What Size Ball and Torque Setting Can Be Used With the Curt CrossWing

Published 04/08/2024

Products Featured in This Question

Curt CrossWing Lightweight 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch - 20,000 lbs

(91)

$998.95

B&W Ball and Safety Chain Kit for Ford, GM, Chevy, and Nissan Titan XD Underbed Gooseneck Hitch

(1631)

$299.00

Curt Pop-In Ball for Chevy/GM, Ford, Nissan, and Ram Underbed Gooseneck Hitch - 2-5/16" - 38K

(179)

$161.80

Question:

Questions: 1. What is the ideal or best height gooseneck ball to use for the single point attached Curt Crosswing? 2. Are there only two different heights of gooseneckbals to choose from? 3. I already own a 250 ft-lb torque wrench will 250 ft-lbs of torque suffice to secure the nylon bolt in the Crosswing head height adjustment? A problem: I bought a 2024 Chevrolet 2500HD that has bed rails 2inch higher off the ground than my old truck. My 5th wheel 2007 Holiday Rambler Savoy LX 29RKD already has the leaf springs resting on top of my axles so I need another way to safely raise the trailer to gain enough clearance above my bed rails. I attempted to attach two photos: one of my new truck backed slightly under my 5th wheel to demonstrate how close the bed rails are to the 5th wheel and another photo of the same trailer being pulled by my old truck 2006 Ram 2500 CTD. I always towed 1 or 2 inches high due to my old sliding hitch adjustment limitations, but it always towed great. I want to get a gooseneck attached Crosswing, but I worry it wont work for me and I wont be able to return it. Can you please comment on that as well? I appreciate any help I can get. Thank you very much. Tim

asked by: Tim

2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
(click to enlarge)

2006 Ram 2500 CTD
(click to enlarge)

Expert Reply:

Tim, there is not a gooseneck ball height size recommended to use the Curt CrossWing Lightweight 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch # C92DR, so a 2 5/16" ball # BWGNXA2061 will work fine.

Curt specifies that the only thing that needs to happen is that the 20mm carriage bolt must completely protrude through the 20mm flange nut and the 20mm jam nut, and the 14mm hex head cap screws must be allowed to make contact with the gooseneck coupler. If either of these things don't happen, it means that the gooseneck ball is at too low of a position to work with the hitch and could cause the carriage bolt to fail causing hitch separation during use.

There are different height gooseneck balls that both will work; the B&W mentioned above has an overall height of 8 1/2" or you could use the Curt Pop-In Ball for Chevy/GM, Ford, Nissan, and Ram Underbed Gooseneck Hitch # C60627 which has a height of 7 7/8".

For the torque wrench, 250 ft. lbs will get you close, but you're going to need up to 300 ft. lbs to tighten the M20 bolts.

Finally, for your problem you mention at the end, the Curt CrossWing has a height adjustment range of 17 1/2" to 21 1/2" sop I'm pretty confident you'll be able to meet your height requirement.

expert reply by: Bryce D

Tim

4/8/2024

Thank you very much for your prompt response and great information. To follow-up on the trailer/hitch height issue...how much higher can the nose of a 5th wheel be towed before it becomes a problem? I did think the Crosswing could sufficiently raise the nose high enough above the truck bed rails (5-6 inches?) but I worry about having it too high and unstable and/or having it too low on the back end of the 5th wheel. Thanks, Tim

Bryce D.

4/8/2024

@Tim I think the general rule is that the nose of the trailer shouldn't be more than 2" high in the front. What you can do is measure the distance from ground to the trailer when trailer is level and measure the distance from the ground to the top of the truck bed rail. If the distance from the trailer is not 4 inches or more than the truck, then there is nothing you can do but lower the suspension on the truck or raise the suspension on the trailer.