6’ 4” Box & Factory Installed GN Hitch Help

[SAJ]

Hi Everyone — Sarah here. I have 2003 Cummins Short Bed — I use a B&W GN Hitch — with the 4” extender. It puts my hitch at a nice 36” from my window. I haul at 3 horse Trailswest Horse Trailer. I love it, but am going to upgrade the truck.

I am considering a new 2500 Cummins (might order and wait forever, or see what‘s possible on the lot).

BUT, my main concern is that if I get a factory installed GN hitch, that won’t be able to use the extender. SO, the question is, could someone please please, let me know, on a 2021 2500, the distance from the window, to the factory installed GN hitch?

If I buy from the lot, all of them have the factory installed GN, and if they aren’t 36” back, I would be concerned about hitting my back window. This will help me decide whether to order and get an aftermarket B&W and extender. I know I could make my life easier and just get a longer bed, but alas I prefer daily driving with a shorter bed. Thanks in advance for your help! Of course, any other input or ideas is also appreciated

 

[Darkone]

I don’t have any measurements but what about putting a extender on the trailer? I’ve seen off set adapters that replaces the trailer end.

the other option would be to order without fifth wheel gn prep and just install a B&W to get a square hole.

 

[SAJ]

Thanks so much for the information on the trailer extender. I’m wondering does this actually fit the gooseneck ball installed at the factory?

 

[Darkone]

Yes it replaces the adjustable portion on the trailer and makes it an extension hitch

https://www.bwtrailerhitches.com/product/extend-goose-gooseneck-coupler

 

[McHenry2500]

FWIW; For hauling a gooseneck horse trailer you maybe better off getting a 2500 without the GN prep package and having the B&W with the offset ball installed. The above goosneck coupler may or may not fit your particular trailer. The offset ball in the bed will 100% fit your truck.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

For your aplication i would get the GN prep and then its just an easy swap out for the b&w GN hitch then atleast if you ever need to haul a 5th wheel your all setup for the hitch

 

[SAJ]

Oh man - so many ideas! Thanks so much for your input! Okay - anyone also know the distance b/t the window and the GN ball from factory? Is it less than 36”? I’ve been preferring the idea of doing an aftermarket BnW GN set up on a new truck but alas - hard to find any new 2500s with features I want AND w/o the factory installed GN set up!

 

[SAJ]

FWIW; For hauling a gooseneck horse trailer you maybe better off getting a 2500 without the GN prep package and having the B&W with the offset ball installed. The above goosneck coupler may or may not fit your particular trailer. The offset ball in the bed will 100% fit your truck.

Yeah the trailer hitch shop told me that I have to check that the GN tube on my trailer is 4” in diameter for the GN extender to work on my trailer - I’ll measure today to see.

 

[McHenry2500]

For your aplication i would get the GN prep and then its just an easy swap out for the b&w GN hitch then atleast if you ever need to haul a 5th wheel your all setup for the hitch

Will the B&W offset ball fit in the factory puck system? I'm having to go with a complete B&W system in my 2500 because it didn't come with the factory 5th wheel/GN prep package.

 

[RV_Goose]

Will the B&W offset ball fit in the factory puck system? I'm having to go with a complete B&W system in my 2500 because it didn't come with the factory 5th wheel/GN prep package.

Not. The B&W GN offset is a square tube. This is the B&W offset https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hi...q81jVhWEQWBKLXAh0ezsdxgPQS66PuJ0aAih_EALw_wcB

This is what fits the stock RAM puck system https://www.amazon.com/Curt-Manufac...ocphy=9009683&hvtargid=pla-492812233425&psc=1

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Will the B&W offset ball fit in the factory puck system? I'm having to go with a complete B&W system in my 2500 because it didn't come with the factory 5th wheel/GN prep package.

No but the bw underbed part fits the same as the ram part so no need to drill any holes lol

 

[SAJ]

So is the implication that I could get a factory installed set up and take it to my hitch shop and get the BnW set up? If I did - it allows me to purchase a truck on lot vs buy one buy ordering. What would I need to tell my hitch shop to make this possible?

 

[SAJ]

So is the implication that I could get a factory installed set up and take it to my bitch shop and get the BnW set up? If I did - it allows me to purchase a truck on lot vs buy one buy ordering. What would I need to tell my hitch shop to make this possible?

Ha ha ooops autocorrect should have said hitch shop

 

[Darkone]

So is the implication that I could get a factory installed set up and take it to my hitch shop and get the BnW set up? If I did - it allows me to purchase a truck on lot vs buy one buy ordering. What would I need to tell my hitch shop to make this possible?

They will just need to remove the factory gn hitch and install the b&w. It will require either
A) loosening and lifting the bed to remove the factory bolts that hold the hitch on. They come down through the frame where as the B&w go up through with nuts on top.
B) use the factory bolts coming down through the frame. This may require shortening one of the bolts as it may interfere with your release handle.

The hole in the bed will line up and the trim ring will fit also. The only holes that will need drilled will be for the safety chains.

Here is a link to another thread that talks about this exact subject.
https://hdrams.com/forum/index.php?threads/swap-oem-gooseneck-hitch-for-b-w-turnover-ball.2392/

I had looked at replacing the factory setup for a B&W for other reasons but I ultimately decided to try the factory setup. Haven’t used it yet but I feel it will suit my use. If not I’ll be switching mine.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

The hole in the bed will line up and the trim ring will fit also. The only holes that will need drilled will be for the safety chains.

i would just buy the ball set for the oem system for the chain rings instead of using the bw ones and having more holes in the bed