B&w Versus Draw-tite Underbed Gooseneck

[mljenkins]

So I need to put a gooseneck hitch in my 2500HD. In my 1500 I had a B&W which I easily installed and had no issues with. Come to find out, draw-tite now makes a hitch similar to B&W's design. It is $130 cheaper and looks like it may be slightly easier to install.

 

My only two complaints with the B&W were the grey color (I should have just painted before I installed) and the handle that you pull on to release the ball would never stay out and I had to wedge a piece of wood in there most of the time to get the ball flipped over.

 

The draw-tite is a smaller hole (3.5" versus B&W's 4"), is painted black, and the handle looks like it is slightly larger and may have a rubberized grip. The cost is very appealing.

 

So, any thoughts? I've always been a B&W person, but the price of Draw-Tite is right on.

 

Here's a link to both:

 

Draw-tite:

http://www.draw-tite.com/content/products....mp;part=9461-37

 

B&W:

http://www.turnoverball.com/turnover.asp

 

Thanks for your opinions!

[8.1HD/ALLISON]

I have a B&W in mine. No complaints with it. This is my first truck with gooseneck so I don't really have anything to compare it to. The link to the drawtite hitch looks like its the same as a B&W. Same trailer weight rating, so I wouldn't see much difference.

[96chevy7.4L]

My advice is go with the B&W as the mounting kit will be a better fit and easier to deal with. There are cheaper kits and thats exactly what you get. If you get the flip over gooseneck from B&W you can also use there 5th wheel hitch which is a drop in to the gooseneck reciever. That way you don't have to mount any rails in the bed. You simply pull the gooseneck ball out and drop the fifth wheel hitch in its place. Pull the lever in the fender well and its locked in and ready.

[mudfuel08]

I have had the B+W hitch on my Tundra, Dodge, and F250. While they are a little more expensive, I would still rather pay the extra money and know that you have a good product.

EDIT- I looked the Draw-tite up online and it looks like you have to cut more than the B+W.

[Ezrider_92356]

what is the cost of the two hitches, i need to get a gn installed in my 2500hd for towing our 38ft enclosed i have not had a chance to price them yet and my last truck already had one installed when i bought it.

[mljenkins]

There was about $130 difference between the two hitches.

 

I wrote Drawtite and they sent me the installation instructions for the drawtite hitch. I haven't looked at the B&W for my current truck. I installed one in my '06 1500 several years ago and didn't have any major issues. The drawtite install looked very similar to the b&w install that I remember.

 

I am still debating. Most of the places around here install B&W and if I can get the labor cheap I may have them install it. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of personal time these days because I have to pay for the truck, trailer, the place to park it at night, and everything in between :-)

[mljenkins]

I called a places in my area that sells trailers and asked them prices on the Drawtite and B&W installed. By the time I pay for parts and shipping off the Internet I would be better off having him do it for just slightly more than $100 of what I would have to spend.

 

He advised staying away from the Drawtite. He didn't cite any specifics other than saying he didn't trust the quality. Maybe because they are new?

 

Anyway, he suggested Curt, which is about $70 cheaper than the B&W. The Curt is still painted black and has a double lock system. I got on their site and really like the look since they have a crome top which should look nice in the bed. The last B&W I had I painted the top of the receiver to match my bed.

 

I also found out Curt has a model where you don't have to get in the bed to pop the hitch up. I am going to call the guy back and ask him his opinion of that model. It seems you would still have to get in the bed to pop the cap off if you put the cap over the ball when it goes down. That model is about $70 more but IMHO seems like less effort. I like to keep my balls greased so I always get grease all over myself when I flipped the B&W I had in my last truck.

 

Anyhow, the two models Curt sells are:

 

Double-lock gooseneck hitch (was quoted $469 installed on this model):

http://www.curtmfg.com/index.cfm?event=pro...p;categoryid=37

 

Quick Goose 2 hitch:

http://www.curtmfg.com/index.cfm?event=pro...p;categoryid=37

 

The B&W I was quoted $539 installed.

 

I'll let everyone know what I finally decide. I have to get my next paycheck and then schedule my truck to go in.

 

Matt

[briddle3]

b&w has improved since the model that the handle wouldnt stay out on... I had the old style on my 01 and my dads 02 and now i have the new style on my 06 and the handle works flawlessly so far... I wouldnt even think about switching to a different brand

[Guest NobleHdwe]

I have the B&W on two of our work trucks. The only complaint I have is that sometimes our safety chains will get bound up under the coupler, and dent the bed up. However that is a minor issue, and if you make sure the chains aren't twisted it doesn't happen very often. The benefits are great.

[mljenkins]

Ok I went with the Curt. I did a writeup of my install over here:

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=129413

[pknoerzer]

I am putting in a Draw-Tite underbed goose-neck hitch myself and I am wondering what others have done to protect the hole in the bed when hauling other stuff in the bed? I have the factory installed bedliner which I don't like but I am too cheap to get a sprayed in liner right now. Has anyone cut an access through a plastic liner and how did you keep sand and what-not from getting under the liner?

[mljenkins]

I am putting in a Draw-Tite underbed goose-neck hitch myself and I am wondering what others have done to protect the hole in the bed when hauling other stuff in the bed? I have the factory installed bedliner which I don't like but I am too cheap to get a sprayed in liner right now. Has anyone cut an access through a plastic liner and how did you keep sand and what-not from getting under the liner?

 

From what I have read from instructions in the past, you have to cut the hole through the bed liner but there has never been anything about protecting the hole. I have been told it is easier to install the hitch first and then have it sprayed later. Not sure if that is true, but it seems logical.

 

The Curt hitch I put in has a rubber gasket that goes around the metal in the bed where you drill the hole. It is not a tight fit. My recommendation would be to get something you could put on the bed liner around the hole that would make a tight fit to the hitch. The only other suggestion is maybe use some silicone or something to seal the hole. I've not seen too many people with goosenecks with a plastic bed liner.

[doverarjim]

By accident I found a good way to cover my trailer ball when needing to haul dirt or sand or gravel, I was throwing some trash one day and threw a small piece of plywood in my bed and it covered the hitch from fenderwell to fenderwell, and me not being the smartest one said I think I will keep that in the bed. I just push it to the front of the bed when I need to use the hitch and then kick it back over the hitch when I haul something that will get into it, and I do have a plastic bed liner in my truck also, the person who installed it cut a big part out of the middle before I bought the truck.

[pknoerzer]

By accident I found a good way to cover my trailer ball when needing to haul dirt or sand or gravel, I was throwing some trash one day and threw a small piece of plywood in my bed and it covered the hitch from fenderwell to fenderwell, and me not being the smartest one said I think I will keep that in the bed. I just push it to the front of the bed when I need to use the hitch and then kick it back over the hitch when I haul something that will get into it, and I do have a plastic bed liner in my truck also, the person who installed it cut a big part out of the middle before I bought the truck.

 

Thanks for the reply. I do have a rubber mat from another truck that might work.