3rd Gen 5ver hitch?

[Sarge]

Does anyone know how DC ever resolved the "no weld-no Drill" issue on the 3rd gen truck frames?? I know that lots of folks have to have hitches by now, but I never heard what the resolution was... ... ... . Thanks, Sarge

 

[Fireman]

Pull Rite resolved it. Check out the article in the latest Register.

No drill, no weld, and the best hitch going.



IMO,

Fireman

 

[CajunDieselMan]

Fireman,



You're right about Pullrite, but I have a 4x2 and Pullrites will only fit a 4x4 like yours--something to do with clearance between the bed and the frame I think. I put a Husky UBS 16k hitch in my 3500 LWB 4x2 and the dealer did not have to drill into the frame of my truck. Also I have only 4 holes in my be that can be plugged when the hitch is out for a smooth bed. Court's still out on how good it is--I just installed it and haven't hooked it up yet.

 

[David Muench]

Casey Balvert has a Pullrite (25k?) in his 4x2 dually.



B&W also has a solution with their gooseneck hitch + 5th wheel converter. Probably not what someone who mainly tows fifth wheels wants though.



I'm sure there are others. .

 

[klenger]

The B&W Turnoverball + Campanion 5th wheel hitch is a no drill package. I am planning on getting this for my new truck.



Reese has a 3rd gen Dodge kit for their 5th wheel hitch rails. They do require drilling. The concern that Dodge had with drilling was because of the box construction of the frame, if you drilled all the way through the frame and put a bolt through it, you would crush the frame before you got the bolt torqued. There are two work-arounds to this. (1) is to drill an oversize hole and install a sleeve around the bolt to prevent the frame from crushing. (2) is to only drill through one side of the frame and sneek a nut inside the fame to secure the bolt. I think the Reese installation uses the (1) solution.

 

[Fireman]

There is a difference in the 4wd and 2wd frames. Pull Rite makes rails for the 2wd trucks, but not Super Rails.



Ken,



I like the Turnoverball, but Didn't like the Companion Hitch as well as the Pull Rite, since most of my towing is a 5th Wheel that influenced my decision.



The Turnoverball mount is not compatable with the Pull Rite mounts, but the Diamond hitch goose neck is. FWIW



Fireman

 

[Strutman]

New Gen 5th Whl Hitch

I have a 2004. 5 4 x 4 LWB on order. I will be ordering the

Pullrite Super 5th with no drill attachment system. Sent for the free video. I'm sold. A little high in price, but the easiest to deal

with in a driveway installation.

Lou

 

[klenger]

I was almost convinced to get the Turnoverball, and now you guys have me looking at the Pullrite. Can someone explain how the super rails work? I like the idea of a clean bed when the hitch isn't installed.

 

[Casey Balvert]

The Super Rails are attached by removeable pins inserted into the frame mounted brackets (no drill). Remove the pins and viola, clean bed floor. Fireman has one, so maybe he can chime in here. Put a Pullrite on the floor next to any other hitch and you can see the difference in workmanship, engineering and heavy duty components. I have used a lot of different hitches but now would not consider anything else. By the way, no affiliation with the company. Just a happy owner of the best.



FWIW. Casey

 

[klenger]

Casey: Any case of getting any close-up pics of the installation? Sounds like a nice setup, but I'd like to have a way to plug the holes when removed.

 

[mconstable]

Klenger... Mr. Stubbs and Mr. Balvert are very wise, they've helped me a few times I've got the 20. 5 with the Super Rails, and it is an awesome hitch. My girlfriends' mom has a Reese( which is a great hitch, I'm not dogging it in any way) but side by side the Pull-Rite dwarfs it. Enough so that I get jealous of the amount of bed space she has without taking her hitch out... ... but not enough to switch anyway, I can get it out of my bed and back in in minutes, but the sucker IS HEAVY, 2 people make it a breeze. I've got pics in my readers rigs, but not one with it out, but the pics show the rails... . anyway, hope my rambling helped!!

 

[Sarge]

Has anyone put a Husky Double Pivot in a 3rd gen truck?? I have one now, and if I decide to upgrade to the 04' I would like to take the Husky with me. I was hoping a new frame mount would let me use the same hitch. Any ideas??? Sarge

 

[Casey Balvert]

Originally posted by klenger

Casey: Any case of getting any close-up pics of the installation? Sounds like a nice setup, but I'd like to have a way to plug the holes when removed.

Ken, check this site. The guy has pictures of his Superglide install on a Chevy but you will get the idea.



Casey



http://www.picturetrail.com/biglakedmax

 

[klenger]

Those pics helped a lot. Why can't Pulrite put some better pics on their website? I've pretty much decided to get the Pulrite 15. 5K. Anyone know how much the hitch assy (w/o rails and brackets) weighs?

 

[Casey Balvert]

Fireman has that hitch so perhaps he could chime in here or give Pullrite a call. Pullrite maintains their own website so I am sure that they would also appreciate suggestions. Casey

 

[Fireman]

Ken,



I don't know what the 15. 5 weighs. It's heavy, but I can lift it up into the bed of my 4wd by myself. I'm not saying that it's easy... ...



Fireman

 

[Fireman]

If you look at the web site Casey linked you can see the quality of the brackets. They are made from steel plate, laser cut with "tabs" and "slots" to insure uniformity- no stamped steel here. Did anyone mention customer service. Pull Rite has it in spades, give them a call they will answer all of your questions and while you are at it request a video.



Fireman

 

[klenger]

I called PullRite today (they were shut down over Xmas) and got some more info. Weight of the 15. 5K Super 5th (P/N 1200) is 115 lbs. SuperRails for a 3rd gen (P/N 0840) are 100 lbs. They also emailed me the SuperRail Installation Manual, which I posted on my website at http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/pullrite-super-rail.pdf



It's a 1. 1MB PDF file in case you are using dial-up.



I got a price of $358 for the Super 5th and $410 for the SuperRails, no sales tax ('cept for Indiana) and no shipping charges from Big RV Discount. Seemed like nice folks. I plan to order one in about 3 weeks. I think my only complaint with their system is that they don't offer any kind of plugs to cover the holes when you remove the rails, but with a corrugated bed, that might be impractical anyway.

 

[Fireman]

Ken,



They probably quoted you the shipping weight, so the actual hitch is probably slightly lighter. When installing/removing you can easily remove the head which will lighten the hitch base considerably.



I agree about the holes. The best solution that I have found is a bed mat when the hitch is out. Oh well, nothing is perfect



Fireman

 

[klenger]

I suspect that the rails will stay installed most of the time as I don't use the truck to haul much else, but I do like the idea of a clean bed when I do need it. Usually I just leave the hitch installed.