B&W Trailer Hitches Turnoverball Model 1197 (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 sec-
tion 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, 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. We recommend removing the bed bolts on the driver’s side and lifting
the bed to give you more clearance during installation of the hitch parts under the bed floor.
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
STEP ONE
Mark a 4” round hole on the topside of the truck bed floor. Center the hole between the wheel wells and
46 1/2 “ to the center of the hole from the back edge of the truck bed (tail gate end). This will place the
Turnoverball™ hitch about 6” forward of the truck axle center. Drill a small hole inside the area marked
and cut out the round hole, using a 4” hole saw or use a saber saw and metal cutting blade.
STEP 2
Select the rear crossmember (2) that is notched on one side. With the long (2 ½”) 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, equally 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 3
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 sec-
tion to the crossmembers, as shown in Fig. A, using the six ½” x 1 ½” bolts. Start these bolts through
the slots in the crossmember using a flat washer and lock washer on each bolt. Align the assembly with
frame rails and tighten.
STEP 5
To install the safety chain brackets (6) it is necessary to drill four ½” holes through the truck bed floor. Drill
the holes from beneath the truck, through the four holes furthest from the round hitch receiver tube in the
center section. Drop a U-bolt through each pair of holes from the topside of the truck bed floor. Place a spring
and lock nut on each of the four legs. Tighten the lock nuts until ¼” of thread extends through the lock nut.
STEP 6
WARNING: LATCH PIN WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IF HANDLE IS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY.
Install the handle (7) from underneath the truck by inserting it through the slot in the end of the center
section toward the driver’s side rear tire as shown. Attach the handle to the latch pin as shown with the
handle on the “cab side” of the square tab welded to the pin. The head of the bolt must be on the handle
side, and the lock nut must be on the tab side. The tab is welded to the pin in an offset position so that the
handle will be lined up over the center of the pin. If the handle is fastened to the other side of the tab, the
handle will not function properly. When installed correctly the latch pin may be disengaged from the ball by
pulling on the handle from the driver’s side wheel well and rotating the handle clockwise.
STEP 7
Retract the latch pin by pulling the handle out until it stops and then rotating it slightly to the left. Place the
2-5/16” ball (8) in the hitch receiver. Engage the latch pin by rotating the handle slightly to the right. Be
certain the latch pin passes through the holes in the 2-5/16” ball and fully engages through both sides of
the receiver tube. Repeat this process with the 2-5/16” ball in all four positions, both upright and inverted.
Lightly lubricate the four corners of the hitch ball.
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.
STEP 4
Square the assembled center section and crossmembers across the frame. Install the sideplates (4 & 5) on
the outside of the frame rails by attaching the sideplates to the crossmembers using ½” x 1 ½” bolts, flat
washer, lock washer and nut. Do not fully tighten. Attach the sideplate to the frame utilizing 7/8” X 2 ½” bolt
and the 7/16” X 1 ½” bolts provided in the mounting kit. Repeat steps on opposite side. On some frames it
may be necessary to drill the 7/16” hole. Drill one of the 3 holes at the rear of the sideplate, taking care to
avoid the fuel line, brake line and electrical wires located on the inside of the frame. With the crossmem-
bers, center section and sideplates installed, torque all fasteners to 90 ft. lbs., in the following sequence.
(Use caution not to damage the brake line or fuel line). First, torque the crossmembers to the center section.
Second, torque the crossmembers to the sideplates. Third, torque the sideplates to the frame rails.