Should I Use a CURT RockerBall with a B&W Shock Absorbing Gooseneck Pin Box?
Updated 07/25/2026 | Published 07/17/2026
Question:
I have a 2026 Ford F450 with the factory fifth wheel/gooseneck setup. I bought the B and W Fifth wheel to Gooseneck adapter. I am towing a Brinkley 2900z. I want to get more distance between the tailgate and the trailer if it were to open. So the 4 inches would be nice. The B and W gooseneck adapter has the shock absorbing function. So I think k Curt makes this extender with the rocker ball, and without. I think the extra ball height of the rocker ball might be nice, I have to measure. However is it OK, or even maybe BETTER to have both shock absorption in the B and W adapter AND the Curt rocker ball?? Kevi
asked by: Kevin M
Expert Reply:
Hi Kevin! Yes, you can use the 4 inch offset ball part # C78ZV to gain a little more clearance between your tailgate and the front of your Brinkley, and that's a pretty common reason people choose it. It will give you the added space you're after while letting the B&W pin box do the cushioning it was designed to provide.
As for the RockerBall version, I would actually stick with the standard 4 inch offset ball instead of stacking two shock absorbing systems together because they can interfere with each other rather than improving the ride. Curt also recommends against this.
Out of curiosity, is your main concern protecting the tailgate when it's down, or are you also looking for a little more cab-to-trailer clearance when turning?
Jeff G.
7/23/2026
Kevin, I have a 2021 Grand Design 367BHS. Earlier this year I sold my 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 after 20 years of ownership and purchased a new 2026 Ram 3500. The 2004 truck had a Mountain Master Air Ride 5th wheel hitch with up-and-down shock-absorbing action combined with forward and backward dampening action. I lost most of my bed space in the 2004 truck due to an aux fuel tank and Mountain Master 5th wheel hitch. In the new truck, I wanted to reclaim the lost space, so I switched to the Gen-Y hitch with the rocker ball pin to obtain proper bed rail and tailgate clearance. So, wanting both dampening features is not an issue for either the truck or trailer, but actually a benefit to the trailer, preventing damage. Most gooseneck adapters are sized very short to reduce the moment-arm action on the upper 5th wheel deck. Original gooseneck adapters of 20 years ago placed too much moment-arm force on the 5th wheel upper deck because they were too tall. Given today's 5th wheel "cheap" or thinner frame material, this shortening of the gooseneck adapter height is required to prevent frame flexing damage; otherwise, manufacturers wouldn't approve adapters such as Gen-Y or B&W for use on their 5th wheels. To compensate for the shorter height of the Gen-Y or B&W, the Curt rocker ball pin adapter is an excellent option to gain back the hitch height so the 5th wheel doesn't hit your pickup bed rails and does not place any additional moment-arm force on the 5th wheel upper deck. As for the extra 4-inch offset, it does help with tailgate clearance.
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Curt RockerBall Multi-Fit Ball Kit w/ 4" Offset for Factory Gooseneck Hitches - 30K
- Gooseneck Hitch
- Above the Bed
- Fixed Offset Ball
- 30000 lbs GTW
- Built-In Loop
- CURT
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on Gooseneck Hitch
Kevin M.
7/22/2026
i am looking for the tailgate clearance. my 450 is a long bed, of course. I hate that small distance in the rear between the tailgate and the trailer. i think the little extra height of the standard 4 inch offset is going to be perfect, i ordered it. the challenge with Ford long beds when used with a fifth wheel or goose eck, is that tailgate clearance. In fact even with my fifth wheel i used a B and W slider hitch, not because i needed the cab space (i didnt because its a long bed,) but because of that tailgate. thanks