B&W Trailer Hitches Turnoverball Model 1104 (Ford) - Manual (Page 2)

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 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, especially 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 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 and tightening fasteners. 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.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
STEP ONE - REMOVE SPARE TIRE TO EASE INSTALLATION.
STEP TWO - MARKING AND CUTTING 4 INCH HOLE IN TRUCK BED FLOOR
Begin by verifying and measuring the correct hole location in the truck bed
floor. Measure from the back end (tailgate end) of the truck bed floor by
hooking a tape measure over the back of the truck box and mark the floor
at the correct measurement. Next, center the location between the wheel
wells. This will be the center point for the 4-inch hole. 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 4-inch hole at this location using a 4-inch hole saw, or by marking a 4-inch
circle and cutting it out with a saber saw equipped with a metal cutting blade.
STEP THREE - CROSS MEMBER INSTALLATION
Select the rear crossmember (2) that is notched on one side. With the long (2 1/2”) side of the angle
iron pointing down and the short (2”) side with the notches facing the rear of the truck, position it across
the top of the frame rails, between the bed and frame, by pushing it through the opening in the wheel
well on the driver’s side of the truck. Make certain that the notches fit tightly against the truck bed
crossmember on the back of the truck. Select the second crossmember (1) without notches and place it
between the bed and frame, by pushing it through the opening in the wheel well on the driver’s side of
the truck. With the two crossmembers approximately parallel, position them about 9” apart, spaced in
front and behind the hole in the truck bed floor and hanging over the same distance on each side of the
frame rails.
STEP FOUR
With the latch pin mechanism on the driver’s side
of the truck, raise the center section(3) of the
hitch into position between the crossmembers
from beneath the truck. The round tube hitch
receiver that protrudes from the center section must fit through the hole in the truck bed floor. Fasten
the center section to the crossmembers using seven of the 1/2” x 1 1/2” bolts. Start these bolts through
the holes in the crossmember and place a flat washer, a lock washer and nut on each bolt DO NOT fully
tighten at this time.
STEP FIVE- INSTALL SIDEPLATES
Vehicle equipment with a NO-CAP fuel neck have a drain/vent hose attached to the frame on the driver side
in the area where the rear shock mounts to the frame. This hose must be detached from the frame and
relocate before installing the sideplate for the drivers side.
Install the sideplates by placing the top back hole over the stud on the rear cross member with a flat washer,
lock washer, and nut, then bolt the front flange of the sideplate to the front cross member with a bolt, flat
washer , lock washer, and nut DO NOT fully tighten at this time. The two holes at the front of the side-
plates should align with two holes in the frame behind the shock and shock mount. Next place a flat washer,
lock washer, and nut on one end of the 2” u-bolt. (see fig. 1) Place the other end into the smaller hole at the
front of the sideplate and twist through the frame until the threaded end is protruding out the other hole of
the sideplate ( as shown in pictures above). Next place the sideplate insert over this
end, being sure that the straight edge of the insert lines up with the straight edge
of the hole of the sideplate and is pushed into the frame all the way. (The insert will
not set flush against the sideplate when tightened if it is not properly aligned.) Then
place a lock washer and nut on the u-bolt and tighten both ends of the u-bolt to 45
ft. lbs. Repeat for other side. Next tighten the seven center section bolts to 90 ft.
lbs. Then tighten the two bolts that fasten the sideplates to the cross members on
each side to 90 ft. lbs.
TIP: B&W uses a 3/4” piece
of plywood as a drilling guide
to prevent the hole saw from
moving while drilling the 4”
hole in the truck bed.
Truck Ball
Type Location
Short & Long 45 1/8”
Beds
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 AVAILABLE FROM B & W.