Andersen Ultimate toolbox version

[MD-Escape]

My tow vehicle is a 2018 F150 with a 6.5' bed. I need to purchase a hitch for my B&W turnover ball.

I know the Andersen Ultimate Connection Gooseneck aluminum hitch is highly recommended and has been discussed in the forum many times. I assume the correct version for my truck and a 5.0TA would be the #3220.

However I can't make up my mind between the "regular" gooseneck mount (#3220) and the toolbox version (#3220TBX). I can't figure out what the differences are other than the toolbox version is "specially designed to be used in truck beds with a large fuel tank or toolbox." The pictures on the Andersen site look identical. Does the base have different dimensions? Does the ball have fewer positions? What am I losing if I choose the 3220TBX?

All things being equal why would you *not* get the toolbox version?

(The TBX is $100 more via Andersen but $200 cheaper than the regular via Amazon. Go figure.)

Links:
https://andersenhitches.com/collecti...seneck-version

https://andersenhitches.com/products...-toolbox-model

Thanks,

-Rob

[Centex]

If you click the "See Dimensions" link on either of the webpages you linked you'll get the PDF attached to this post with detailed dimensions for each model; therein are the differences.

Note that the 3220 standard and the 3220TBX have the same base size but the TBX base is biased more to the rear of the ball; with the TBX you have 3.5" less distance between the base and the tailgate, the same amount more between the base and the front of the bed.

SO, all things being equal, pick the one with the base location you prefer in light of how you use your bedspace, the location of the Andersen ball relative to your B&W Turnoverball will be the same in either case (5.5" behind).

FWIW pics are of my 6.5ft bed 2005 F150 with the 3220 standard on a B&W Turnoverball and a toolbox that measures 12.5" along the bedrails; I've got 23.5" from the back of the Andersen base to the tailgate and would not want the 3.5" less that the TBX would provide.

Some will doubtless chime-in advocating for the rail mount version with it's smaller base, but that's a different animal entirely as you know (I love my rail-less bed between towing adventures, I had the turnover ball and that toolbox in my truck for years of towing gooseneck trailers before I got my 5.0).

YMMV, hope that helps, Happy Trailering!

[MD-Escape]

Thanks for the info. I didn’t notice the offset of the base.

[Jim Bennett]

I too have a large toolbox at the front of my 6.5' bed and have no issues with the standard gooseneck hitch. It has worked great for 7 years now.

Mine has the old style pin adapter and I had to buy a tapered attachment to give it the same angled approach for connection that the new ones have.