Beefing Up My Hitch on My Flatbed Truck Body

69zfarmer

Posted 3/21/2010 08:28 (#1129063) Subject: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

North Central Alabama

I just bought my first 1 ton 9' flatbed 2006 chevy 3500 truck.The flatbed is new and was installed right before i bought it.It is a J&I brand.The 2 5/16" ball mount in recessed door does not go to the truck frame it is supported by the bed only.Is this ok with heavy loads? hillfarmer

Posted 3/21/2010 08:30 (#1129064 - in reply to #1129063) Subject: RE: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

there should be a sticker for the hitch rating Tommy

Posted 3/21/2010 08:35 (#1129068 - in reply to #1129063) Subject: RE: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

Iowa

I guess I am no expert--I don't build flatbeds or install gooseneck balls for a living--but I wouldn't pull something 10 feet set up like that.

I have had 7 or 8 different trucks with gooseneck balls, and all were secured to the frame, including a couple of flatbeds. Sounds wrong to me. Even if someone with "authority" told me it was fine, I would change it.

notillgleaner

Posted 3/21/2010 08:45 (#1129080 - in reply to #1129063) Subject: Re: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

Central Kansas

Depends on how good the bed is attached to the frame. We've used one like that for years. max88

Posted 3/21/2010 08:47 (#1129084 - in reply to #1129068) Subject: RE: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

W Pa

If you have no knowledge about gooseneck balls why respond with a comment like that. If the bed is secured well and is built for the hitch what's the difference between it and a bolt on hitch? eddiedry

Posted 3/21/2010 08:51 (#1129086 - in reply to #1129084) Subject: Re: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

Wheatley, Arkansas

Ditto on that! bell588

Posted 3/21/2010 09:09 (#1129106 - in reply to #1129063) Subject: Re: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

That's the way my flatbed is also, pulled alot with a gooseneck and no problems. I believe this is a Cook bed. Just make sure the bed is installed correctly. tdschenk

Posted 3/21/2010 09:32 (#1129132 - in reply to #1129106) Subject: Re: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

That's the way my Hydrabed is. And all the other Hydrabeds. I've never seen a hydrabed pulled off a pickup. CND

Posted 3/21/2010 09:37 (#1129136 - in reply to #1129063) Subject: Re: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

Anamoose, ND

That is how ours is made also. rowcropper

Posted 3/21/2010 09:48 (#1129149 - in reply to #1129063) Subject: Re: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

South Carolina

The truck has a frame and the bed has a frame. If the ball is secured to the frame of the bed and the bed frame looks well connected to the truck you should be good to go. A ball just connected to the decking of the bed may be a problem. You don't want any flexing or thin metal holding the ball support. A name brand bed should be good but "murphy" can show up anywhere. iseedit

Posted 3/21/2010 10:38 (#1129223 - in reply to #1129063) Subject: RE: J&I truck beds ~

central - east central Minnesota -

They appear to be an reputable company, makeing many different types of truck beds and trailers. It appears they build the ball into the bed - so if they don't want to wind up in court or have lawyers and insurance companies all over them and place them out of business - the ball should be an intrigal part of the bed and if the bed is attached to the truck frame according to Mfg instructions - all should be fine. http://jimfg.com/

I wouldn't worry about it. If it were a home made bed or a fly by night company - then it would all depend on how it was manufactured . . . buy you should be fine.

Lil' Hoss

Posted 3/21/2010 11:34 (#1129292 - in reply to #1129068) Subject: Re: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

NESD

I don't feel the need to re-engineer something until it either doesn't fit my needs or fails in it's original design, A reputable company that is selling to the general public better be confident that their design is safe as it is designed and any user modifications to it will render any warranties and liabilities void, agboy

Posted 3/21/2010 11:46 (#1129309 - in reply to #1129084) Subject: RE: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

Flandreau, SD

first line says it all don't it? lol MLCinNCTX

Posted 3/21/2010 11:57 (#1129324 - in reply to #1129223) Subject: RE: J&I truck beds ~

70 miles north of Dallas, Tx

I trade with J&I at least once a month and they are a great company to work with. I buy steel, trailer parts, fencing material, and tools from them. I have to drive an hour and half to get there, but thier customer service and pricing are worth it.

They started out building flat beds for the oil fields and grew into a huge business.

They are the only steel supplier I know of that has their steel prices listed on their web site.

If you are concerned at all about the bed and the GN hitch call them and ask to speak to someone about it. they will not BS you.

seedcleaner

Posted 3/21/2010 15:11 (#1129637 - in reply to #1129063) Subject: Re: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

Mid-Missouri

I much prefer the ball to be mounted on the flatbed. If the bed is installed correctly to the truck frame, it generally should be much stronger. The weight and force from the gooseneck/ball will put pressure on the bed. The bed will absorb some forces and spread the forces out to the truck frame everywhere it is attached to. Doesn't it seem logical that a flatbed company can weld a crossmember for the gooseneck ball to the bed frame better than an aftermarket ball attachment can be bolted to a truck frame, with the bed still attached to the truck? JDTECH

Posted 3/21/2010 15:57 (#1129700 - in reply to #1129063) Subject: Re: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

NEMO

Our '03 Duramax 1T dually has a Knapheide flatbed on it with a built-in gooseneck ball. The well that the ball sets in is beefed up and reinforced with it's own crossmembers that are bolted down to the truck frame. We've hauled some pretty heavy loads with it and not had a minute's trouble. JoeR

Posted 3/22/2010 12:05 (#1130977 - in reply to #1129063) Subject: Re: Gooseneck ball on flatbed secured to bed not frame

NW Iowa

My grampa has put somewhere in the neighborhood of 260,000 miles (pulling) on a setup like this...no problems. As long as the bed is attached to the truck frame and the ball is securely fastned to the bed, you should be fine.

newmanhimince.blogspot.com

Source: https://talk.newagtalk.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=157323&DisplayType=flat

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