Relocating Gooseneck Hitch Rearward

Looking at installing a gooseneck hitch on my 18 Crewmax (5.5' bed). I have a toolbox in my bed that creates some clearance issues, even with a 4" setback insert. What I'm wondering from those that have goosenecks is if you can look under your truck and let me know how much clearance I could gain if I slid the gooseneck back until it hit something, and custom-drilled holes for the bolts rather than using the 'no-drill' method. It looks like I'd only gain an inch or so, based on where the bed supports show in photos I've seen.

Yes, I know the impact shifting it back will have on weight distribution and such.

 

Yeah, I know. The challenge is that I periodically use my truck to move a lot of different trailers at the barn...a flatbed, a dropdeck, stock trailers, etc. So if I found a gooseneck insert that was a 7" offset, I'd be golden...but installing a different offset neck on 5 trailers is not an elegant solution.

 

Will do. I am running a 1st gen. I just put a toolbox in, and didn't put it all the way to the front, so not to cover the holes for stakes, etc. I think it is too close, and may move the box. But I will check.

 

Delightfully unhelpful, and offensive to farmers. Nicely done.

If you want to have an intelligent discussion about the engineering ramifications, I'd be happy to do so in PM. I've done so already, and calculated the impact on front axle weights and such to my satisfaction. The part that I do not know, because I do not have a gooseneck on my truck yet, is how much aft clearance there is. If there is a foot of aft clearance, I wouldn't move the hitch back a foot because of the calculations and thought I've put into this. If there are a few inches, that would solve my problem elegantly and safely.

If anyone can provide an actual response to the inquiry rather than insulting an entire (and quite honorable) profession and rushing to uninformed judgment, I'd greatly appreciate your kindness.

 

I didn't measure exactly, just a quick look, but anything more than 6 inches is bumping up against the spare.

 

Thanks! What about supports for the bed? Is there a lateral (left to right) support for the bed that would block the hitch from moving aft?

 

On mine, anything more than a few inches, you are running into interference with the drivers side shock mounts. Other than that...