5W Hitches - Again

[M36]

I have gone back and read the 5W hitch posts and I am having my 15K Reese installed in my truck. The person installing this works for an RV place here in town and said he has installed them into the new Dodges. He prefers to weld the brackets to the frame and from reading the info on drilling and welding, either is OK. You guys that have the weld or bolted hitches, what did you, or your installer do?



Jim





This is for your entertainment. Hope you enjoy it like I did.





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[dmurdock]

i didn't think you were supposed to weld to the frame????

 

[Steve M]

There are guidelines to follow when welding to the new frame just like there have been guidelines regarding welding or bolting to the frames of any vehicle and the warranty implications that follow.

I bolted mine in. Other than the brackets being turned in instead of out for the wider frame, and having to fish the ribnecked bolts into the box steel frame, it was very close to the same procedure I used to install the hitch in my '98 and '01. 5. I have a picture of the spacer tube in my photo album. Click to the left to see.

 

[M36]

Steve M, thanks for replying. Are the brackets that you used the normal brackets that came with the Reese bolt kit? Looking at your picture and the RR area of my truck I have two black things protruding from the frame, and it looks like on your picture your bracket is mounted just above the lower one on the right, and next to the upper one on the left. It that right?



Jim

 

[Steve M]

The black things are the outer ends of the tail pipe hangers. I had to grind the top one off with a dremel tool. The brackets are the same ones that came with the kit in '98. I'll put the rest of the pics up in my album. The instructions call for mounting the rr to the inside of the frame. I saw no point in modifying the hitch mounting brackets to accomodate the tail pipe. Should be the other way around so I proceded that way. 3500 with the helper spring perch in the way at the rear require a different pair of brackets for the rear that go to the inside. 2500s are not a problem using the old brackets. Always use new fasteners.

 

[hclark]

I used a place in Tacoma that used existing holes... No drilling of the frame or welding. I had a Reese 15k out of my 97 2500, put in my 03 3500 SRW.



Good job and good guys, I know they are out of your state, but

maybe they could answer your questions. .



Ballew's Hitch and RV

253 475 1200

 

[Steve M]

I added the pic to my album and it wants to put it first where my truck pic is. Not very becoming. So here it is here... It's the right rear bracket position for my Reese 15k with the back end of the muffler bracket ground off.