Gooseneck Ball
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jul 2013
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Likes: 8
Gooseneck Ball
I have a 1989 F350 diesel that has a gooseneck plate in the bed. Can anyone tell me what I need to make this set-up work (What kind of ball?)
I was thinking of welding some hooks on it for chains.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I was thinking of welding some hooks on it for chains.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,093
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Honestly looks like a custom, farm-built job. You'd probably need to talk to the previous owner (presuming you aren't the original owner) to find out what they used.
Depending on where you live, that's often done by farmers who don't want to mess with the bottom of their box that is rusting out, so they throw a piece of plate steel in there, attach it either with welded brackets or use the existing bed mounting bolts, and then drop a gooseneck receiver into it. I would guess it would be safe enough for farm use, but I wouldn't want to go down the road pulling anything with that home-brewed job. If ANYTHING were to happen that lead to the injury of another person, if you can't prove that it is capable/rated to haul what you're hauling, you could be open to liability - and that's a risk I just won't take myself. You're more than welcome to though.
Depending on where you live, that's often done by farmers who don't want to mess with the bottom of their box that is rusting out, so they throw a piece of plate steel in there, attach it either with welded brackets or use the existing bed mounting bolts, and then drop a gooseneck receiver into it. I would guess it would be safe enough for farm use, but I wouldn't want to go down the road pulling anything with that home-brewed job. If ANYTHING were to happen that lead to the injury of another person, if you can't prove that it is capable/rated to haul what you're hauling, you could be open to liability - and that's a risk I just won't take myself. You're more than welcome to though.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 35
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I would ask the guy but unfortunately he is no longer with us.
the plate has bolts in it. The bed isn’t rusted out. The bolts go down through the frame.
What do I just buy a ball?
the plate has bolts in it. The bed isn’t rusted out. The bolts go down through the frame.
What do I just buy a ball?
Last edited by Aweiss1991; Feb 28, 2026 at 08:07 PM.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
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In the olden days, gooseneck hitches were not supported by countless easily available options. They were often installed similar to this back in the day.
You're going to need somewhere to hook safety chains.
Can you get us some more pictures, especially from farther out?
How much weight do you think you're ever going to pull with it?
How big is the hole?
How thick is the plate?
You're going to need somewhere to hook safety chains.
Can you get us some more pictures, especially from farther out?
How much weight do you think you're ever going to pull with it?
How big is the hole?
How thick is the plate?
Last edited by CathedralCub; Mar 2, 2026 at 12:12 AM. Reason: Added the first four words, one punctuation, and lowercased a letter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 35
Likes: 8
I was thinking of welding some 5/8 D-rings to it for safety chains.
The most I would ever haul would maybe be 15k if that.
The plate is 3/8 steel.
I have attached a few more pictures.
Has two bolts on each side.
Main hole.
Main hole looks about 2 1/2 when I use a ruler
2nd hole
The most I would ever haul would maybe be 15k if that.
The plate is 3/8 steel.
I have attached a few more pictures.
Has two bolts on each side.
Main hole.
Main hole looks about 2 1/2 when I use a ruler
2nd hole
Last edited by Aweiss1991; Mar 1, 2026 at 08:49 AM.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,508
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From: Sioux Falls Area
Is that a tapered hole?
what provisions are there to keep a ball from lifting out of the hole?
I wouldn’t use something that doesn’t have a way to keep the ball from lifting up. It’s easy to get uplift over bumps, especially with an empty trailer.
what provisions are there to keep a ball from lifting out of the hole?
I wouldn’t use something that doesn’t have a way to keep the ball from lifting up. It’s easy to get uplift over bumps, especially with an empty trailer.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jul 2013
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I crawled under the truck and it looks like it’s straight through. The same diameter.
I mean did they put a pin through the bottom?
I mean did they put a pin through the bottom?
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jul 2013
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Why couldnt you just pull the plate out and cut out the old hole and get it centered and weld in this to the plate?
https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/pro...44636427485362
https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/pro...44636427485362
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,093
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Why couldnt you just pull the plate out and cut out the old hole and get it centered and weld in this to the plate?
https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/pro...44636427485362
https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/pro...44636427485362
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2016
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God forbid he measure the hole.
I'd bet a lot of money that a standard 1-1/4 shank hitch ball will bolt right in.
Whether it's "good enough" or not really depends on what's on the bottom and how it attaches to the frame, none of which is pictured.
I'd bet a lot of money that a standard 1-1/4 shank hitch ball will bolt right in.
Whether it's "good enough" or not really depends on what's on the bottom and how it attaches to the frame, none of which is pictured.
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From: Sioux Falls Area
also, no threads that can be seen.
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