Anyone install their own 5th wheel hitch?

[steved]

OK, my 15k Reese is coming in tomorrow morning...



I'm going to use the universal brackets, not the custom dodge mounts (they were almost as much as the hitch)... I plan on just drilling one side of the frame... fishing the nut into the inside of the frame through an existing hole. Of the three places I looked to buy a hitch from, none of them used the custom plates... they used the universal, even on the newer dodges with the tubular frame.



And don't get me wrong, if my trailer weighed more that 3500#s, I would have bought the custom brackets... but I could probably bolt this thing to the bed with fender washers and be OK for what I'm doing!!



What is involved with the install?? Is it really as easy as drilling four holes (two for each mounting rail) in the bed and four holes in the frame (again, two for each rail)??



Anyone give me some insight as to what I'm getting into??? Will it be an afternoon affair? Or should I look into having the seller bring the camper up to me??



If there was another TDR member in the Harrisburg area, I'd ask them. I'm a little pressed for time... got to get the hitch installed, get the new camper, PULL the hitch out, and load my slide-in by Friday!!!



steved

 

[Hoefler]

It is not a bad job, just pull the rear tires and use jack stands to support the truck, took me 2 hours to do mine. I bought the custom brackets from a Reese dealer online for $60. 00. Comes with all the hardware and the special wire used to fish the bolts through the holes in the frame.

 

[steved]

It is not a bad job, just pull the rear tires and use jack stands to support the truck, took me 2 hours to do mine. I bought the custom brackets from a Reese dealer online for $60. 00. Comes with all the hardware and the special wire used to fish the bolts through the holes in the frame.

Hmmm, the brackets I saw were around $250 for the set on every site I visited???



I guess we'll see what happens... if anything, I can always make my own fishing tools.



steved

 

[ScottLewis]

I too used the clamp on brackets, The toughest part is proper location of the holes so you don't have to make them too big. It's tough to locate and drill them from the bottom because there isn't much room. Take your time and measure carefully. You can do it at least as well as a shop. After all you have more personal interest in making it look nice.



Dan

 

[steved]

Well, at least my confidence hasn't been blown by the responses...

I didn't think it was rocket science, but the amount of $$$ and time the dealers were talking about for installation was nuts... I was quoted $1100 from one, $900 from another (both included the cost of the hitch)...

I just didn't know if the frame brackets were absolutely needed... sounds like they really aren't...

steved

 

[Garlic]

I installed my hitch rails in my 07. 5 3500 in about 2 1/2 hours. It did however call for 2 special brackets that were $60. 00 for the pair. Reese has a real good layout measurement for their plates, use them. That way you can hit the reinforcing channels under the box rather than through the tubes.

My 96 2500 the king pin sat 4" forward of the axle, the 07. 5 sits at axle centerline. The balance is great and I did not have to take the tires off and I used a cordless drill.

 

[MoparDave]

I have a Pullrite so this will not be much help but with the custom brackets I was done in about an 1 1/2 hours. I think your going to want to install the frame brackets. Let me know how you make out I'm not available Friday or the weekend but if your in a bind i may be able to help.

 

[steved]

I have a Pullrite so this will not be much help but with the custom brackets I was done in about an 1 1/2 hours. I think your going to want to install the frame brackets. Let me know how you make out I'm not available Friday or the weekend but if your in a bind i may be able to help.

MoparDave: Thanks for the offer... I should be able to get it hopefully. I am installing the universal frame mounts... just not the "custom mounts" that are also offered...



Garlic: What did the two brackets do?? I was told the universals would be all that was needed, but that was a dealer.



Thanks,

steved

 

[steved]

My hitch supplier is looking for the part in question...



steved

 

[steved]

OK, got off the phone with tweedle-dumb... there are three kits... frame rail brackets ($250), mounting rails with mounting brackets ($126), and the mounting brackets w/ hardware ($67). Took her 20 minutes to look something up that the owner took under 30 seconds to find when I was there Friday...



So I bought the dodge-specific mounting brackets w/ hardware for $67... I'm guessing this is what the "bracket" is that was eluded to earlier?? I guess I'll find out at 9AM tomorrow!



steved

 

[Grizzly]

I installed a PullRite 16K hitch with the Super Bracket Kit with the bolt set fished through the frame just last month. What I like about this system is that when I am not using the 5er, I can remove the hitch, rails and four long pins for a clean bed with four 1 3/4" holes in the bed, which I cover with my rubber bed mat. I spend a day installing the brackets. It was well worth it for me to install my own hitch because if I had decided to have the RV dealer install my hitch they would have just drilled the frame for the bolts. So they said since they only have two hours to complete the job.



In addition, the PullRite is a great hitch. The truck and the 27' 5er acted like one unit on our 2300 mile trip pulling the trailer from Pinehurst, Idaho through Washington, Oregon, Sierra Nevada Mountains in California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.

 

[klenger]

I've never heard of anyone who did a DIY 5th wheel hitch installation that did not have good results. I have heard of several "professional" installations that were FUBAR.

 

[steved]

GRRRRRRR!!! I ordered the wrong brackets...



I assumed that the ones I needed were the $70 versions... turns out, I need $15 brackets. The $70 versions are for a 2500/3500 with overload springs... I don't have overload springs!!!



I think they will still work, I'll just have a extra tab on the bracket, and spend more $$$ on them...



Oh, hopefully the dodge gods let this install go easy... :-laf



steved

 

[B.G. Smith]

I installed a Reese 16k Signature last year in mine, took me a good part of the day, the wires to fish the bolts through came with mine but I don't remember how I ordered it. I had to go buy the drill bit to drill the holes. Its a special size as the bolts are serrated so they wont turn when you pull them into the frame. I also installed the hitch in the 99 I had, biggest problem I had was drilling holes in a brand new truck bed that I had only had one day. I agree with klenger, I wouldn't think of letting someone else do the job as long as I can handle it. I'm in my seventies so if I can do it it should be a breeze for you Have fun. bg

 

[steved]

I'm in my seventies so if I can do it it should be a breeze for you Have fun. bg

It will be a breeze IF I get the correct pieces... now I found I might be missing a spacer kit...



I don't know...



steved

 

[Bob V]

I have a set of the clamp on brkts for sale. $100. 00 + shipping

 

[steved]

I have a set of the clamp on brkts for sale. $100. 00 + shipping

If you would have hit me up earlier, I would have bit... I have it all installed using the universal brackets.



There are a couple things I found:



First, the instructions all but SUCK. You have a "generic" installation page, then you need to reference your specific truck for details. On top of that, they have the front brackets reversed in the diagrams (need swapped side to side).



Secondly, you need about $50 worth of other stuff... 17/32" drill, 1" drill, and a very good dexterity...



Third, there is a special bracket that allows the passenger rear bracket to face outward (not towards the inside like the universals require)... make sure you ask for it (costs about $15)...



Once you install the rearward rail, you are on your own more or less... they don't give any guidance on the install from there. I bolted the hitch together, then mounted it in both rails to position the front rail. I did everything in the bed first, then I drilled the frame for the brackets.



The fit and finish looked realy goo when I got done... the only thing that I wasn't able to do was get the second frame bolt in the passenger rear bracket, not enough room. But I have seven of the eight in... it'll be fine.



steved