Gooseneck Hitch Prices-What's Up

[downslope]

When I bought my new Chevy 3500 in 2008 I looked online at GN hitch prices and remember them running in the low-mid $200's for Reese/Drawtite etc and maybe around $300 for B&W.
Well I wasn't able to get a trailer until now and it seems all the prices have gone up; I thought we were in a recession:laughing: What is up with this anyways?

Anyway currently the B&W seems to be fixed at $399 (I was told the manufacturer started enforcing fixed minimum pricing in late 2009) and the other name brands seem to be running about $50 less than that.

I need to pull a 14-16K trailer so what should I get with decent quality and ease of install? I will probably have to purchase online since anything local is outrageously priced. One dealer quoted me $800 to install a Drawtite in 2008. I will do the install myself. Any good online sources?

 

[KB9UDE]

B&W is a great hitch. I love the fact I can turn over the ball and have full use of my truck bed. www.etrailer.com seems to be a good trailer site. I bought my B&W locally and helped them install it. I think I could do the next one after watching this install. Not to hard at all. The only reason I bought local was they had one around for my truck at a great price...

 

[Big Bri]

I went with the b&w. Paid 400 for it and then 250 to install it along with a 7 way plug in the bed. I could have installed it myself but just didn't have the time.

 

[Diamondpilot]

When I bought my new Chevy 3500 in 2008 I looked online at GN hitch prices and remember them running in the low-mid $200's for Reese/Drawtite etc and maybe around $300 for B&W.
Well I wasn't able to get a trailer until now and it seems all the prices have gone up; I thought we were in a recession:laughing: What is up with this anyways?

Anyway currently the B&W seems to be fixed at $399 (I was told the manufacturer started enforcing fixed minimum pricing in late 2009) and the other name brands seem to be running about $50 less than that.

I need to pull a 14-16K trailer so what should I get with decent quality and ease of install? I will probably have to purchase online since anything local is outrageously priced. One dealer quoted me $800 to install a Drawtite in 2008. I will do the install myself. Any good online sources?

Get the B&W. Its top notch.

Chris

 

[CosmoAU]

I'm with everyone here on the B&W. It's definately worth $50 more. I installed one on a 05 Ram 2500 that I used to have. Did it in about 2.5 hours with a friends help. It took me about 30 minutes to convince myself I was drilling a 4" hole in my bed in the right spot so really only 2 hours working time

 

[HHR]

During the economic crisis when hitch sales slumped, B&W kept all of it's employees working and paid. They were tasked with local community improvement projects and service. This action will move me to buy my next hitch from B&W (even at a higher cost).

 

[IC Smoke]

I woudlnt buy anything but a B&W! I have the flip over gooseneck and the "Tow and Stow" drop hitch. The drop hitch is excellent! I have 5 different bumper pull trailers and only two use the same drop and ball. The tow and stow helps out tremendously with eliminating the hitch collecting in my toolbox! I now just have one locked in the hitch.

This is a pic of the shorter version. I have the tall one.

Ian

 

[brain55]

I'm with everyone here on the B&W. It's definately worth $50 more. I installed one on a 05 Ram 2500 that I used to have. Did it in about 2.5 hours with a friends help. It took me about 30 minutes to convince myself I was drilling a 4" hole in my bed in the right spot so really only 2 hours working time

I hear that. I put one in a buddy's truck a little while back and that was the hardest part. Luckily he wasn't there or it would have taken even longer.

Brian

I would vote for the B&W also, but I have never used anything else.

 

[KWentling]

I put a Draw-Tite on my '04 Dodge. The dealer I bought from had both the B&W and Draw-Tite side by side in a display. There didn't look like $100 difference in them to me so I bought the cheaper one and I installed it myself. I've pulled 28,000+(combined) with it no problem. I'm sure the B&W is a good one too.

Kim

 

[BobG_in_VA]

When I bought my '99 F350 PSD, it had a Curt gooseneck fold down already installed... Rated at 30,000 lbs...No problems, it does good work. BobG in VA