Goose Balls - Lever Actuated or Through Hole Mount?

[tpellegrini]

(Cross-posted from 5th-Gen Towing Forum for visibility. Thx Ratket.)

Are there any issues with the OEM-style lever-actuated goose ball hitches?

I had a B&W Turnover Ball on the RAM 2500 I recently traded for a new 3500 dually without the OEM mount. I've never used a lever-locking ball but it just doesn't seem to me to be as robust as the through-pin mechanism like the B&W uses. I currently use an Andersen hitch with my 5th wheel so the ball gets torqued to 50 lbs while weighted down by the trailer. In other words, it's a fair but of pulling force. It seems to me that the only "accidental" way the ball is coming out of the B&W hitch is a shearing failure of the pin or the ball. With the other style I'm curious whether a of the internal mechanisms would allow the ball to pull up through.

I know bright people have designed these things, and I'm sure I'm overthinking this. Hell, the locking Curt goose ball is actually rated higher than the B&W (35K vs 30K).

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[Ratket]

Bump

 

[tjfdesmo]

Never read of any issues. I am using the B&W kit for the factory setup. I think the Andersen Hitch would fold before the ball pulls out, to be brutally honest.

 

[Joes1500]

We have both in our work trucks that we use in the oilfield. Trust me , you are not going to pull that ball off of either style.

 

[tpellegrini]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. Looks like a tossup for reliability. That's one less thing to have to consider!

 

[tjfdesmo]

Oh, and there is no 'g' in Cummins

 

[Ratket]

Oh, and there is no 'g' in Cummins

Shhh Don’t tell my wife that!