Gooseneck Hitch Ball: Size, Ratings, Flipping, Removing and What Turnoverball Means

How we made this guide: picks and specs come from our catalog and fitment data, owner quotes come from verified reviews and every guide is checked and edited by Trevor Hall.

A gooseneck ball is the 2-5/16 in ball, as B&W lists it, that sits in the truck bed over or ahead of the rear axle and takes the coupler of a gooseneck trailer. B&W's Turnoverball flips that ball upside down into the hitch, so the bed floor is flat when you are not towing, as B&W's install sheet says. Our five B&W Turnoverball kits start at $599.

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What a gooseneck ball is and what Turnoverball means

A gooseneck trailer has a coupler that drops down over a ball mounted in the bed of the truck. The ball sits over or just ahead of the rear axle, which puts the trailer's weight on the truck's frame instead of behind the bumper. For how the whole system works, what it tows and what you need, read what a gooseneck hitch is. To see where it sits among the other styles, read types of trailer hitches.

Turnoverball is B&W's name for a ball that turns over. B&W's sheet says the hitch is designed so the ball can be inverted and stored below the surface of the bed while it is not in use. That is the whole idea: you tow with a ball on top, then flip it down and have a flat floor.

Ball size and ratings, as B&W states them

Every kit we list comes with a 2-5/16 in solid machined ball that stows inverted in the receiver. B&W's sheet is clear that trailers towed with that ball must have a 2-5/16 in coupler, and that towing with a larger coupler could cause loss of attachment between the trailer and the tow vehicle. Check the coupler on the trailer before you order anything.

The hitch rating is only half the picture. B&W's sheet tells you to stay under the weight ratings of the coupler, the hitch, the truck and the trailer. Your truck's own towing and vertical load limits are in the maker's towing guide or owner's manual, so look there and on the door sticker. For what tongue weight means and how to measure it on your trailer, see tongue weight and pin weight explained.

Gooseneck ball height

Ball height is not a number B&W publishes in our listings, so we do not give one. What the sheet does cover is where the ball sits. Because the ball must be able to stow below the bed surface, its location is set by that design and the truck's geometry. B&W tells you to measure the trailers you plan to tow and confirm the 2-5/16 in ball location gives enough turning clearance between the trailer nose and the cab. Its warning is blunt: cab clearance on short bed trucks is very limited with certain trailers, and too little clearance can mean significant property damage or serious injury.

For the F-150 kit, the sheet places the 4 in hole 42-5/8 in from the rear edge of the bed, on the bed's center line, for an 8 ft long bed and for short beds alike. B&W says to add the thickness of a spray-in liner when measuring. Other kits have their own measurements in their own sheets.

How to flip the ball

This is the part that sets a Turnoverball apart, and B&W's GNRK1121 sheet sets out the latch steps in this order.

1. Open the latch. Pull the handle out all the way until it stops, then slide it toward the cab. The handle stays there.
2. Turn the ball over in the socket (B&W's sheet gives no further detail on this). B&W says the latch should only be in this open position when inverting the 2-5/16 in ball or installing a B&W towing accessory. Before towing, it says to apply a light coat of grease to the corners of the ball's square shank.
3. Close the latch before you drive. Rotate the handle counterclockwise until the handle retracts and engages the ball. B&W warns that driving with the latch open may let the handle contact the rear tire, which could damage the tire or the handle and lead to serious injury or death.

B&W's sheet also says that when the latch is set correctly, the pin passes through the ball and fully engages through both walls of the hitch receiver. If the pin does not engage the ball and the hitch, you can lose the connection between trailer and truck. Look at the pin every time you hook up.

How to remove the ball and when to take it out

B&W gives one firm rule about removal, and it concerns heavy cargo in the bed. If you carry heavy loads in the bed with the ball stowed upside down, the ball may strike the truck's differential, drive line or other components. The sheet tells you to inspect the clearance between the ball and the truck. Its warning says that failing to remove the ball for heavy hauling may result in property damage, injury or death.

The sheet adds that a cover to keep debris out of the socket while you run without the ball in place is available from B&W. It does not list steps beyond the latch sequence above, so we do not invent a longer procedure. If the ball will not come free, contact B&W; the sheet prints a support phone line and email address.

Grease and care

B&W's sheet lists one care step in the preparation for towing: apply a light coating of grease to the corners of the square shank of the 2-5/16 in ball. It also asks for a visual inspection of the hitch before each time you tow. Check that pinned connections are secure, that bolted connections are at the correct torque and that there are no cracks or damage. Do not tow with a hitch that shows cracks or damage outside normal wear.

B&W posted this maintenance video on its own channel about 10 years ago, so where the video and the sheet in your box differ, follow the sheet.

Safety chains and U-bolts

Each kit includes two spring loaded safety chain U-bolts that sit flush when not in use. On the F-150 sheet, B&W has you drill four 1/2 in holes from under the bed through the low rib that matches the center section's holes, drop a U-bolt in each set and add a conical spring over each leg with a 1/2 in lock nut, tightened until the nut is flush with the end of the U-bolt. Apart from the 4 in hole, those four holes are the only drilling in the bed. B&W notes that some trucks may also need a small notch in the bed flange. The frame side needs no drilling or welding.

B&W's short general guide to safety chains covers sizing, crossing and slack; follow your trailer maker's instructions for a gooseneck coupler.

Turnoverball kits we carry, by truck

Fit follows the listing exactly, so check your year, model and bed against this table before ordering.

The listings carry exclusions. The F150 listing excludes dual exhaust trucks, the Tremor, the Lightning, the Raptor and the 2019 to 2020 Limited. The 2500 and 3500 kit leaves out trucks with a CarbonPro bed. The 1500 kit leaves out the 2019 Chevrolet LD and GMC Limited, trucks with a CarbonPro bed and EV trucks. Each hitch ships in two boxes, a mounting kit and a center section. They can arrive on different days.

What owners say

We have 62 reviews on file for the Turnoverball kits. 61 give five stars and 1 gives one star. The same reviews appear on every Turnoverball kit page and include owners of trucks outside these five kits. The one star is a fit report from an owner whose truck is not on any listing here, so it is a reason to check fit, not a verdict on the hitch. None of the reviews on file use the words rust, noise or leak. None report a latch or rattle problem. One five-star review notes the U-bolt template was off by a quarter inch on both sides, which the owner straightened out before finishing.

The reviews also qualify the word bolt-on. From the reviews on file, one owner warns that wiring along the frame will chafe if it is not routed clear, one had to notch the bed and an exhaust shield, and one found it easier with the rear tail pipe removed.

“Looks great, and it is easy to turn over the ball.”

B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck Hitch, 2015-2026 Ford F150, 2-5/16" Ball (GNRK1121) owner · 5 out of 5 stars

Skip it if your trailer's coupler is neither 2-5/16 in nor a size B&W makes a ball for (its 3 in ball is sold separately), or if your truck is on the exclusion lists above. For the choice between kits and brands we carry, read the best gooseneck hitch. Weighing this against a bumper pull? See gooseneck vs bumper pull. Browse all gooseneck hitches or the full B&W trailer hitch range.

Frequently asked questions

What size is a gooseneck ball?

The ball in every B&W Turnoverball kit we list is 2-5/16 in. B&W says the trailer must have a matching 2-5/16 in coupler. B&W also makes a 3 in ball, GNXA2025, sold on its own for loads over 30,000 lb.

How much weight does a Turnoverball hold?

For the 2-5/16 in ball, B&W's figures are 30,000 lb gross trailer weight and 7,500 lb vertical tongue weight. The lower of the hitch figure and the truck's figure applies; the truck's numbers are in its owner's manual and on the door sticker.

How do I flip a Turnoverball?

Pull the handle out until it stops and slide it toward the cab to open the latch. Turn the ball over, then rotate the handle counterclockwise so the pin engages the ball again. Never drive with the latch open.

Should I take the ball out when I haul heavy loads in the bed?

Yes, if you are hauling heavy cargo with the ball stowed upside down. B&W warns the inverted ball may strike the differential, drive line or other parts under heavy loads, and says to check the clearance and remove the ball for heavy hauling. B&W sells a cover that keeps debris out of the empty socket.

How long does a Turnoverball take to install?

The reviews on file put the job anywhere between roughly 1 hour for one person and roughly 4 hours for two people who did not raise the bed. B&W's sheet calls for a 4 in hole saw, a drill, a torque wrench and 110 ft lb on the 1/2 in hardware. The full steps are in how to install a gooseneck hitch.

Related guides

• What Is a Gooseneck Hitch? How It Works, What It Tows and What You Need
• How to Install a Gooseneck Hitch: Tools, Steps and Cost, From B&W's Install Sheets
• Best Gooseneck Hitch: Pick the Right B&W Turnoverball Kit for Your Truck
• Gooseneck vs Bumper Pull: Capacity, Stability, Cost and Which Trailer Hitch Suits You
• Types of Trailer Hitches: Receiver, Gooseneck, Fifth Wheel and Weight Distribution