I need to put a gooseneck hitch in my 86 F250 before hay season starts and want some opinions. What hitches do you guys use? Would like to get the best of price and reliability. How many of you installed them yourselves? How easy was it? Would you use the same hitch next time? I don't have to have a ball that flips over though it would be nice. Just depends on price really. What kind of opinions/suggestions do you guys have?

 

I have installed and used a bunch of different ones. Uni-goose, Curt, B&W, Reese, Draw-tite, Drop-n-Lock.

PERSONALLY I prefer the drop-n-lock for installation and use

 

I don't see a provision for lights and brakes on the drop n lock. Is there one and I'm just missing it or do you use the same socket that's at the bumper?

Also, do you mount them centered over the axle or is there a number you use from the back of the bed?

 

The electrical hook up has NOTHING to do with the hitch. You can either wire a plug in the bed or drag the cord over the tailgate to plug in the one under the bumper

 

Ok. Pawpaw always used the bumper socket but I didn't know if that was standard practice or if he was doing some redneck engineering. He had a truck that had a socket in the bed in front of the gooseneck hitch also

 

Hard to beat a b and w hitch . The rollovers will rust and stick over time. Usually mounted just forward of rear axle but most kits have the measurements in them . About an hour and a half to install maybe two. Plug in bed is a lot nicer cord won't get caught in tailgate bed gap or pulled out in sharp turn if too short

 

Thanks plowboy. I'm guessing the MF means you're a massey fan. I am to. Something about those old square grilled massey's just looks tough

 

I have always been told 6 inches in front of rear axle centerline.

 

2" by every manufacture I listed