B&W Trailer Hitches 1400R User Manual

B&W Trailer Hitches

1216 Hawaii Road / PO Box 186
Humboldt, KS 66748

620.473.3664

800.248.6564
Fax: [phone]

NOTE: We recommend reading instructions before beginning the installation.
WARNING: The tow vehicle’s towing capacities should under NO circumstances be exceeded.

TurnoverballTM Gooseneck Hitch Installation Instructions

Call or E-mail for installation support

Model 1400R

Chevrolet & GMC (1973 - 1987)

1/2 - 3/4 - 1 Ton Trucks

[e-mail]
www.turnoverball.com

Mounting Kit Box (GNRK1400)

ITEM DESCRIPTION QTY

1 Center Assembly 1

2 2-5/16” Ball 1

Mounting Kit Bolt Bag

1/2" X 1-1/2" Carriage Bolt 4

1/2” Finish Nut 4

1/2” Lock Washer 4

1/2" Flat Washer 4

Safety Chain Kit Bolt Bag

3 1/2" U-Bolt 2

4 Conical Springs 4

5 1/2" Lock Nut 4

5/16" X 3/4" Carriage Bolt 1

5/16" X 3/4" Cap Screw 1

5/16" Flange Nut 1

NOTICE: This product was designed to t vehicles in their original, “as manufactured” condition. Compatibility with vehicles having
replacement parts, or other modications is not guaranteed. Inspect vehicle for modications before installation of this product.

BEFORE INSTALLING

OVERHEAD LIFTING DEVICE

An overhead-lifting device, such as chain falls, engine hoist, or cable come-a-long, can
be used to lift the center section of the hitch in place. Lower a loop of rope or chain

through the 4” hole in the truck bed oor and attach it to the latch pin in the round hitch

receiver tube in the center section. Use the lifting device to raise the center section

until the round hitch receiver tube that protrudes from the center section ts in the 4”
hole in the truck bed oor. Maintaining upward pressure may facilitate fastening the
crossmember to the center section, especially if the truck bed oor has been distorted
downward from heavy use. If you use an overhead-lifting device, it should be discon-

nected before squaring the center section across the frame, installing the sideplates
and torquing fasteners.

WARNING

Most trucks have FUEL LINES and/or BRAKE LINES and/or ELECTRICAL WIRES located along the frame rails where B&W Turn­overball™ hitches install. Carefully examine the location of fuel lines, brake lines and electrical wires BEFORE INSTALLATION.
Be certain you will not damage fuel lines, brake lines or electrical wires when positioning hitch components, drilling holes,
tightening fasteners, and lifting and lowering the truck bed. The fuel tank vent, located on top of the gas tank, can be easily
damaged during the installation of the hitch components. Care must be taken when positioning the front crossmember and

center section components.

Warning

On Short bed trucks, BEFORE INSTALLING THIS HITCH, check for adequate turning clearance between the front of all of your

trailers and the truck cab.

Warning

DO NOT invert the ball in the socket when carrying heavy loads on 2 wheel drive trucks. The ball may hit the top of the dif-
ferential. Remove the ball from the socket before loading. A plug for the socket is available from B & W.

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

STEP ONE

Mark a 4” round hole on the topside of the truck bed oor. Center the hole between the wheel wells and 49 ½” to the center
of the hole from the back edge of the truck bed. Drill a small hole inside the marked area and cut out the circle using a saber
saw with a metal cutting blade or a 4” hole saw.

STEP TWO

Loosen, but do not remove, the passenger’s side bed bolts. Remove all remaining bed bolts. (Loosen or remove running
board or other equipment fasteners that would prevent lifting the truck bed off the frame.) Raise the driver’s side of the truck
bed approximately 4” by jacking against the truck bed oor in front of the wheel well. (Be cautious of fuel ller hoses and
electrical wiring.)

STEP THREE

With the latch pin mechanism on the driver’s side, position the hitch receiver assembly across the top of the frame rails. Slowly
lower the truck bed, aligning the hitch receiver tube that protrudes from the hitch receiver assembly to t through the round
4” hole in the truck bed oor. Replace the bed bolts. Square the hitch receiver assembly across the frame. Check truck bed

alignment with the cab, and tighten the bed bolts.

STEP FOUR

Fastening the hitch receiver assembly to the truck frame requires drilling four 9/16” holes through the truck bed oor, hitch
receiver assembly and truck frame rails. To locate the holes, mark a line, squared across the truck bed oor, through the
center of the round hitch receiver tube. Mark the location on the line 15 ¾”from the center of the round hitch receiver tube
on each side. (If these locations are in a raised corrugation in the truck bed oor, insert a metal shim of the correct thickness
between the hitch receiver assembly and the truck bed oor in the raised corrugation.) Mark a hole location 3” above the
line and 3” below the line at these locations. Verify that these locations are near the center of the frame rails, and carefully
examine fuel lines, brake lines, and electrical wiring to assure adequate clearance. Mark, DOUBLE CHECK and center punch

these hole locations. To maintain proper alignment use the following procedure, one hole at a time: First, drill a ¼” pilot hole,

then drill a 9/16” hole through the pilot hole, and drop the bolt in the hole. When all holes have been drilled, use a at washer,

lock washer and tighten a nut on each bolt. Seat the square bolt shank of the bolts with several sharp hammer blows to the

bolt heads. Finally, torque the fasteners to 90 ft. lbs.

STEP FIVE

To install the safety chain brackets it is necessary to drill four ½” holes through the truck bed oor and the hitch receiver
assembly. Mark a location on the line, squared across the truck bed oor, centered through the round hitch receiver tube 6

¼” from the center of the round hitch receiver tube on each side. These locations should be in a low section of the corrugated

bed oor. Mark a hole location 1” above the line and 1” below the line at these locations. Center punch these hole locations
and drill ¼” pilot holes through the truck bed oor and hitch receiver assembly. Complete by drilling ½” holes through the
pilot holes. Drop a safety chain bracket (U-bolt) through each pair of holes from the topside of the truck bed oor. Place a

spring and lock nut on each of the four legs. Tighten the lock nuts until ¼” of threads extends through the lock nut.

STEP SIX

Retract the latch pin by pulling the handle all the way out and sliding it to the left. Place the 2-5/16” ball in the hitch receiver.
Engage the latch pin by moving the handle to the right and in. Be certain the latch pin passes through the hole and the 2-5/16”
ball and fully engages through the hitch receiver. Repeat this process with the 2-5/16” ball in all eight positions. Grease the

square base of the 2-5/16” ball.

Copyright 2014
B&W Custom Truck Beds, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

1400R - 05 01 2014