2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission DSS & Front End Receiver

[TBora]

Got my DSS in the mail and was going to install it in a few weeks. Was reading the "DSS Trouble" thread and got thinking about the the front end receiver I planned on installing in the future.



Which should be installed first (like months apart) so as to not have to do double work..... the receiver or the DSS? I know..... both at the same time!



Also, any recomendations on receivers?



Thanks

 

[wcjp]

On my 96' I had the DSS and Torklift front receiver. Had no problems with either. No interference issues.

 

[GCULP]

I have a DSS and a front receiver, no problem, I had welder friend weld two 1/2" thk x 3" x 9" plates on the bottom of the front cross member oriented front to back, pre-drilled for two 1/2" bolts each, then welded two 3/8" x 2" x 2" angle iron brackets to the sides of a receiver tube, drilled to match plates and bolted them up. I wouln't tow anything heavy down the freeway with it :-laf , but it'll move just about anything you want to hook up to it.

 

[rotohead]

I have the Drawtite front rec hitch and DSS installed and the easiest way would be to install the hitch first and then the DSS. The hitch attaches to the frame in two different ways... on the sides of the hitch with two bolts and also with the four bolts that also attach the sway bar. The DSS attaches between the sway bar and hitch so if you have the hitch installed first then it will stay up in place when you remove the sway bar bolts to install the DSS.

The only two problems you may find are 1) the enclosed bolts for the DSS are not long enough so I reused the ones that came with the hitch. I plan to get some longer ones as those just barely caught about four or five turns of thread 2) the extended pitman arm nut that comes with the DSS will just barely extend through the bearing so that the allen nuts on the bearing can get a bite into the nut surface. I've had mine on for some time now and watched it closely but haven't seen any problems. Also, the hole in the DSS bracket wasn't centered over the extended pitman nut very well at all but I just followed the bolt tightening sequence that is stated in the DSS instruction and it seemed to pull everything into place. Like I said no noticable problems so far. Great addition.

Chuck



edit: I love my Drawtite hitch too. Comes in more handy then I would ever have imagined. If you want a part # I'll crawl under there later today and get it for you.

 

[TBora]

edit: I love my Drawtite hitch too. Comes in more handy then I would ever have imagined. If you want a part # I'll crawl under there later today and get it for you.

I want to keep the hitch as high as possible (approach angle and looks). The Hidden Hitch is high (must cut into the air dam to install). Is your Drawtite up high?



Thanks

 

[Thomas]

No problems using the DrawTite 65003 along with DSS on my model year 2000 4x4 Ram. Here are the installation directions (in three languages!): http://www.draw-tite.com/fitguides/pdf/N65003.pdf

 

[rotohead]

I want to keep the hitch as high as possible (approach angle and looks). The Hidden Hitch is high (must cut into the air dam to install). Is your Drawtite up high?



Thanks

Here's a pic of mine. I cut thru the air dam and mounted two driving lights on the front face of the hitch. Part # for a 1998 is 65003. It's up higher than the DSS although the pic doesn't show the DSS (not installed at the time of the pic).



#ad

 

[TBora]

Thomas: Thanks for the installation instructions..... they answered a lot of questions.



Rotohead: Thanks for the pic... ..... the penetration of the air dam is just what/where I had in mind..... also... ... nice idea on the receiver lights!

 

[rotohead]

As I've thought about it today, I think the front hitch brace helps in adding torsional frame rigidity like another crossmember much like the DSS brace does even though the main advantage of the DSS system as I understand it has more to due with the streering box isolation (if that's the proper term). Just a thought that I just thought about thinking today about it... I'm done.



P. S. I had to relocate my license frame bracket up alittle to make room for the hitch. Living at the time in Utah it's an easy pull over if you don't show a front plate.





Chuck