I found out today through some searching that Blue Ox has redesigned their gooseneck hitch. It use to be called the "Diamond Hitch" but now its called the twist and flip gooseneck hitch. Here is a Link to the gooseneck product page. Something that I have liked about the Blue Ox gooseneck hitches in the past is that they do not require reaching into the bed wheel well to engage a locking handle.. everything is done from within the bed. This new version of the hitch has a locking collar that allows you to lock the hitch ball into place. But, there are a lot of gooseneck hitches out there and this new version is not what got me thinking about posting. What I found interesting what when I looked at the part numbers and descriptions. I found "DH9011 - GN to 5th Wheel Rail Adapter"Here is a link to the installation instructions for this adaptorDH9011 Fifth Wheel AdaptorAt first glance this looks very similar to a Curt X5 adaptor. Basically, this adaptor adds fifth wheel rails to your truck bed that is secured via the gooseneck hitch.... Pretty good idea. But one of the complaints that I have read about the Curt X5 is that there is no way to draw down the adaptor to the gooseneck hitch. The Blue Ox adds a draw down bolt to the adaptor to create a really tight installation and draw the adaptor down tightly to the bed. Of course an advantage this adaptor gives is the ability to have a totally clean bed when not towing and a set of fifth wheel rails that you can use any standard fifth wheel hitch with. I just wanted to share as this is another good looking, affordable option, to be able to haul a fifth wheel and have a flat bed.Thanks!Jeremiah

Oh wow, another hitch that carries the weight on the bed floor. Do we really need another? We already have the Andersen and B&W Companion.

I just don't understand all this crying about the truck bed??? IT IS A TRUCK BED FOR CRIPES SAKE!!!! Are all these grocery getters so prissy a couple scrathes or dents in the bed going to ruin the whole truck???? I love the way BO did the ball hold on that gooseneack!! My B&W can be a pain if it is wet or muddy. It pretty much lives up but I have a flatbed so it doesn't matter. I really like the idea of the pop off rails! Seems like a very slick solution Chris

csamayfield55 wrote:I just don't understand all this crying about the truck bed??? IT IS A TRUCK BED FOR CRIPES SAKE!!!! Are all these grocery getters so prissy a couple scrathes or dents in the bed going to ruin the whole truck???? I love the way BO did the ball hold on that gooseneack!! My B&W can be a pain if it is wet or muddy. It pretty much lives up but I have a flatbed so it doesn't matter. I really like the idea of the pop off rails! Seems like a very slick solution ChrisCarry a few loads of fine sand and see how well that lock rings turns. Wonder if they provide a cheater wrench to engage the lock ring for when it jams up with dirt? Not criticizing, just stating a fact that it =will= happen at some point; what do you do then? I've had my B&W TO Ball stick a couple times from carrying dirt and trash in my truck's bed and, yes, I had to crawl under with a hammer and punch to free it up. NOTHING is perfect; you just have to live with it and be prepared for when something happens and, yes, I carry a hammer and punch on the road with me...just in case.Lyle

Is it that much of a pain in the backside to just use a Reese hitch ball that just pops in the hole in the bed ? Yeah I know you have to store the ball after you pull it out of the hole, but you don't have to crawl under the truck and pound a B&W loose or worry about a locking ring getting jammed up from grit getting underneath the ring. Sorry I just see these things as a solution looking for a problem.

Carry a few loads of fine sand and . . . WHOA!! You mean you actually carry stuff in the bed? What do you think this is, a truck or something?? :E :E

Blue Ox Gooseneck and Fifth Wheel Adaptor | Good Sam Community

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Oct 12, 2016
WTP-GC wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
"he even waxed the underside of his lawn mower"

Not a bad idea. Keeps grass from sticking and would pick up grass better. The rest is a bit much.

Mark it down, we've reached a point of agreement ;)

NICE!

My Dad would wash his out while it was running let it dry and then spray it down with WD-40. He said it mowed much better.
WTP-GC
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
Cummins12V98 wrote:
"he even waxed the underside of his lawn mower"

Not a bad idea. Keeps grass from sticking and would pick up grass better. The rest is a bit much.

Mark it down, we've reached a point of agreement ;)
jerem0621
Explorer II
Oct 11, 2016
Someone has way too much idle time.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Oct 11, 2016
"he even waxed the underside of his lawn mower"

Not a bad idea. Keeps grass from sticking and would pick up grass better. The rest is a bit much.
IHnutz
Explorer
Oct 11, 2016
WTP-GC wrote:
laknox wrote:
IHnutz wrote:
Carry a few loads of fine sand and . . .

WHOA!! You mean you actually carry stuff in the bed? What do you think this is, a truck or something?? :E :E

Sorry, I grew up farming, so...

As an aside, I have to just laugh at those Ford aluminum beds. Had they had those same beds 35-40 years ago, the beds wouldn't have lasted more than 1 or 2 years. After that, we'd've had holes showing the frame rails. Either that, or we'd've had to add back a 20 lb sheet of steel to protect the bed, thus completely negating any weight advantage.

Lyle

You ever see those commercials advertising heavy duty trucks...you know, the ones where it shows the guys driving down some bad road hauling a bed full rocks and towing a boat at the same time? Well, short of exaggeration, that's how I use my trucks. If I didn't need to use a truck for the way its intended, I might as well drive an SUV. Meanwhile, the common metro-sexual man that drives trucks these days pride themselves on how clean they can keep the beds. Nice spray-in liner, swept clean, not a leaf or a bottle cap or an empty DEF jug to be found...pure spotless. Pretty diamond-plate toolbox with a couple of small hand tools, mostly just for show. Usually matches their clean shirts, pretty hats, soft hands and non-calloused feet. The aluminum truck beds are geared for these types of people. They don't have to worry about how flimsy they are, because the most anyone is going to put back there is a couple of fishing rods and a cooler.

Several years ago I worked with a guy who waxed the bed of his truck monthly along with the rest of the truck. He bought a trailer to haul things in so he didn't scratch the bed. NOTHING!!! hard was ever laid on the bed floor!!! In fact he would not let anyone, himself included, get in the bed with their shoes on! He bought a chrome plate "stinger" and ball for the hitch receiver so it wouldn't rust and even waxed the receiver. Whenever the "stinger" was removed he would sand the scratches and chips in the receiver and use touch up paint so it wouldn't rust. He even went so far as to remove his shoes put them in plastic bags and put on house slippers whenever his shoes were wet or dirty before driving it.

Talk about OCD! They are real and they are out there. And, oh yes, he even waxed the underside of his lawn mower!! :h
WTP-GC
Explorer
Oct 10, 2016
laknox wrote:
IHnutz wrote:
Carry a few loads of fine sand and . . .

WHOA!! You mean you actually carry stuff in the bed? What do you think this is, a truck or something?? :E :E

Sorry, I grew up farming, so...

As an aside, I have to just laugh at those Ford aluminum beds. Had they had those same beds 35-40 years ago, the beds wouldn't have lasted more than 1 or 2 years. After that, we'd've had holes showing the frame rails. Either that, or we'd've had to add back a 20 lb sheet of steel to protect the bed, thus completely negating any weight advantage.

Lyle

You ever see those commercials advertising heavy duty trucks...you know, the ones where it shows the guys driving down some bad road hauling a bed full rocks and towing a boat at the same time? Well, short of exaggeration, that's how I use my trucks. If I didn't need to use a truck for the way its intended, I might as well drive an SUV. Meanwhile, the common metro-sexual man that drives trucks these days pride themselves on how clean they can keep the beds. Nice spray-in liner, swept clean, not a leaf or a bottle cap or an empty DEF jug to be found...pure spotless. Pretty diamond-plate toolbox with a couple of small hand tools, mostly just for show. Usually matches their clean shirts, pretty hats, soft hands and non-calloused feet. The aluminum truck beds are geared for these types of people. They don't have to worry about how flimsy they are, because the most anyone is going to put back there is a couple of fishing rods and a cooler.
laknox
Nomad
Oct 10, 2016
Cummins12V98 wrote:
laknox wrote:
csamayfield55 wrote:
I just don't understand all this crying about the truck bed??? IT IS A TRUCK BED FOR CRIPES SAKE!!!!

Are all these grocery getters so prissy a couple scrathes or dents in the bed going to ruin the whole truck????

I love the way BO did the ball hold on that gooseneack!! My B&W can be a pain if it is wet or muddy. It pretty much lives up but I have a flatbed so it doesn't matter.

I really like the idea of the pop off rails! Seems like a very slick solution

Chris

Carry a few loads of fine sand and see how well that lock rings turns. Wonder if they provide a cheater wrench to engage the lock ring for when it jams up with dirt? Not criticizing, just stating a fact that it =will= happen at some point; what do you do then? I've had my B&W TO Ball stick a couple times from carrying dirt and trash in my truck's bed and, yes, I had to crawl under with a hammer and punch to free it up. NOTHING is perfect; you just have to live with it and be prepared for when something happens and, yes, I carry a hammer and punch on the road with me...just in case.

Lyle

I NEVER left my gooseneck ball in my TurnoverBall gooseneck hitch. I had a plate that covered the hole.

I've thought about making something, myself, but it's just something else on the "roundtuit" list. :-)

Lyle
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Oct 10, 2016
laknox wrote:
csamayfield55 wrote:
I just don't understand all this crying about the truck bed??? IT IS A TRUCK BED FOR CRIPES SAKE!!!!

Are all these grocery getters so prissy a couple scrathes or dents in the bed going to ruin the whole truck????

I love the way BO did the ball hold on that gooseneack!! My B&W can be a pain if it is wet or muddy. It pretty much lives up but I have a flatbed so it doesn't matter.

I really like the idea of the pop off rails! Seems like a very slick solution

Chris

Carry a few loads of fine sand and see how well that lock rings turns. Wonder if they provide a cheater wrench to engage the lock ring for when it jams up with dirt? Not criticizing, just stating a fact that it =will= happen at some point; what do you do then? I've had my B&W TO Ball stick a couple times from carrying dirt and trash in my truck's bed and, yes, I had to crawl under with a hammer and punch to free it up. NOTHING is perfect; you just have to live with it and be prepared for when something happens and, yes, I carry a hammer and punch on the road with me...just in case.

Lyle

I NEVER left my gooseneck ball in my TurnoverBall gooseneck hitch. I had a plate that covered the hole.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Oct 10, 2016
Me Again wrote:
Oh wow, another hitch that carries the weight on the bed floor. Do we really need another? We already have the Andersen and B&W Companion.

Andersen Ultimate yes, B&W 18K Companion yes, 20K Companion transfers weight to lower part of bed corrugation that is solid to bed cross rails that are solid to frame.

18K B&W bed deflection YES on lighter gauge beds as seen in my 2011 RAM Dually. Bed deflection with Andersen Ultimate my own observation on a 2010 RAM where the back side of the base applied pressure to the bed towing a MobileSuites.
laknox
Nomad
Oct 10, 2016
IHnutz wrote:
Carry a few loads of fine sand and . . .

WHOA!! You mean you actually carry stuff in the bed? What do you think this is, a truck or something?? :E :E

Sorry, I grew up farming, so...

As an aside, I have to just laugh at those Ford aluminum beds. Had they had those same beds 35-40 years ago, the beds wouldn't have lasted more than 1 or 2 years. After that, we'd've had holes showing the frame rails. Either that, or we'd've had to add back a 20 lb sheet of steel to protect the bed, thus completely negating any weight advantage.

Lyle