B&W Trailer Hitches Turnoverball Model 1251 (Toyota) - Manual (Page 2)

BEFORE INSTALLING
OVERHEAD LIFTING DEVICE
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 instal-
lation 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 differential. Remove the ball from the socket before loading. A plug for the socket is avail-
able from B & W.
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 floor 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 fits in the 4” hole in the truck bed floor. Maintaining upward
pressure may facilitate fastening the crossmember to the center section, es-
pecially if the truck bed floor has been distorted downward from heavy use. If you use an overhead-lifting
device, it should be disconnected before squaring the center section across the frame, installing the side-
plates and torquing fasteners.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
General Information
The Toyota Tundra truck has two bed cross members about six inches apart over the rear axle. A special
center section has been developed to fit between these two bed cross members. The center section is formed
to allow the Turnoverball™ cross bars to be located in front of and behind the bed cross members. Because
the center section fits so closely between the cross members, it is very important that the 4” hole in the
truck bed floor be carefully measured and precisely located. This hitch
also utilizes side plates that attach to the inside of the truck frame rails, rather
than the outsides of the frame as do other Turnoverball™ hitches.
STEP ONE
Begin by verifying and measuring the correct hole location in the truck bed
floor. Measure from the back end (tail gate end) of the truck bed floor by hook-
ing a tape measure over the back of the sheet metal and marking the floor at
the 46 1/4”. Center the measurement between the fender wheel wells. This
location is critical to the correct installation of this hitch, so measure, mark and
saw carefully. If the truck has a plastic bed liner, you may drill through both,
but it is more difficult to accurately locate the midpoint between the fender
wheel wells, and to be sure that the bed liner does not move while sawing the
hole. Make a four-inch hole at this location using a four-inch hole saw, or by
marking a four-inch circle and cutting it out with a saber saw equipped with a
metal cutting blade.
STEP FOUR
Now install the Side Plates. On the driver’s side, inside the frame rail, take
the brake lines loose by removing the plastic clip holder from the frame.
Hitting the plastic stud from the outside of the frame with a hammer will
easily get it loose. Pull the brake lines away from the frame only far enough
to slip the side plate in behind them. These side plates are bent to an angle
shape, and the wider of the two sides is to the top, and the two slots in the
top are to align with, and bolt to, the holes in the cross bars. Determine
which is for the right and left side of the truck. The driver’s side-Side Plate
has a large notch removed from the back end. Start bolts (½” x 1 ½”)
using a flat washer and lock washer on each into the bar through the top
slots. The vertical side of each side plate has large holes that align with
holes in the truck frame rail. Install the bolts (3/4 x 2”) with a flat washer
on each side, and a lock washer and nut, from the outside of the frame to
the inside. Tighten all fasteners.
STEP TWO
Before positioning the cross bars, move the electrical wire harness
by pulling the plastic clips loose from the driver’s side frame rail.
Select the front cross bar (1). The front cross bar has a notch
machined at one end for clearance over a frame rivet. With the
drilled and tapped holes down and the notch to the passenger side
of the truck, maneuver the bar to where it is on top of the frame in
front of the bed cross member forward of the 4” hole. Now put the
back cross bar (2) above the frame behind the bed cross member
rearward of the 4” hole with the drilled and tapped holes down.
STEP THREE
With the latch pin mechanism on the driver’s side, raise the
center section (3) of the hitch into position between the cross
members from beneath the truck. The round receiver tube that
protrudes from the center section must fit through the hole in
the truck bed floor. If you are using an overhead-lifting device,
attach the lifting device to the latch pin through the receiver
tube to help support the center section. Align the holes in the
bars with the center section bridging bars, and fasten the center
section to the cross bars using the eight ½” X 1 ½” bolts, with
a lock washer on each. Use the overhead lifting device to put
some upward pressure on the center section if necessary to
aid alignment.
STEP FIVE
To install the safety chain brackets (5) it is necessary to drill four ½” holes
through the truck bed floor. Drill the holes from beneath the truck, through
the four holes located near the round hitch receiver tube in the center
section. From the topside of the truck floor, insert a U-bolt through each
pair of holes. Place a spring and lock nut on each of the our legs. Tighten
the lock nuts until ¼” of thread extends through the lock nut.