Recommended Gooseneck Base Rail Adapter for Ford F-150 with Short Bed

Updated 10/28/2019 | Published 10/26/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Above-Bed Gooseneck Trailer Hitch for Fifth Wheel Rails - 3" Offset - 25,000 lbs

(502)

$193.86

Curt Spyder Gooseneck Trailer Hitch for Fifth Wheel Rails, 25,000 lbs GTW

(480)

$290.89

B&W Extend-A-Goose Gooseneck Coupler - 2-5/16" Ball - 10" Offset - 24,000 lbs

(173)

$399.00

Question:

What would be the recommended gooseneck ball for fifth wheel rail attachment on a 2017 F-150 crew cab with a 6 1/2 ft bed? Should I look for one that is centered or offset? Does it make a difference if the ball is centered, forward or behind the rear axle?

asked by: Chad

Expert Reply:

You could use an offset gooseneck ball like the Curt # 16055 on your 2017 Ford F-150 but you'll want to make sure that the ball sits in front of the rear axle and not on top or behind it. It's likely that your rails are already set up so that you've got the center of your 5th wheel hitch head in the correct position in relation to the axle, so using a rail adapter with an offset isn't the best solution for a short bed truck.

I recommend using the Curt Spyder Gooseneck Trailer Hitch # 16085 , which has integrated safety chain loops and comes with the pins and clips to install into your bed rails. If you need the extra clearance away from the cab of your truck you would then want to add in the B&W Extend-A-Goose coupler # BWTEXA4200 which will provide you with 10" extra of clearance from the gooseneck ball to tube of the coupler. The Curt Spyder # 16085 also provides a higher connection point, with 7-1/2" above the base rails as opposed to the # 16055 which only offers 5" from the base rails. This will help give you a little bit extra clearance from the bed rails on your truck.

expert reply by: Erik B