Buyers G9003 User manual

Quality since 1946
9049 Tyler Blvd. • Mentor, Ohio 44060
Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]
Toll-Free Fax [phone] • buyersproducts.com
Installation Instructions
Fig. 1 Gooseneck Ball Assembly
G9003
Gooseneck Retractable Ball Mount
Read These Installation Instructions
Completely Before Starting Installation
The retractable ball mount is a 2-5/16" hitch ball designed to
be mounted on a truck and positioned forwards and above
the rear axle. This device is specifically for towing goose-
neck trailers.
• Maximum Gross Vehicle Weight: 25,000 lbs.
• Ball Size: 2-5/16" diameter
• Vertical Load Capacity: 5,000 lbs.
The instructions following are for mounting the retractable
gooseneck ball in a pickup truck bed. Do not exceed the
towing vehicle’s rated towing capacity.
Truck Bed Floor Cut-Out and
Mounting Location
1. The installed gooseneck hitch baIl should be centered
between the sides of the truck bed. The ball in raised posi-
tion should be in the center of the floor (between the sides)
and 2" to 6" forwards of the rear axle center line
(see Fig. 1).
CAUTION: The ball must be positioned to allow adequate
clearance between the gooseneck trailer and the rear cor-
ners of the truck bumper. Adequate clearance between the
gooseneck trailer and the rear of the truck cab must be pro-
vided. The preceding clearances should be checked with
the trailer center axis 90° to the truck center axis.
2. Identify and mark the pickup bed area where the center
of the hitch ball will be after installation.
3. An 8" x 11-1/2" template cut-out will be used to install
the gooseneck hitch ball.
Refer to Fig. 2 to make sure of the
correct position of the 8" x 11-1/2" template cut-out. This will
allow for flush mounting of the folding hitch ball. CAUTION:
Check for all important truck components prior to drilling or
cutting the truck bed. Do not cut the brake lines or cables,
fuel lines, vents, electrical wiring, etc. If a cross member is
encountered interfering with the cut-out, move the assem-
bly fore or aft to clear the cross member. The center of the
ball must locate 2" to 6" forward of the rear axle centerline.
4. The 8" x 11-1/2" template cut-out should be offset to the
driver’s side of the truck bed floor.
5. Cut 8" x 11-1/2" template outline on the floor of the truck bed.
6. The gooseneck hitch ball assembly must be supported
by the truck frame rails. The following two methods
provide for fabricating proper support structures for
frame attachment. Either method will be satisfactory :
Fig. 2 Gooseneck Ball Installation
—continued inside

Quality since 1946
2
Fig. 3 Bedplate Material
Bed Plate Support Structure Method
Material to be provided by installer:
1 - 26" x 40" x 3/8" thick steel ASTM A-36 steel specifications
2 - 2" x 2" x l/4" thick steel angle iron 26" long ASTM A-36
steel specifications
6 - 3/8" thick x 2" wide steel bar (approximately 6' required:
see note*) ASTM A-36 steel specification
20 - 1/2" x (approximately 2": see note**) SAE grade 5 hex
head cap screws
20 - SAE grade 5 hex nuts
20 - 1/2" lockwashers
• Note*: As truck frames and truck beds vary, this material
must be cut and bent by the installer to fit the particular
application.
• Note**: The length of the 1/2" SAE grade 5 hex head cap
screws may vary to suit particular applications.
• Torque 1/2" SAE grade 5 fasteners to 60 ft. lbs.
• Torque 5/8" SAE grade 5 fasteners to 110 ft. lbs.
1. Place bed plate in the center of the pickup truck bed.
See Fig 4.
2. Align 8" x 11-1/2" cut-out in bed plate with corresponding
cut-out in the truck bed.
3. Place gooseneck hitch ball assembly into the hole in the
bed plate positioning
as shown in figure 4.
Fig. 4 Installation of Bedplate
4. Using the four square holes in the gooseneck ball assem-
bly as guides, drill four 11/16" diameter holes through the
bed plate and the truck bed.
5. Install the four grade 5 carriage bolts through the hitch
ball assembly, bed plate and truck bed. Install the flat-
washers under the truck bed using shims to compensate
for the corrugations in the truck bed.
6. Torque the 5/8" hex nuts to 110 ft. lbs.
7. Place the two 2" x 2" x 1/4" thick stiffener angles to the
underside of the truck bed to allow the securing bolts to
pass through the truck bed and the bed plate.
8. Drill four 17/32" holes at the front end area of the bed
plate to mount the forward stiffener angle. Repeat the
operation in the rear end area of the bed plate for the rear
stiffener angle.
9. Fasten front and rear stiffener angles to the underside of
the truck bed with eight SAE grade 5 bolts, nuts and lock-
washers. Torque 1/2" grade 5 hex nuts to 60 ft./lbs.
10. Fabricate six brackets from the 3/8" x 2" bar stock. These
brackets are used to secure the bed plate to the truck frame.
Fabricate three brackets for each side of the bed plate.
11. Installed brackets must fit flush against the frame rail
and the under side of the truck bed.
See Fig. 5.
12. Clamp the steel brackets along each side of the truck
frame rail. Drill 17/32" (.531) diameter holes through the
truck bed and the bed plate.
13. Use 1/2" diameter SAE grade 5 bolts, nuts and lockwash-
ers to secure the brackets to the truck bed and bed plate.
14. Drill 17/32" holes through the vertical legs of the steel
brackets and truck frame. Holes should be drilled near the
horizontal center line of the truck frame channel.
15. Use 1/2" diameter SAE grade 5 bolts, nuts and lock-
washers to secure brackets to truck frame.
16. Torque all fasteners to 60 ft./lbs.
17. Proceed with installation check on page 4.
WARNING:
Do not weld brackets to the frame of the truck.
Use SAE grade 5 fasteners properly torqued.
Fig. 5 Bedplate Cut-Away View

Quality since 1946
3
—continued on back
Fig. 6 Components of H-Frame
H-Frame Support Structure Method
A steel bar frame is fabricated as shown in Fig. 6.
1. Install gooseneck ball assembly in truck bed cut-out.
Insure raised ball is centered between truck bed side rails.
2. Mark and drill four 11/16" diameter holes in truck bed
using square holes in gooseneck ball assembly as a guide
for location.
See Fig. 7.
3. Position H-frame assembly under floor of truck bed and
above truck frame rails. Line up with bed floor cut-out.
Wedge or clamp in place flush with bottom of truck bed.
4. Drill four 11/16" holes in H-frame using holes drilled in
step 2 as guides.
5. Install the four SAE grade 5, 5/8" diameter carriage bolts
through the gooseneck ball assembly, truck bed, and
H-frame. Install flat washers, lockwashers, and SAE grade 5
nuts. Shim, as required to level corrugations in truck bed.
6. Torque nuts to 60 ft./lbs.
WARNING:
Secure H-frame to truck frame with four 2" wide x 3/8"
thick steel angle brackets, using two per side as shown
in Fig. 6 and Fig. 8. These must be fabricated to fit a
particular truck.
7. Attach brackets to truck bed and H-frame
as shown in
Fig. 8.
Use SAE grade 5 hex bolts, nuts, and Iockwashers.
Torque to 110 ft/lbs.
8. Drill two 17/32" holes through bracket vertical legs and
truck frame rails.
9. Secure brackets to frame rails with SAE grade 5
1/2" dia. bolts, nuts, and lockwashers. Torque to 60 ft./lbs.
WARNING:
Do not weld brackets to the truck frame.
Use only SAE grade 5 fasteners properly torqued.
10. Proceed with installation check described on page 4.
Fig. 7 Installation of H-Frame
Fig. 8 H-Frame Cut-Away View

Quality since 1946
9049 Tyler Blvd. • Mentor, Ohio 44060
Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]
Toll-Free Fax [phone] • buyersproducts.com
G9003Inst Rev. C
Warranty
Buyers Products Co. warrants all truck/trailer hardware manufac-
tured or distributed by it, to be free from defects in material and
workmanship for a period of one year from date of shipment. Parts
must be properly installed and used under normal conditions. Any
product which has been altered, including modification, misuse,
accident or lack of maintenance will not be considered under
warranty. Normal wear is excluded. The sole responsibility of Buyers
Products Co. under this warranty is limited to repairing or replacing
any part or parts which are returned, prepaid, and are found to be
defective by Buyers Products Co. Authorization from Buyers
Products Co. must be obtained before returning any part. No charges
for transportation or labor performed on Buyers’ products will be
allowed under this warranty.
Installation Check
1. Connect towing vehicle to trailer (use the coupler manu-
facturers’ operating instructions).
2. Adjust coupler to provide approximately 6" of space
between bottom of trailer overhang and top of pickup
bed sides.
3. Assure adequate clearance between pickup bed or
bumper corner and the lower front of trailer. Assure ade-
quate clearance between upper front corner of trailer and
pickup cab rear.
4. Recheck above with trailer at 90° to centerline of
pickup truck.
Operation of Gooseneck Ball Assembly
1. Remove 1/2" stainless steel hex head bolt and
lockwasher.
2. Raise ball by inserting finger into trap door hole and
raising door and ball.
3. Leaving ball raised, lower trap door to lock ball in
upright position. Replace 1/2" stainless steel hex head bolt
and lockwasher.
4. To lower ball, remove 1/2" stainless steel hex head bolt
and lockwasher, lift trap door open; lower ball and close
trap door; replace 1/2" stainless steel hex head bolt and
lockwasher.
Gooseneck Ball Assembly Maintenance
1. Keep assembly free of dirt and foreign matter.
2. Lubricate ball zinc fitting with waterproof grease every
90 days, or sooner if required.
3. Lubricate remaining moving parts with SAE 30 oil every
90 days, or sooner if required.
4. Coat ball monthly with a good grade of paste wax.
5. Check torque of fasteners monthly.
6. Check assembly for wear prior to use. If ball is bent,
worn, or shows signs of cracking DO NOT USE. Replace
assembly if above conditions exist.