Recommended Offset Ball for Clearance w/ a Short Bed Truck and a Reese Goose Box

Question:

Hi! We are purchasing a 2021 Alliance Paradigm 340rl and have a 2018 Ram 3500 Crew Cab, short bed with a BandW gooseneck turnoverball hitch installed. Wondering if the new gen 3 reese goose box will be sufficient for towing/turn clearance or will we still need a sidewinder/slider set up? Newbie here if any of this doesnt make sense! :

asked by: Leslie A

Helpful Expert Reply:

Congrats on the new hobby! A Reese Goose Box like item # RP85FR doesn't do much to help you with clearance and you will want all the help you can get with a short bed truck. You have two options to get more clearance when turning or backing in with your 2018 Ram 3500 with a 6-1/2' bed and I have listed them below:

The first option, and the one I highly recommend if you don't already have a Reese Goosebox, is to not change out the king pin on your 2021 Alliance Paradigm 340RL and use a sliding hitch like the B&W Companion Slider item # BWRVK3400. This hitch has a 20,000 lbs capacity and will give you 12" of travel for making tight turns and backing into spaces.

The second option, which works great with a Reese Goosebox, is the 4" Offset Ball for B&W Turnoverball Gooseneck Trailer Hitches item # BWGNXA4085. This gooseball will attach to the B&W Turnoverball item # BWGNRK1314 in your Ram truck and pushes your gooseball back 4" towards the bed of your truck. This will give you enough room to make turns if your Alliance Paradigm 340RL doesn't have a large front end.

I have linked a couple of review videos below so you can take a look at both options I have presented. If you have any questions please feel free to email me back and I will be happy to help. If you are needing help finding the correct goosebox then I would just need to see the sticker on your 5th wheel trailer's pin box so I can find you the right one.

You can not use a sidewinder pin box or any rotating pin box with a B&W turnover ball system and Companion Hitch. The turnover ball system does not have the strength to withstand the extra stress put on it by a rotating pin box. The only Companions that work with rotating pin boxes mount in the factory puck systems.

To make towing with a 5th wheel easier I recommend adding the Curt 5th Wheel/Gooseneck Custom Wiring Harness w/ 7-Pole Connector - 10' Long item # C56000 to your 2018 Ram 3500. This harness puts a 7-way connector in the bed of your truck and allows you to keep the one on your bumper. This makes hooking up to your 5th wheel trailer easier and more convenient.