Does Using an Offset Gooseneck Ball Change where the Pin Weight is Carried in the Truck Bed

Question

Question:

I have a 2015 Silverado 2500 HD short bed towing a 33foot 5th wheel using a Reese Goose Box. By moving the ball back 4inch will this effect the weight of the trailer on the ball being 4inch further back from the rear axle? Or does the pin weight remain where the ball was normally? Thank you,

asked by: Wayne

0

Expert Reply:

If you were to use the 4 inch offset ball # BWGNXA4085 the pin weight on the ball will not be changed. What will change is where the weight is carried on the truck. Using the offset ball will put more weight 4 inches back from the center of the gooseneck ball hole in the truck bed.

This may or may not affect the truck. Some things that could happen include reduced steering and braking and headlights angled upward. If the weight is far enough behind the rear axle it can lift the front of the truck a little which is what causes these things to happen. If that does occur then I recommend adding some helper springs, # TGMRCK25D, to your 2015 Chevy Silverado 2500 which will help alleviate those issues.

expert reply by: Michael H

0

Quade

10/16/2024

How does it move the weight back if the ball is elevated and still coupled in the same connection point?

Bryce D.

10/16/2024

@Quade Because the weight is resting on the hitch ball which is 4" from where the hitch is dropped in.

Quade

10/16/2024

@BryceD but the ball is elevated and pinned in the same place as the original ball in turn transfers the weight to the square tube not directly under the new ball. So far we’ve not found that it shifts the weight. I’m still weighing and checking but so far I’ve seen no reel transfer of weight any farther to the rear of the truck and I’m running a long extender to keep our horse trailer off the glass.

Paul

3/9/2025

@Quade I have a similar set up and question. I think the answer is not that simple and requires an answer by the hitch designer. If you offset the ball by 4" it still has the same down force but it also puts a torque on it. For example, my trailer has a 2850lb hitch weight it still applies 2850lb on the hitch, but there is an added torque on the hitch (2850x4/12= 950 ft-lbs). That would be eqv. to a 200lb person hanging on a 4.75ft arm off of the hitch. Can the hitch handle the offset torque, I am not sure? It probably can, but over time it could fatigue, again need the hitch designer to answer. Technically the hitch weight would be reduced by about 25lb because of the added length but it is negligible really. If you add in a 10" offset on the gooseneck it would reduce the weight further without adding load or torque to the hitch, maybe about 90lbs, but still not much difference.

Answer 1

While there isn't an air ride suspension upgrade for your gooseneck with tandem 12,000 lb axles, and the SumoSprings with a 5k rating would get smooshed under such a heavy load, there is one option, from Timbren: - Timbren Trailer Suspension…

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Answer 2

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Answer 3

Hey Jeremy, With an 8' bed you should not need an offset ball as there's more than enough space to make a 90 degree turn. The B&W Ball and Safety Chain Kit for Ram Underbed Gooseneck Trailer Hitch #BWGNXA2062 you were looking at is for…

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Answer 4

Hey Rob! You can actually use either one, but my recommendation would be the Custom Underbed Installation Kit for B&W Companion 5th Wheel Trailer Hitches #BWGNRK1320-5W. B&W makes some of the best hitches available, and the Turnoverball is no…

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Answer 5

The Replacement Brushed Chrome Brackets for AirrForce RV Ceiling Fan with Light - Qty 4 #277-000399 does match the 1-1/2" and 3-7/16" measurements provided, so you can use these on your ceiling fan. If you also need new fan blades, the…

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Answer 6

When you use an offset the weight of the trailer is still placed in the truck bed where the hitch ball is. The offset does not move the weight back relative to the truck bed since the attachment point stays in the same area. If the trailer has a wide…

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Answer 7

You will need the Gen-Y Hitch Gooseneck Trailer Hitch #GY43XR on your 2019 Ford F-350 as you have the factory puck/prep in bed hitch system. The 4" Offset Ball #BWGNXA4085 you found is only for use in a B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck Trailer…

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Answer 8

Yes, the puck system used on the 2016-2019 Chevy/GMC trucks is different than the pucks used on the 2020 and newer trucks. So you would need a 5th wheel like the B&W Companion #BWRVK3710 for your 2020 GMC Sierra 3500 with an 8' Bed. If you…

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Answer 9

If you take a look at the dimensional drawing of the Reese Goose Box #RP94720 I attached, you can see that it measures 18.56 inches from the middle of the bottom bolt hole and the bottom of the coupler where the ball connects, so not the…

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Answer 10

While the Convert-A-Ball Cushioned 5th-Wheel-to-Gooseneck Adapter w/ Offset #CAB-C5GX1216 is compatible with the 4" Offset Ball #BWGNXA4685 do note this will void your chassis warranty and possibly any other warranties on your 5th wheel camper.…

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Answer 11

To convert your Dometic manual awning to a power unit, you can use the Solera 12V Conversion Kit in Black #LC434723 or White #LC434724 if you have a manual crank system. These Solera kits are compatible with Dometic (A&E) awnings like what you…

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Answer 12

Safety chains like the Curt #C95NR aren't required when using the Curt CrossWing Lightweight Gooseneck-to-5th-Wheel Trailer Hitch Adapter #C32DR but if you want to attach safety chains there isn't any harm in that either.

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Does Using an Offset Gooseneck Ball Change where the Pin Weight is Carried in the Truck Bed

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