Posted 2008-06-23 10:35 AM (#86185) Subject: Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
Veteran
Posts: 144 Location: Hickory Hills, IL
OK, we just got (well approved for financing anyway) our first GN trailer. Now I need a hitch for my truck. Looking at the B&W and the Valley. Both look pretty much the same from the pictures online, except the B&W is a bit beefier, and has the turnover ball. It is also 50% more than the Valley. Valley isn't as beefy, but still rated at 25K (if I ever try to pull 25K my poor truck would have a heart attack- much less the 30K that the B&W is rated at!).My truck will only pull 12K w/ GN, our new trailer is GVW of 10,500. Either one should be fine, but I have not found any reviews online of the Valley. B&W is known for quality. Should I just spend the extra $$ for it? Anyone using a Valley GN hitch?Thanks!~Kevin
Posted 2008-06-23 11:02 AM (#86187 - in reply to #86185) Subject: RE: Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
I have B & W hitches on every truck that I own. My only complaint is when left turned over to not pull and dirt and grit getting in and making it hard to pull the ball out to turn it over. I hauled some sand once, I had to knock it out from the bottom with a hammer. Other than that no problems with them, and I truly haven't seen a better option out there.
Posted 2008-06-23 11:11 AM (#86189 - in reply to #86185) Subject: RE: Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
Veteran
Posts: 144 Location: Hickory Hills, IL
Thanks for the input!I have never (yet) hauled anything in my truck besides lumber and hay. No loose dirt/sand. If I do I'll look at making a cover for the 4" hole to save from the headache.I also found a clone of the B&W on E(vil)-Bay, called "BOSS". Looks to be the same as the B&W but without the turnover ball. Is about $90 cheaper, but I'm thinking going with the B&W anyway- better safe than sorry for less than $100!Cheers!
Posted 2008-06-23 11:41 AM (#86193 - in reply to #86185) Subject: RE: Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
I can't tell you anything about the Boss or Valley. I just changed my habit with mine B & W's. Instead of leaving them turned down all of the time, I leave them up. I only turn them downward when I need to, and turn it back up when done. I have had a lot less problems with it that way. Good Luck!
Posted 2008-06-23 10:05 PM (#86226 - in reply to #86185) Subject: RE: Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
Expert
Posts: 2957 Location: North Carolina
I've used my B+W hitch for 8 years. At the time I was deciding on a hitch, the B+W was highly recommended by the heavy haulers. I've been well satisfied with mine.
Posted 2008-06-24 7:42 AM (#86242 - in reply to #86185) Subject: RE: Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
Location: Central Arkansas
We have been using the B & W Turnover ball since 1999 in our pickups. I prefer to take my all the way out as just put it in the back seat floorboard. I have a insulate zip up bottle case that it fits perfectly in. I started doing this after my ball also was "stuck" upside down after hauling sand in the back of the truck. We had to knock it up from the bottom. But, I still think it is the best hitch made and will continue to request them. Prior to us switching to B & W hitchs in 1999, we had a Valley fold down ball that failed from stress fractures. At the time, we were hauling a tongue heavy slideout trailer that was well under the weight limits stamped on the hitch.
Posted 2008-06-25 8:21 AM (#86314 - in reply to #86185) Subject: RE: Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
Veteran
Posts: 144 Location: Hickory Hills, IL
Thanks for the help!I ordered the B&W yesterday. Per the seller it should be here on Friday. Lets hope so because I want to pick up the trailer on Saturday! I have already downloaded and read the installation instructions and it looks pretty easy. Well worth saving the $200 most places I found want to install it!~Kevin
Posted 2008-06-25 12:18 PM (#86334 - in reply to #86185) Subject: RE: Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
Be very, very careful cutting your hole. Use the old carpenter theory of measure twice and cut once. Then do it again, because there are no second chances. If you are using a hole saw drill, be very careful because it may bite in one spot on your uneven floor. If that happens you may end up with a broken arm, wrist or worse. If you are not familiar with using these tools, find someone who is and save yourself. An injury can be a whole lot more expensive than the $200 you save. Good choice on the B & W and good luck.
Posted 2008-06-25 3:11 PM (#86353 - in reply to #86314) Subject: RE: Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
Expert
Posts: 2957 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by statzk on 2008-06-25 7:21 AM
Thanks for the help!I ordered the B&W yesterday. Per the seller it should be here on Friday. Lets hope so because I want to pick up the trailer on Saturday! I have already downloaded and read the installation instructions and it looks pretty easy. Well worth saving the $200 most places I found want to install it!~Kevin
The hardest part of installing mine was cutting a honk'n 4 inch hole in a brand new truck bed. I measured twice with two different tape measures. Then, just made a small pilot hole, and measured again from the center of the B+W hitch to make sure everything fit. It did, then the hole saw ... slow RPM and light pressure. It's only sheet metal.
The second hardest task was lifting the hitch into the hole. (It's heavy and awkward to lift under the truck) I finally used a 2x4 across the bed rails and a rope through the bed hole. Helper lifts one end of the 2x4 and the hitch comes right up to the hole... easy as pie.
Posted 2008-06-25 3:37 PM (#86357 - in reply to #86185) Subject: RE: Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
Veteran
Posts: 144 Location: Hickory Hills, IL
Thanks! Yeah, cutting a hole in my truck is going to be a bit scary, although mine is a couple years old and has a fair amount of "character" to the bed now. I'm not sure I could do it if it was still brand new- I think I would end up paying the $200, but after 23K miles and many many trips to the lumber yard and hay auctions I am OK with cutting the hole myself.I read in the instructions on the easiest way to lift the hitch is to use a rope through the hole in the truck bed. I plan on doing it this way. Gotta still wrangler a helper for Friday night (anyone in NW IN want some free beer on Friday night?).Cheers!~Kevin
Posted 2008-06-25 5:14 PM (#86366 - in reply to #86185) Subject: RE: Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
Member
Posts: 10
Location: Ivanhoe, NC
I have had the B&W Turnover ball in every one of my trucks and would never use anything else. Yes, they're beefier and cost a little more but they can't be beat for ease of use and durability. I agree that sometimes grit can make it difficult to turn the ball over, but I just make a habit of spraying a lubricant in the hole every so often and that has eliminated the problem.
Posted 2008-06-25 5:46 PM (#86369 - in reply to #86353) Subject: RE: Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
Veteran
Posts: 296 Location: Tennessee
Originally written by hosspuller on 2008-06-25 3:11 PM
The second hardest task was lifting the hitch into the hole. (It's heavy and awkward to lift under the truck) I finally used a 2x4 across the bed rails and a rope through the bed hole. Helper lifts one end of the 2x4 and the hitch comes right up to the hole... easy as pie.
I didn't have a helper, so I ended up getting a ratcheting tie-down strap and looping it around the ball retainer pin and a 4x4 spanning the bed rails, then tightened it up little by little. Had to climb in/out/under the bed a lot, but finally got the plate into position.
The thing that stumped me for a while was trying to get the L brackets between the frame and the bed, then slid up into position by the holes. Dang things didn't want to fit in there, but I finally solved that issue with a sledge hammer. :D
Posted 2008-06-25 7:15 PM (#86371 - in reply to #86369) Subject: RE: Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
Expert
Posts: 2957 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by Towfoo on 2008-06-25 4:46 PM
The thing that stumped me for a while was trying to get the L brackets between the frame and the bed, then slid up into position by the holes. Dang things didn't want to fit in there, but I finally solved that issue with a sledge hammer. :D
I had the same problem... I loosened the bolts holding the bed to the frame rails. That gave me just enough clearance to get the cross members into place.
Figuring these little tricks for the first install is what takes most of the time & effort. I could install another B+W in half the time.
Posted 2008-06-26 8:57 AM (#86402 - in reply to #86185) Subject: RE: Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
Veteran
Posts: 144 Location: Hickory Hills, IL
The instructions for my Dodge do say to loosen the bed bolts on the one side (I forget what side). They also say to use a floor jack to lift the bed up 1/2" to provide clearance. Guy who sold me the hitch said that was a new addition because so many people called B&W with issues when installing.I will loosen the bolts but probably no bother jacking up the bed unless I have serious issues. Should be fun, I was already planning on using my come-along to lift the crossbar into position. I'll let you all know how it turns out!Thanks again for all the help! You guys rock!~K
Gooseneck hitch- Valley or B&W?
. Other than that no problems with them, and I truly haven't seen a better option out there.
