(She wanted me to trade for her 2005 long bed F350 and I just laughed) |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
   
Location: Riding Crackhead. | You'll have to be careful but it will work. Set the ball a wee bit in front of the axle so more weight is on the pickup. I know a lot of people that pull with a short bed. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | We put the ball over the rear axle instead in front of it. I had to be careful not to jackknife too far backing up or watch making a tight turn on rough ground, but in 5 years of pulling an 8' wide trailer, never busted the glass. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | I pull my Exiss 3-slant horse trailer (super square nose) with my husbands short box GMC Sierra.
We also installed the B&W turnover ball but we paid extra to have a different ball that has a 6 inch extender. You wouldn't think 6" would make a world of difference, but it does! I do watch my back window when I am backing up sharp, but I've never run into a problem.
I would advise you to get a 6 inch extender ball put on the hitch, if you've got a short box.
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Member
Posts: 10
| Hmm ... while I have heard of this I cannot say I have seen it. Did she argue on the distance of the horse trailer from the cab or the weight distribution causing the back window to bust out? I owned a 3/4 ton chevy pickup that had only the 6ft bed and never had the problem pulling a numerous horse trailers/stock trailers. I sold the truck to the company I work for and it now pulls gooseneck flatbed trailers hauling oilfield tools that weigh as much if not more than livestock trailers. I guess I never paid much attention; just always made sure not to turn or back up where I was going to jack-knife the truck and trailer.
What about all the people who pulled trailers with the Dodge Mega Cabs when they first came out(only had the 6ft beds)?
Edited by WY Can Chaser 2014-02-06 5:22 PM
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I pulled my 3 horse for many years with a f-250 and never even came close to my window...now the mega cab..different story..it has a few war wounds...lolM |
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 Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | I pull my 4 star with a short bed. I got a 6 inch ball extender and it works great. I still watch tight turns but have adjusted to the short bed. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| You can get a,hitch extender or,the,gooseneck you can get an extender for,that also.
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | CYA Ranch - 2014-02-06 5:05 PM You'll have to be careful but it will work. Set the ball a wee bit in front of the axle so more weight is on the pickup. I know a lot of people that pull with a short bed.
I have a short bed and this is what the guy did who installed my hitch. I don't have any issues with hauling |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
Location: Roping pen | The B/W hitch mounts where it goes. You have no choice as to where you will put it as the holes are already drilled. On a Ford, they will go in real easy.
A lot depends on the shape of the trailer nose-older square style noses causes problems. The more aerodynamic shaped noses, are more of a challenge to have issues with.
Drive thru any horse event and I bet at least 40% of the gooseneck trailers are pulled with a short box pickup. Most without an extender. The extenders sure help when you back up but not a have to. My father in law has knocked his back window out 3 times so far and he doesn't pull much.
IMO, one should never turn that short that the nose of the trailer would get into the back of the PU cab anytime as it will ruin trailer tires.
Good luck. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| I've seen someone breakout their back window with their trailer however, in order for that to happen it's got to be one hell of a tight turn and you would be sliding your trailer tire sideways which ruins them. B&W makes a gooseneck trailer ball extender, it will give you 4 more inches of clearance between the nose and the truck. It's rated at 20,000lbs GTW and 5000lbs vertical
Edited by FlyingJT 2014-02-07 8:57 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 304
Location: Up and over to the right | Thanks guys, I really appreciate the input. I'll look into a ball extender and talk to my trailer guys as well.
I don't go for long hauls (6 hours every few months is about my max) I usually just stick to local rides and shows. And I shall have my GN friends teach me the mysterious ways of backing one up.
I've heard once you go GN you'll never go back! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 989
| I pulled with the same set up you have with no problems. My gooseneck is a 'V' at the front though, not square nosed like some of them so I could turn or back as sharp as I wanted. The short boxed trucks with the square nosed trailers I have seen some people turn too sharp or jackknife and take out their cab corners. The ball extender would be a benefit there! |
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Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | ChasingCans04 - 2014-02-08 8:51 AM Thanks guys, I really appreciate the input. I'll look into a ball extender and talk to my trailer guys as well. I don't go for long hauls (6 hours every few months is about my max) I usually just stick to local rides and shows. And I shall have my GN friends teach me the mysterious ways of backing one up. I've heard once you go GN you'll never go back!
I personally will never own a bumper pull. I feel that a GN pulls so much better, gives a better ride to the horses, and is way easier to back up.
Key thing to remember when backing up: Turn your steering wheel OPPOSITE to where you want the back of your trailer to go. |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | r_beau - 2014-02-09 9:18 AM ChasingCans04 - 2014-02-08 8:51 AM Thanks guys, I really appreciate the input. I'll look into a ball extender and talk to my trailer guys as well. I don't go for long hauls (6 hours every few months is about my max) I usually just stick to local rides and shows. And I shall have my GN friends teach me the mysterious ways of backing one up. I've heard once you go GN you'll never go back! I personally will never own a bumper pull. I feel that a GN pulls so much better, gives a better ride to the horses, and is way easier to back up.
Key thing to remember when backing up: Turn your steering wheel OPPOSITE to where you want the back of your trailer to go.
 and back up slowly when your first learning. I had way more issues trying to back up my old bumper pull than I do my gooseneck. Love my GN and will not go back to a BP if I don't have too:) AND I have a short box F250 and I've never had an issue. |
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