Goose neck ball mounting

[tpicard]

Does anyone have any info on drilling the frame on the '03, in the past I've built numberious custom hitch's, for myself and my ranchin' buddy's. I would like to know the do's and don'ts of the hydro-formed frame.

 

[csevers]

I am interested to

I had to stop at a dealer to try to get some stuff and took a look at a 2500 swb I had seen the engine and interior before and had just not look any farther ( not interested in buying one) but I looked in rear wheel well and there are no holes for gooseneck for 5 wheel plate mounting. That makes things a PITA to mount hitchs doesn't it? It seemed they weren't thinking about that part of the truck use.

 

[yogibear]

There is a problem! DC says you shouldn't drill or weld on frame, will void warranty. B & W has a turn-over ball mt. for the 03's, my dlr. installed one yesterday. The dlr. is going to install my 5th wheel hitch Mon. , the shop foreman said he has the info. The DC rep was there and said they, (DC)definately have a problem. Will find out more Mon. , I hope! I called Reese Tue. and they knew nothing about the no drill & weld, and they make the OEM receiver hitch for DC.

Larry

 

[Scooby]

That would be brilliant, eh?



"Yeah, we done gone built us a big'ol truck that can tow a house..... ooops, we forgot you might need a hitch for that!"



I'm sure DC will figure it out, but in the mean time, all you can do is shake your head... ...

 

[Russ99]

I remember seeing two 2003 Duallys towing Goosneck trailers with what looked like large concrete blocks on the trailers. This was 2-3 months ago and these trucks were obviously test mules for Dodge/Cummins. Wonder how the gooseneck hitch was installed?

 

[Fireman]

B&W hitch

Yogi,

How come you're not using the B&W companion 5th wheel hitch? Did your dealer have to drill or alter your frame in any way to mount the turnover ball? Inquiring minds want to know.

Fireman

 

[tpicard]

Well guys I guess if DC doesn't come up with something I'll have to. I've got a couple of clamping style ideas that wouldn't involve welding or drilling frame. I'm still in the r&d phase though. If I brainstorm up a cool idea I'll let you know.

 

[yogibear]

Fireman 56, the ball mt. wasen't installed in my trk. , on another trk. , I have a Reese 20K 5th wheel with the ball mt. attachment. B & W has a mt. for the 03's, so you don't have to drill or weld. I didn't see this, tech. told me he installed it. I'll let ya know what I find out Mon. , I won't be there when its installed, but I'll have them draw me a schematic on how they did it.

Larry

 

[Posm]

I would not get to excited about not being able to drill or weld the frame. Many class 8 trucks say the same thing. I would say in a matter of days the reputable hitch companies will have no drill or weld mounts ready to go. I would call them and D/C ASAP to ease your mind.

 

[David Muench]

FWIW, I was poking around at a different local Dodge dealership than my usual one (I can only go there on Sunday because they're so sleazy), and there was a sold green 3500 quad there, ready to go, and it had a reese 5th wheel hitch installed in the bed. Looked like a used hitch. Couldn't see very well how it was attached (it was a 2wd so it was pretty low).



To be honest, I think you're all panicing. Dodge makes a big deal about how these trucks can tow heavy. They tested them by pulling a large concrete block on a gooseneck trailer. And I bet that they are still only rated to tow 10,000 lbs with the bumper pull hitch. Therefore, to achieve their 16,000 lb tow rating they must be gooseneck/fiver compatible. Maybe it will require different mounting than we're used to, but that shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[csevers]

I for one am not worried

I would not be worried I am sure someone has the anwsers but I t just seemed strange to me not to have predrilled holes in the frame for easy of installs that d/c should know are going to happen alot. When I posted I figured some one already would have a truck with a hitch in it and could tell us how they attached it to the truck that is the first truck that I had seen at a dealership and just figured that I would check it out I hope noone is panicing do to my post!



craig