Will B&W Offset Ball Provide Enough Turning Clearance for 2019 Ford F-250 Short Bed Towing Trailer

Question:

I have a 2019 F250 w/ 6 3/4 bed with a B&W turnover ball Will I need a offset ball for cab clearance on my gooseneck travel trailer or would a Reeves goose box provide enough clearance

asked by: Rick G

Helpful Expert Reply:

Since you have the short 6-3/4' bed on your 2019 Ford F-250 I highly recommend using something to help offset your trailer so that you lessen the chances of the trailer making contact with your truck cab during tight turning situations.

If you already have a Reese Goose Box, like part # RP85FR, installed on your trailer then the only thing that you can easily do is use the 4" Offset Ball # BWGNXA4085 that fits your B&W Gooseneck Hitch # BWGNRK1116. This won't likely give you enough clearance to make tight turns but some people are able to maneuver around just fine with limited turning clearance so you might be able to accomplish this.

If you aren't very confident in your abilities to avoid hitting your truck cab then your best bet is to swap out the Goose Box for a pin box with a king pin and then use the B&W Companion # BWRVK3400, which has 12" of travel, to ensure you have enough clearance.

Below is a formula you can use to help you determine if you'll have enough clearance for a 90 degree turn with the offset ball:

(A + B) - C = Clearance

A = Distance from center of fifth wheel hitch jaw to truck cab
B = Length of offset (slider clearance or offset)
C = Width of trailer divided by 2 (to get half)

You need at least 4" of clearance to be able to make a 90 degree turn.