Is there a kit as good as OEM, or does someone have the part number for the OEM kit? I'm considering getting a flatbed and it may be a gooseneck, if so, then I will also convert my 5th wheel to goose.

 

I prefer the B & W gooseball kit. I don't care for the little lever that's on the ball on the Ford kit (and others).

 

 

Is the only thing holding the ball in the socket those two little *****? SO thats how it works.

 

I was using a PullRite 2600 SuperLite and a Curt ball and had a failure of the hitch ball latch. The 2600 is like an Anderson and basically tensions the hitch to the truck bed by placing vertical torque on the ball and the base distributes the load to the bed.

My wife and I were travelling from California to Colorado and took the low route across I40 because the I70 had snow and ice on it. Somewhere in New Mexico we got detoured off the freeway down some crappy two lane road and the road began to undulate causing a proposing action between the truck and the trailer. This somehow unloaded the ball and allowed the lever to flip up and the entire hitch became disconnected from the truck. I could not get the truck slowed down fast enough so the hitch (still attached to the trailer) slammed around the bed about a dozen times and walked itself to the right rear corner of the bed.

When I finally found a spot big enough to pull my truck off the road, I looked at the suspension because I thought perhaps I broke a shock mount or a leaf spring. Then I stood up and noticed the trailer sitting in the back right portion of the bed. I was able to unhook everything and beat things back into submission (minus the huge divots in the bed). I then duck taped the latch down and when I put the hitch back in the truck. The hitch caused some deep dents and now only three of the four corners of the hitch contact the bed. We drove it another 500 miles like that and then I pulled the whole setup out and got something that fits in my pucks.

Probably a one in a thousand chance of happening, but I will never use another ball hitch with a lever. I would definitely go B&W!

 

Pullrite makes a nice ball for the Ford oem hitch. I liked it better than the Curt, but the Curt works, you just need to lube it every now and then.

 

I have the Curt. It's worked well for me, but I've pulled a gooseneck less than 200 miles. So not a lot of connected time to experience an issue with. About 20% of that time was coming down a dirt mountain road with minimal trailer brakes.

 

I use the B&W ball kit. I wanted the extra hight and I especially like the way it connects and disconnects with the handle.

 

So this one?

 

Or this one, , both are good.

 

I have the B&W setup and tow my 5er with a Goosebox. great combo!

 

Same, B&W (love the handle) and a reese goosbox. it's a perfect combo for the superduty.

 

OEM =
https://accessories.ford.com/hitch-k...ck-40-000-gtwr
$625

 

been using the OEM one for several years and running the reese goosebox on my 5th wheel.