5ver Reese Hitch install on 4.5 Dodge

[rkelso98]

I was wondering if anyone has recently installed a Reese 5ver hitch on their 2004 Dodge? Did they drill or weld? Anyone have good or bad to say about a Travel Air Hitch. I wanted but may not be able to get the Pullrite, which is made to work on the Dodge without any welding or drilling.

 

[RMcCulloch]

The setup is the same for all of the 3rd gens.



The Reese rails require an additional bracket kit and may be either bolted or welded.



Mine are bolted.



Never heard of the "Travel Air" - did you mean "Trail Air"?



Personally, I prefer the Easy Rider (see sig. ), especially after using one.

 

[MABurns]

Just did it this weekend. Worked out fairly well. I drilled. Hardest part was sitting under the truck trying to fish the bolts through the frame.



I hope the guy that thought of the threaded wire loops got rich off of his idea.



Drivers side rear was a little trickier because of the upper shock mounting bracket.

 

[rkelso98]

Sorry it is Trail Air not Travel. I'm running on fumes right now, up all night working.

 

[rkelso98]

Originally posted by RMcCulloch

The setup is the same for all of the 3rd gens.



The Reese rails require an additional bracket kit and may be either bolted or welded.



Mine are bolted.



Never heard of the "Travel Air" - did you mean "Trail Air"?



Personally, I prefer the Easy Rider (see sig. ), especially after using one.

So yours are bolted, did it require drilling the frame?



TIA



Ray

 

[MABurns]

Yes it does require drilling the frame (only have to drill through one side) and use "collared" bolts --not sure of their correct name.

 

[Shooter]

I installed mine last Aug. No problem if you read, read and read then measure, measure and measure.

I had to lengthen the spring pull through with some tie wire.



Just a note: Huskey hitches use Reese rails but only use 4 bolts ( one at each end of the rails ) to secure the rails and they drill straight down at the end of the rails into the TOP of the frame rail. They use the spacers between the rail and frame to keep from crushing the bed. Definitely a no no!!!!!

 

[Warwagon]

Got a quettion about remounting hitch rails. The dealer that I bought my 2004 truck said the old brackets from my 1999 ram would not work on the new truck. So he just gave the rails back. I have ordered the bracket kit from Camping World but would I still need any of the old bracket. Anyone have any input?

 

[Casey Balvert]

I had heard that the demand for the Pullrites outstripped the supply. Perhaps to do with not having to drill the frame. Not sure how short they are but certainly the best I have used. Might be worth the wait.



Casey

 

[rkelso98]

Just installed the Pullrite this weekend, not easy. Note the measurements supplied had a correction. "C" should be 42 or 43 whichever it is not and the /2 measurements were not right either. Best Idea was Klengers which I didn't notice until after I had drilled. Klenger used the measurments then put masking tape on the hitch pieces over the holes. When he drilled he could then pull the pieces out and see if he was on the mark or not. My holes ended up being about 3/8 inch off toward the Cab using the layouts supplied with the hitch (corrected after talkin with pullrite) so you may want to move all measured holes toward the tailgate about 3/8 and use the Klenger method to be sure. My hole still work but would look nicer if the were dead on. Oh well. The TrailAir pin and Center point will be installed sometime later $2300 for both installed. Guy from TrailAir said the Centerpoint was the best bang for the buck of the 2 choices. It would help with the ride and put less stress on the trailer over time.