There was a note in the data sheet that mentioned the possibility for the ball to contact the pumpkin when inverted and loaded on a 4x2 F250.

The reason for this is that the 4x2 F250 does not have a block spacer between the axle housing and the leaf springs.

The two solutions to this are:
1) get a set of blocks for the F350 in your configuration.
2) get a slug insert for the B&W to fill the hole when not in use.

I have not had an issue with the ball hitting the axle.

 

Yes, I forgot about the warning with the 2wd trucks and it was with about 2 yard of stone. Just took it easy. Now when carrying anything I just pull the ball out and put a small piece of plywood over the hole.

 

I'm guessing that it is not am issue on the 4x4's due to the increased ride height?

 

it's not an issue in the 4x4 F250s because they have the same spacing block as a 4x2 F350.

The warning was only for 4x2 F250s.

 

For what you are doing, the plastic liner sounds like a near-necessity. I'd just go ahead and cut the hole required to clear the GN ball and then silicone it up around the edges to keep leaves/dirt/crap from creeping in. Not that much work to remove when the time comes.

 

I'm in the same boat. I need gooseneck hitches for my two new 2012's. the local dealer sells the B&W. I like the look of the Reese with the plate in the bed. I also like the way the ball release is in the bed instead of the wheel well. Anyone have any good or bad on the Reese?

I need some advice on the hitch for the short bed. I've read your trailer can get into the cab on tight turns with a short bed. Some hitch makers sell an offset to cure this. Anyone have experience with this?

 

I think you're the first person I've ever seen who likes the plate in the bed and getting in the bed to release the ball. To each their own, I'm sure the Reese works fine.

Not sure I've ever heard of a problem on hitting the cab on goosenecks. That's more a problem for RV's w/ 5th wheels. For those, you can get a sliding hitch to move the hitch point back. To my knowledge there's nothing similar for goosenecks.

 

You have to get in the bed to take the ball out anyway. Might as well have the release right there. As for the plate, I haven't thought much about it. It's just the one with the release in the bed. These will be my first two gooseneck set ups, so I don't have a very well formed opinion yet. Hence, this forum...

 

I don't know as you can buy one anywhere, but I've seen people make contraptions so that you didn't have to get in/out of the bed to flip the ball up and down. Personally I'm still young enough that I can get in and out ok.

Let me preface this by saying I'm not familiar w/ the Reese setups, but personally I love the B&W b/c you can have a level bed when you're not using it. That's the biggest selling point for me. Honestly it's about preference, any hitch will do the job.

Did you order the 5th wheel/gooseneck prep packages on the trucks? I think you might have to use the Reece products w/ those. It looks like the gooseneck version of that one comes w/ pucks to cover the holes so you could still have a level bed w/ that one as well.