Does AnYBODY have a hitch yet?

[Brett Maverick]

A "No drill / No weld" hitch seems to be a myth.

Unless someone knows otherwise, I'll have my hitch mounted in a conventional manner, although sleeved and backed up, like the DD guys did. I decided against the Turnoverball set up, doesn't make sense to mount a goose neck hitch to pull a 5th wheel trailer.



Aside from the new truck NOT coming with provisions to mount a hitch, it's pretty *****in... ... .



Brett

 

[Jim Weed]

Try , B & W at - - www.turnoverball.com - - I just installed one , its great . no welding or drilling , 30,000 pull rated .

 

[dan.poitras]

Originally posted by Brett Maverick

A "No drill / No weld" hitch seems to be a myth.

Unless someone knows otherwise, I'll have my hitch mounted in a conventional manner, although sleeved and backed up, like the DD guys did.



Brett

I have brackets coming for my reese hitch. It requires the frame side rails to be drilled. Reese is aware that the new frame rails are lighter than previous models. But no problems should occur if

instructions are follwed to the letter.

We have been drilling frame rails for years on highway tractors etc. (not frame flanges) with no problems.

P. S. reese kit #58186

 

[Brett Maverick]

Chrysler told me......

I called Chrysler's 1-800 number this morning, and they told me to go with the B&W Turn over ball set up with the companion 5th wheel hitch, since the assembly just clamps on.

I also talked to Reese / Drawtite, Hidden Hitch, and Pullrite, and they don't have anything available right now.



Since I'm not keen on the B&W set up, Looks like I'll have my current hitch bolted in. If I have any problems with it, I'll get the mounts changed out when they become available.



Brett

 

[jimnance]

My hitch shop has a fifth wheel hitch coming that has the kit for the '03 Dodge. I believe that it will require drilling the frame, but as others have stated it's been done for years that way. A competant shop should have no problems. Also, the major hitch manufacturers engineer and warrant thier systems. They have instructions for installation, and I'm sure if you install one of the big manufacturers hitches per their instructions I'm sure they will warrant it if there were a problem.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I talked with Robert about it this morning. They are working on an article for issue #39 on 5th wheel hitch options for the '03's. Right now the known no drill options are B and W http://www.turnoverball.com/ as said above and Diamond Hitch http://www.diamondhitchinc.com . The official word from Dodge is that it is ok to drill the frame. However, you have to use a spacer so that you do not crush the frame. So you have to drill a 3/4" hole through both sides of the frame and then put a 3/4" spacer through that hole and use 5/8" bolts to attach it. In this way the clamping load is put on the spacer and the frame - not just the frame which would cause it to crush. As I said they are working on an official statement to put in issue #39. They are also working with Reese to get part numbers on a no drill option from them.

 

[kbarlow]

Steve,



Thank you for getting involved with the problem.

The Turnover Ball does not accommodate the use of a slider which is needed for the short box nor does the Diamond Hitch make a 5er hitch that I could find. I may be wrong but I don't think either one will work with a short box, 5er hook up.



The only info I have is a fax from Dealer Technical Support dated 10/25/02 13:54:49 Signed by Dean McAuley, National Service Manager. I quote "Frame Engineering DOES NOT approve drilling and/or welding the fifth wheel or brackets to the frame. "



Apparently Dodge has changed their position on drilling. Do you have a reference that I may take to the hitch manufacturer?



Thanks Ken

 

[Casey Balvert]

Steve, glad you have some positive information about this hitch issue. If "official" means that DC put it in writing somewhere, I sure would like to get a copy of it. I will not be waiting until the next issue of TDR to install a hitch. I don't want to go to the press with this problem but I will if I have to. I bought this truck on good faith and I feel the DC has let me and a lot of other Dodge truck owners down. My two cents.



Casey

 

[Brett Maverick]

ME TOO!!!!!

I'm with you on the thought of DC letting us down.

Far as I'm concerned, the trailer towing package should include an integrated brake controler, and the hitch mounts already attached to the frame (in a standardized location) for a 5th wheel hitch.

The mounting holes are already in the frame for a reciever to be mounted under under the bumper, why not to mount the hitch RECOMMENDED by Dodge to handle the full trailer weight advertised by Dodge?



Brett

 

[Casey Balvert]

This happens because it is unlikely that the people who design these things actually use them in the real world. How else could they have been so short sighted. It is sounds like I am really getting p****d off about this, your right. My trailer sat in my driveway for almost two months, useless like my truck. Both are in storage.



Casey

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

Lets see if I got this right. You guys cant find a hitch? Right? I hauled 13,000 lbs of hay on a 6,600 lb trailer today..... Yes today fellas. It hauls like nothing else. I hope you guys can find something soon. I wouldn't want mine to break in with empty miles. Kieth at Diesel Dynamics told me about the "Drill and Sleeve" method about two months ago. I posted it then and I say drill the sucker. It will be fine.

 

[Frmrdug]

I picked up my new pickup at 5pm one day, and by noon the next I had a fifth wheel hitch in it. It is a turn over ball, but is a different brand than those you've mentioned. I just can't remember what the brand name of it is. It was better made, but cheaper, too! It has clamps that fit around the frame, and I don't believe drilling was done, except where the ball comes through. Wish I still had the paperwork on it, but all I can tell you is that the ball itself is gold, and the iron on it was gray before I touched it up under the fender wells. If anyone is really interested, they can call my local farm and ranch store @ 505 622 9164, ask for the annex, and I'm sure they wouldn't mind telling you all the info you need, and for sure whether any drilling was done. They have both on display right in front of the counter.

 

[Frmrdug]

PS...



I actually haven't dropped my trailer on it yet. After what you all are saying, I guess maybe I should give it a chance. It's just when I had the 315 tires on it, it would hardly pull it's own self over 82 on flat ground. I was figuring on pulling with the old one til I can get a box for this one. Mind you it's an automatic, but I feel confident it wouldn't pull much of a load now.

 

[klenger]

After reading about the drill and sleeve fix that Steve mentioned, I am trying to figure out why DC is concerned about crushing the frame. Is the frame a hollow box channel that would be crushed if you put a bolt through it? If I remember correctly, the 2nd gens frame was a "C" channel. I can't imaging crushing a solid piece of steel, but I can see how this would be a problem with a hollow tube.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

klenger - yes it is.

 

[EOwen]

I have both a 5er and a gooseneck sitting idle until someone

has a resolution that I am comfortable with.

The gooseneck turnoverball option is fine, but

I want to know for sure what the heck to do with my 5er.

Do I bolt/sleeve my old rails out of my '02 in or do I have to

wait for some new clamping concept? This is really starting to get under my skin, driving all of this truck as a grocery getter only.

Let's get this ironed out!

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Eowen, it seems like the b&w setup would be perfect for you. Their turnover ball has a 5th wheel attachment for it. With that setup you'd have both and AFAIK it's a no drill option.

 

[EOwen]

Thanks, I will take a closer look at it, but I hate to throw away

my 1 year old rail and hitch combo setup I have from my '02.

If this a "the solution" what is everyone complaining about?

 

[EOwen]

P. S.

Not the cheapest option!

My wife keeps asking me why I have to have such expensive

hobbies.

trucks, jeeps, snowmobiles, mini-bikes, tractors, trailers, hunting,

house additions, vehicle hoists, etc etc.

She asks "will it ever end"?

 

[Casey Balvert]

Steve,



While the turnover ball concept is great for goose neck trailers, I am not fussy on it as the answer for a fifth wheel hitch. The base of attachement to the frame is fairly narrow from front to back. When you couple this with a relatively high point of attachment for the fiver kingpin, there is a real potential for for and aft movement to occur, especially while accelerating or braking. As well as there is in effect a singe point of attachement for the fifth wheel portion of this hitch, the remainder supported by but not attached to the bed of the pickup. There is too much potential for "slop" in the system. Again it is fine for a gooseneck.



My dealer tells me Reese has an approved hitch, Reese says they have nothing in writing to say their installation is approved. Also they DO drill the frame contary to what I have in writing from Dodge. Dodge also gave no info to the hitch manufacturers regarding this frame before the truck hit the lots.



Beside, I am going to take a beating on a new $1000 Pullrite hitch that is sitting in my garage. Dodge dropped the ball on this one, and it is their reponsiblity to come up with a solution. Don't get me wrong, I love this truck, but I did buy it primarily for towing my fiver. Had I known this before hand, I may at least have had the opportunity to explore alternatives.



Casey