5th Wheel Hitches

[plntmgr]

Just purchased a new '03, 3500 with the new hydro formed frame. Do any of the dealers make an installation kit for the 5er rails? How are the rest of you installing your rails? Camping world stated they drill for the installation and Draw Tight, Reese do not havw anything for the '03's.

 

[Fireman]

Pull Rite has a no drill/no weld solution and makes a top quality product backed by top quality customer service.



A satisfied customer,

Fireman

 

[RustyJC]

It would appear that Reese offers a kit for the 2003 - see here.



Rusty

 

[RMcCulloch]

Originally posted by plntmgr

Just purchased a new '03, 3500 with the new hydro formed frame. Do any of the dealers make an installation kit for the 5er rails? How are the rest of you installing your rails? Camping world stated they drill for the installation and Draw Tight, Reese do not havw anything for the '03's.

Reese has a bracket kit for the '03s that's listed in their Rail Installation Guide.



I'm using them with the Reese Rails on mine. [See Sig. ]



This has been discussed here several times.

 

[cwsoules]

I have RBW hitch and would not have another. Recommend you check with them to see if they have figured how to mount their hitch on your truck.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Everyone has a favourite hitch that will do the job. However, if yoiu don't want to drill the frame, your options are limited. Pullrite and Turnover Ball are both good hitches that do not require drilling of the frame. The latter needs the addition of the fifth wheel adaptor. I recommend the Pullrite if you are not pulling a gooseneck trailer as well. They make a very solid product and back it up with good service. I am just a happy customer.



Casey

 

[Steve M]

I re-installed my 15k Reese from my '01 to my '03. Here's Reese's website with instructions to download and print if you so desire. I have a couple of pics in my reader's rigs pics of the install on my 2500.

http://www.reeseproducts.com

 

[plntmgr]

Steve M.

Did you have to drill or weld the installation to the '03? If not, do you have a part number for the install kit. Reese has a # of 30035 for what I need. I'll have to call them to see if it applicable to the '03 bolt on assembly.

 

[Steve M]

I drilled the frame on mine. I couldn't tell you if Reese is in the works for a clamp on type rail kit or not. The bracket kit for the 3500 is also a drill type. It fastens to the inside of the frame rail behind the helper spring perches.

 

[plntmgr]

Steve M.

I'm not quite sure how the drilling will effect the frame. You appeared to be comfortable with it. Thanks for the input. Makes one want to ponder.

 

[pwr2tow]

Chrysler came out with a bulletin that states you can drill or weld to the frame, you just have to follow their instructions on the recommended installation. I don't have the bulletin but your dealer should and any reputable hitch shop should have it also.



Ron

 

[RMcCulloch]

Originally posted by plntmgr

Just purchased a new '03, 3500 with the new hydro formed frame. Do any of the dealers make an installation kit for the 5er rails? How are the rest of you installing your rails? Camping world stated they drill for the installation and Draw Tight, Reese do not havw anything for the '03's.

Balderdash!



If you'd bothered to look in Reese's rail installation guide you'd have found that they do, in fact list their no-drill bracket kit on page 11.

 

[plntmgr]

R. McCulloch

Thanks for your post. I can't seem to download your answer on pg. 11, but when I called Reese, the rep could not find a clamp on install. If part nos. are avail, I'd be thankful for them.

 

[ldg]

I used the Reese mounting system, the same one refered to above, in fact we used those instructions at installation and you do drill a couple of holes in the frame, which is just fine with Dodge. In step 10 you drill the holes in the frame. But its a non issue because its okay and is neither violating or weaking anything.



On the RBW hitch. That is what I had on my 2000 and is what I put on my 2003. What happened, and how this works is when I had my Reese 5th wheel mounted in my new 2000 the dealer put in the rails and everything ready for the hitch itself when we found out the hitch was defective. They went to get another one out of stock and found the same problem with that one and they had no more. He then ask if rather than going through the whole situation again and waiting a week, if I'd take a RBW Rocker instead. I agreed, he brought out the hitch, set it in the Reese mounting rails - it fit, it worked and thats what I have been using for about 5 years. IE. the RBW works in the Reese rails. On top of that I have since then purchase a Reese Goose and use that also in the rails, where it stays right under the RBW until I need to haul the horse trailer, slick. This is exactly how I have it in my 03 now and it was put in my 03 by the Dodge Dealer (RV contracted installer) as part of our purchase agreement and guaranteed to meet all Dodge requirements and specs.



Works great. Hope this will help some of you or give you an idea or two so you can still use some of your current equipment without having to go purchase everything new. Good luck and happy towing .

 

[OTRPU]

Wish I'd known that before I purchased my Reese 20K rocker. Some reason the Reese 20k Rocker Hitch engineers and the Reese Gooseneck Plate Adapter engineers weren't coordinating their efforts. Can't leave the GN adapter mounted to the rails under the 5er hitch. This is an engineering BLUNDER as far as I'm concerned. Several other manufacturers have done it right. Only thing the guys with the 20k hitch can do is either grind or torch cut notches under the base so the GN Plate can be mounted all the time. Gotta carry the GN somewhere, might as well be mounted on the rails. Reese's 16k allows this. The 20k designers were out to lunch on this one. Other than this flaw, it's a great hitch.



Be Safe,

Steve J.