5th wheel picture frame or not

[CumminsE263]

Bought a new mega cab with fifth wheel prep are these picture frames good or not, should I sell my hitch and get proper 5th wheel. And l had a 07 quad cab short bed and had no problems with a no slide hitch should be the same with the mega cab short bed correct. What does every body like. THANKS

 

[RustyJC]

I use the B&W Companion RVK3600 which mounts directly in the Ram's factory pucks. It's rated for 25,000 lbs total trailer weight and 6,250 lbs pin weight.

Rusty

 

[SnoKing]

I have a Demco 6099 picture frame with B&W RVK3270 manual slider in my 2015 CC SB. The Demco picture frame is made a lot better than the Reese/RAM one.

If you are not going with a slide, I would get the B&W3600. You can not however have a box in front of it, was the handle swings forward to release.

Weights: B&W Base 168 lbs, Coupler 52 lbs, Demco picture frame 70-80 lbs. Total 300-310 in more manageable pieces than the RVK 3670 Below. If you want to save weight and have ease for removal the Andersen Aluminum hitch is very light.

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[SnoKing]

B&W has released this RVK3670 manual slider that goes right in the RAM pucks. Chris

Weights: Base 230 lbs, Coupler 75 lbs. Total 305 lbs.

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[Cummins12V98]

Looks like Trailer.com is selling the RAM Puck slider now.

B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Trailer Hitch w/ Slider for Ram Towing Prep Package - Dual Jaw - 20K
Item # BWRVK3670

(263 Reviews)

Retail:$1,699.00
Our Price: $1,549.00
This item qualifies for FREE SHIPPING
Shipping Weight: 304 lbs
Quantity: Submit
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[KSnyder]

This is what I'm using> The Curt 20k hitch with slider.

 

[TCollier]

I had the 20k Curt already and it only had about 400 miles of use so I didn't want to have to buy a whole new hitch. When I got the new truck I bought the Ram legs and swapped them out with the standard ones on the hitch. It's definitely heavier but it's a super solid connection to the truck frame. Have you looked to see if your hitch manufacturer has the OEM adapter?

 

[SBettencourt]

I have the Ram picture frame and it works just fine. I got it included with the purchase of the truck. I already have a perfectly good hitch (2 actually) and I am too cheap to buy a new one right now.

 

[Cummins2014]

Bought a new mega cab with fifth wheel prep are these picture frames good or not, should I sell my hitch and get proper 5th wheel. And l had a 07 quad cab short bed and had no problems with a no slide hitch should be the same with the mega cab short bed correct. What does every body like. THANKS

Already having a hitch that fit the standard rails ,I went with the picture frame. Probably your best option if you already have a hitch , as far as a cost factor.

 

[Cummins2014]

I have a Demco 6099 picture frame with B&W RVK3270 manual slider in my 2015 CC SB. The Demco picture frame is made a lot better than the Reese/RAM one.

If you are not going with a slide, I would get the B&W3600. You can not however have a box in front of it, was the handle swings forward to release.

Weights: B&W Base 168 lbs, Coupler 52 lbs, Demco picture frame 70-80 lbs. Total 300-310 in more manageable pieces than the RVK 3670 Below. If you want to save weight and have ease for removal the Andersen Aluminum hitch is very light.

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Your Demco is certainly more user friendly then the Reese or Ram. By user friendly I mean it can be removed with the hitch attached, where as the Reese locking handles are too long, and have to have the hitch removed first to unlock.

Claiming the Demco is made a lot better is not true, there is nothing in the quality of the Demco, welding, the steel or the pucks that make it a better product.Reese is a solid welded picture frame, that has puck adjustments etc, nothing that makes the quality inferior to the Demco.

 

[Cummins2014]

I have the Ram picture frame and it works just fine. I got it included with the purchase of the truck. I already have a perfectly good hitch (2 actually) and I am too cheap to buy a new one right now.

Nothing wrong with the Ram picture frame, pretty sure its built by Reese, there are pretty much identical. If the price is right I wouldn't hesitate to get the Reese or Ram over the Demco or the Pullright .

 

[robroy17]

Anyone with a 2017 rambox bed added 5th wheel prep after the fact? OEM 5th wheel prep is not available if your truck has a rambox bed. Further, I was told that on the 2017 rambox trucks, changes were made to the frame, making it more difficult (if not impossible) to drill the holes into your bed and add the pucks yourself. I don't know how to verify if this is true or not, so I would love to hear from someone who has a 2017 rambox bed and added theirs. I am fairly sure that a B&W turnover ball can be added, but that presents challenges for me with a megacab and a rambox, because I would then need a slider, and sliders are not advised with a gooseneck adapter, as I understand it. Thanks in advance!

 

[SnoKing]

Anyone with a 2017 rambox bed added 5th wheel prep after the fact? OEM 5th wheel prep is not available if your truck has a rambox bed. Further, I was told that on the 2017 rambox trucks, changes were made to the frame, making it more difficult (if not impossible) to drill the holes into your bed and add the pucks yourself. I don't know how to verify if this is true or not, so I would love to hear from someone who has a 2017 rambox bed and added theirs. I am fairly sure that a B&W turnover ball can be added, but that presents challenges for me with a megacab and a rambox, because I would then need a slider, and sliders are not advised with a gooseneck adapter, as I understand it. Thanks in advance!

The RAMBOX does not lend well to towing 5th wheel trailers, as a conventional pin box at the back end will contact the bed sides. A Sidewinder pinbox is the best for the RAMBOX, however it requires a fixed hitch in the truck.

I highly doubt that they changes the frame, most likely just does not have the flat spots in the bed for the bed plugs and outer ring the the plug goes into. SNOKING

 

[SnoKing]

Your Demco is certainly more user friendly then the Reese or Ram. By user friendly I mean it can be removed with the hitch attached, where as the Reese locking handles are too long, and have to have the hitch removed first to unlock.

Claiming the Demco is made a lot better is not true, there is nothing in the quality of the Demco, welding, the steel or the pucks that make it a better product.Reese is a solid welded picture frame, that has puck adjustments etc, nothing that makes the quality inferior to the Demco.

Reese picture frame weighs in at 54.3 lbs and Demco 6099 around 75 lbs (86 lb shipping weight).

The Reese is rectangular tubing and much thinner stock. The Demco is made up from normal heavy gauge bed rails that are plated on the bottom. Latches are very robust.

And yes I use to pull the whole thing with a HF 800 lb hoist before DW sold the house.

SNOKING

 

[Larry Willard]

Reese picture frame weighs in at 54.3 lbs and Demco 6099 around 75 lbs (86 lb shipping weight).

The Reese is rectangular tubing and much thinner stock. The Demco is made up from normal heavy gauge bed rails that are plated on the bottom. Latches are very robust.

And yes I use to pull the whole thing with a HF 800 lb hoist before DW sold the house.

SNOKING

Not sure where you got your info for regarding the Reese picture frame adapter but mine had a shipping weight of 89 lbs if I remember correctly. Looking at etrailer it is listed at 90 lbs. I know mine is heavy I believe it was about 80 lbs when I got it.
Larry

 

[Cummins2014]

Reese picture frame weighs in at 54.3 lbs and Demco 6099 around 75 lbs (86 lb shipping weight).

The Reese is rectangular tubing and much thinner stock. The Demco is made up from normal heavy gauge bed rails that are plated on the bottom. Latches are very robust.

And yes I use to pull the whole thing with a HF 800 lb hoist before DW sold the house.

SNOKING

When I have had to lift the Reese picture frame I wish it was 54.3 lbs, more in the neighborhood of 80. Shipping weight is listed at 90 . If you have worked much in structural steel you would know TS 2 x 3 x 3/16 is pretty stout.

Not sure what there is to gain bashing a product over the one bought . I am sure the Demco is a great product, and after three years of use with the Reese it is equally as great a product, and use has proven that.

 

[robroy90]

The RAMBOX does not lend well to towing 5th wheel trailers, as a conventional pin box at the back end will contact the bed sides. A Sidewinder pinbox is the best for the RAMBOX, however it requires a fixed hitch in the truck.

I highly doubt that they changes the frame, most likely just does not have the flat spots in the bed for the bed plugs and outer ring the the plug goes into. SNOKING

My question wasn't if there were disadvantages to a rambox bed and a 5th wheel. I know it isn't optimal. My question was if anyone had done it with a 2017 after the fact and what they discovered regarding the frame. I am getting conflicting info on this - is it even possible to add the OEM-style 5th wheel prep after the fact to a 2017+ truck?

 

[TJJEEPER]

Although it's an 8' box, I bought a Engine Hoist on sale at Harbor Freight after my 3rd hernia operation...

Doesn't really matter what it weighs!

Also, I believe the Quad Cab box is at least 6" longer than the Mega Cab box.

 

[Cummins12V98]

FYI, if anyone needs a B&W 18K Companion like the one pictured above PM me as my dad is selling his. He is in NW WA.

 

[SnoKing]

My question wasn't if there were disadvantages to a rambox bed and a 5th wheel. I know it isn't optimal. My question was if anyone had done it with a 2017 after the fact and what they discovered regarding the frame. I am getting conflicting info on this - is it even possible to add the OEM-style 5th wheel prep after the fact to a 2017+ truck?

Post some pictures of what the 2017 frame mounts look like. Maybe I can help, I installed my own pucks in my 2015 3500. SNOKING