Posted 2009-05-26 4:56 PM (#105480) Subject: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Mount Sidney, VA
I've moved from a bumper pull to a gooseneck. I can't see the ball when I'm attempting to hook up my trailer. I tried one of those mirrors but the design has a flaw - no real way to tighten the screws to hold it in the best configuration. I sure am getting tired of hopping in and out of my truck. Any tips or "toys" to help w/ this operation?
Posted 2009-05-26 5:36 PM (#105484 - in reply to #105480) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
Black tape stripe down the center. Find an old magnetic CB antenna to put on the floor of your pickup, bend it to touch your trailer when your over the ball.
Posted 2009-05-26 5:38 PM (#105486 - in reply to #105480) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Member
Posts: 24
Location: blacksburg va
We have a short bed and I cant see the ball on mine either,what I have found that helps was a strip of duct tape running from the ball to the tailgate.doesent get the coupler right over ball but it its close and inline and usually only have to get out of cab once to check position.hope this helps.
Posted 2009-05-26 6:02 PM (#105490 - in reply to #105480) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Expert
Posts: 2958 Location: North Carolina
I use the ribs in the bed to line the coupler up to the ball. But if you can't see the truck bed ... two other tricks...
The ole' plumber's helper works well and it's a dual use item. Place the plunger cup down to the rear of the ball. When the trailer coupler post hits the handle, you're at the right spot.
If you don't want to climb into the truck bed for the plumber's helper trick... get a long bungie cord, stretch it between the bedrails directly over the ball. Then get a clothes pin and place it on the bungie cord directly over the ball. Aim the clothes pin to the trailer coupler post. You can leave the bungie cord & clothes pin on the truck as long as you don't have something filling the bed.
Posted 2009-05-26 6:30 PM (#105494 - in reply to #105480) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 560 Location: Mena, AR
I got a flat plastic fish eye at Pep Boys for about $10 over a year ago and it worked great till I got a new tool box, and couldn't see over it. It allowed me to see down into the bed of the truck. I now have a wireless back-up camera that I purchased on-line. Put a camera on the toolbox and another above my BP hitch. Bit more pricey than the fish eye, but works well. I still use the fish eye for backing in parking lots.-Betty
Posted 2009-05-26 11:09 PM (#105503 - in reply to #105480) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Do what my better have does. She is 5'4" and has not had any problems to speak of yet and we have a 4 door dually, gets hooked up the first time everytime.
Posted 2009-05-27 8:34 AM (#105516 - in reply to #105480) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Veteran
Posts: 197 Location: MT
No tape just put rock on the end of your tailgate to get in line..than when you get to goose neck over the ball look at where your tail gate is. Now you know where you have to be everytime without looking at your ball just your tail gate. My mom who is like 5'3" can do this every time on my crew cab short box on a 4 horse living quarters.
Posted 2009-05-27 9:58 AM (#105521 - in reply to #105480) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
I had trouble seeing my ball in my short bed CC because of the rollup cover box and I'm 6'4". I laid a piece of lathe on the bed in direct line with the ball. I also ran a bungee cord across the box directly above the ball. When I nudged the bungee I knew that I was over the ball. My wife would clip a clothes pin on the bungee over the ball to help her get lined up. Now with the long box CC I don't have any problem seeing the ball.
Posted 2009-05-27 11:43 AM (#105539 - in reply to #105480) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368 Location: Georgia
I use a bungee cord hooked to the underside of the top of the truck bed with a cable tie (plastic ties) pointing up in the center over the ball.(Bungee stretched horizontally across the center of bed with cable tie centered on ball.) (Actually my truck now has eye hooks on the top bed and I hook the bungee cord to those.) Back the truck up until the bungee cord touches the coupler with the cable tie centered on the coupler. After a couple of times hooking up, you will know just how much tension you should leave in the bungee with the cable tie against the coupler. Works like a drearm. Wish I could take credit for thinking of it ..but I did not. Saw someone else's. I use a 6 inch cable tie but you could get the extra long ones for more height and make it eaiser to see if you have a tool box in your truck bed.
Posted 2009-05-27 11:50 AM (#105540 - in reply to #105480) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
I'm taller than you but still can't see the ball. I line up over the tailgate latch-there is a depression in the tailgate when down, nearly dead center and exactly in line with my ball. I have also put a piece of duct tape on the bedrail that is right behind my window for a secondary sight line.
Posted 2009-05-29 9:42 AM (#105684 - in reply to #105490) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Veteran
Posts: 274 Location: Memphis, TN
Originally written by hosspuller on 2009-05-26 3:02 AM
get a long bungie cord, stretch it between the bedrails directly over the ball. Then get a clothes pin and place it on the bungie cord directly over the ball. Aim the clothes pin to the trailer coupler post. You can leave the bungie cord & clothes pin on the truck as long as you don't have something filling the bed.
Yep, thats what I've been doing for years....cheap n easy.
Posted 2009-05-30 9:18 PM (#105734 - in reply to #105480) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Regular
Posts: 80 Location: Tracy, CA
lesliemal, I tryied the bungie cord and the pin and it worked like a charm. No need to even have any help with the line up. If someone was smart they would do a patient on this easy system and make a bundle of money.
Posted 2009-06-02 5:50 AM (#105821 - in reply to #105480) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Veteran
Posts: 235 Location: Bucksport, Maine
Ext cab, short bed, can't see the ball. I line the coupler up to the middle groove in the bed (or the bolts in the tailgate handle), then back up until the tailgate is 6" from the spare tire under the nose. I've been hitting it perfect since the second week I owned the trailer. So, my vote is PRACTICE.
Posted 2009-06-02 9:52 AM (#105830 - in reply to #105480) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399 Location: Ottawa, Illinois 61350
I also use bungie cords. I took two the same length and fasten them in the center. I just look in my rear view mirror, and line up the neck with the two hooks on the bungies. When it comes in contact with the coupler, 95% of the time I'm directly over the ball. Works like a charm, and keeps ypu from having to get in and out of the truck.
Posted 2009-06-03 10:15 PM (#105936 - in reply to #105480) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Member
Posts: 36 Location: Wellington, Texas
When unhooking from the trailer, raise the coupler to where it is barely still on the ball. When you pull forward the pickup bed will lower slightly. Same thing when hooking up to the trailer. Slowly back up untill the bed of the pickup lowers slightly and then raises back up, coupler will be directly over the ball if lined up laterally.
Posted 2009-06-04 7:19 AM (#105943 - in reply to #105936) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
Originally written by BMC Bermuda grass on 2009-06-03 10:15 PM
When unhooking from the trailer, raise the coupler to where it is barely still on the ball. When you pull forward the pickup bed will lower slightly. Same thing when hooking up to the trailer. Slowly back up untill the bed of the pickup lowers slightly and then raises back up, coupler will be directly over the ball if lined up laterally.
Careful doing this...mine gets into the tailgate if I do this. I have had trucks that I could do it, but my last two Chevys won't let me.
Posted 2016-02-24 1:11 PM (#166196 - in reply to #105480) Subject: RE: Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
New User
Posts: 1
Location: Litchfield, ME
My mom came up with a great idea and it works awesome. She has a bungey cord going across the width of the truck bed directly over the ball hitch in the bed. The middle of the bungey cord has a upright zip tie pointing tip up to the sky. That way when backing up she can more easily see if she is aligned with the hitch ball. Good luck!
Tips to make hitching a gooseneck easier?
