First GN hitch I got was a steel channel welded across the frame rails with a ball through the bed.  It was crude but it worked.

I installed (DIY) a B&W turn-over ball hitch in my then, brand new 2001 dually.  The B&W is simple, robust, and has a spot to store the greasy ball.  The uni-goose is strong too, but you have to find someplace to keep the ball.

Those are the only GN hitches I would recommend to a friend . 

I have the turnover one and like it since it rains so much here, it won't rust.  I also have the rhino liner in my truck bed so it's smooth, no seams for rust to develop on the bed. 

The ones I've seen with the bed liners have a space for rain to reach the truck bed which means it will rust.  I have a BP, but occassionally pull a friend's GN, so the hideaway feature is really good for my purposes.

The one the dealer installed on My Ford was by Buyers Products and is a turn over ball with a plate.

If I would have put one on I would go with the B&W.That is a nice lookin setup.

I use "The Goose" by Reese, with the rail system.  I like it quite well, and have used the system on my last 5 rigs.  After you have the rails installed you can pin in the 5th wheel hitch for R.V.'s or "the Goose" for goosenecks. And even leave The Goose in place right under the 5th wheel if ya want to.  I personally run with a bed liner in my rig and when the goose is pulled out and "resting" in my toolbox, the rails are all but level with my bed liner, as it has been cut out for the rails to set on the bed itself.  I like it real well, easy to remove, NEVER gets rusted in place, no touching the greasy ball, gives ya a nice place to hook safety chains,and no big hole to cut through the bed!

  I'd recomend one to anybody and I like mine just fine.

  Talk to y'all later...

Like others in this thread, I too have the Pop-Up brand of gooseneck hitch in my truck.  I also went with a Spray-on liner (similar to the Line-X brand name).  I found that the Pop-Up hitch requires only a 3" hole in the bed, plus the 4 holes for the safety chain hookup (two 1/2" holes on each side of the ball).

The difference between the removable type vs. the fixed type is more of preference and use of the truck.  If you often haul 'stuff' in the bed of your truck, then a removable hitch makes sense as you can then have full use of the bed.  If you rarely haul 'stuff', then a fixed hitch is the cheapest and senseable method.

If you are having the hitch professionally installed, I'd also recommend that you have them install a second plug in the truck bed for your electrical hookup - the 7 pin plug receptical.  Since you have to crawl into the bed of the truck to hook up the safety chains (and usually lock the gooseneck hitch), it's just as easy to plug in the electric and connect the emergency break away cable all within the truck bed.  My 7 pin receptical is located just forward of the wheel well on the driver's side.  It's a lot easier than having the cable dangle over the tailgate and down to the hitch receptical, plus if it ever comes loose, it won't drag on the pavement.

I haul stuff in my bed all the time, so having a flat bed is a must.

I hook up my trailer 2-3 times a week, so having my ball store close by is a must.

I don't always have tools with me to remove and reinstall the ball. So it must be easy to remove and replace.

It gets very snowy here in Utah.  I prefer something that doesn't have a handle in the fender well to get ice'd over. all all muddy.  The B&W does have a handle. So far it has always worked other than a muddy hand.

I have the B&W in my current truck.

I had the Diamond Inverta Ball in my 2003.

I had a screw in ball and Plate in my 2000 truck.

I liked the Diamond and would have installed one again. Except I talked the dealer into installing the hitch as part of the deal and they handle the B&W. So I ended up with a B&W

Check out Diamond at http://www.diamondhitchinc.com/index.htm

I do believe the Diamond uses a 4" hole in the bed vs B&W's 3" hole.

I just had one of the turn over ball's installed in my truck.  It was $600 to have it installed & $100 to wire a plug in the bed.  I would recommend having it installed at a horse trailer dealership.  I had mine installed at a camper dealership.  6 trips later the bed plug still didn't work, so I pulled in my horse trailer & they "fixed" the lights.  Unfortunately, when they fixed the lights, they disabled the brakes!  It was a scarey moment when I discovered that on the way home. 

Thanks to DHMCO, everything works great now.

Brenda

I'm happy with my fold-down/hide a ball hitch. We rarely fold it down, but it's nice to have that option.

When they installed it they laid a nice thick layer of caulk-type stuff around the plate to seal it - keeps water from seeping under the plate. I'm happy with it. Had it done at a steel fabricator's shop, 500 bucks.

We also have the turn over ball so we can use the bed of the truck of other stuff. We installed ourself.

I doesn't matter if your a guy or gal, its a labor intensive process to install the hitch. It aint cheap.

try http://www.etrailer.com/z-2085205.aspx

I think that hitches for less has such an animal in both round and square tube

http://hitches4less.stores.yahoo.net/kingoostrail.html

If that is indeed what you are looking for