Goose Neck, wth?

[enes]

Ok, i have a 2000 2500 and i was able to put a goose neck in the bed.



Now on 2003 the local hitch place said they cant put them in?



I need a goose neck on the new truck too!! any suggestions? option?



help.....





-E

 

[klenger]

Look into the B&W Turnoverball system. It's a no-drill installation in the 3rd gens.

 

[SRadke]

Diamond hitch also has a no drill kit for the 03-04 trucks. Installs in a long hour.



-Scott

 

[draymorris]

The reason they said they cannot install it is probably because you are not supposed to weld to the tubular frame. If you look at the frame , it is only about 1/8 inch thick. It is my understanding that anything mounted to the frame is supposed to squeeze the frame and may need spacers in the frame to keep from squeezing it too much. I would try to get someone who knows the proper procedure to mount the hitch. The mfg of the hitch should have a solution.



My gooseneck was welded in just like the old days. I asked for the hitch when I bought the truck and the dealer had another shop install it. I asked my salesman if they had done it right and he told me that they were mounting them all that way. I figure it will fall back on them if I have problems. I check it regularly for cracks. I also overload my truck regularly - so far so good. But I would still rather have a bolt on hitch, so that I did not have to think about it.

 

[enes]

The second question, are these trucks equiped with electric brake setup for the electric brakes on the trailer.



On my old truck i had to add the 7 prong plug and electric brakes, on this one the 7prong is already installed, is electric brakes thing included in that too? or is it something i have to add as well?



-E

 

[SRadke]

You should have had a pigtail with 4 wires that came with the truck (probably in the glove box or center console, maybe in the backseat, somewhere) that will plug in under the dash and you attach the brake controller you buy to it. All the wireing to the back is already there if you have the tow package.



-Scott

 

[PPeters]

www.unagoose.com



This is another no weld/no drill option. Nice units.



Pat

 

[Peter Campbell]

It is under the dash tie wrapped out of the way. Become or get a contortionist to find it. I installed my controller in the ash tray hole I; removed the entire assembly.

 

[enes]

which brake controllers do you guys suggest. .



-E

 

[RustyJC]

First choice - BrakeSmart. For something less sophisticated (but still very effective) and less expensive - Jordan Ultima 2020.



Rusty

 

[CLAYTON]

I love my prodigy brake control. Also the B&W turnover ball has been working great in my short bed. Although I got a hitch that sticks back 4 inches from where the turnover ball is to give me a little extra clearance from the cab.

 

[jsimpson]

Just installed the B&W Turnover. Very impressed with the product. I had the Putnam Lock N Load in my 94. Southwest Wheel sent me the wrong Lock N Load for my 03 and wants ME to pay the return shipping. I contested it on my Master Card. If they want it back they'd better issue a pickup oder. It sits in my garage. Next, I ordered and installed the B&W. I consider it to be a better product than the Lock N Load. It's a simpler design, does not project nearly as far down toward the differential and driveshaft, and was much easier to install!

 

[roperteacher]

I have never been able to keep my hitch frommy 96, 98, 01, now 04... shop said the measurements are all different and I have needed a new plate everytime. I have the Draw tite hitch . Be careful who dies your brake controller. They installed mine and Fried my Cruise control... dealer fixed it under warranty with some haggling... .

 

[JHardwick]

Originally posted by draymorris

The reason they said they cannot install it is probably because you are not supposed to weld to the tubular frame.

Mine is welded in the same as my '99 was. I'm sure I read somewhere that it is acceptable to weld on these frames. Drilling holes seemed to be more of an issue and had to be away from other holes or bends by a certain margin ... ... ..... if I'm thinking correctly

 

[PPeters]

I'll second the Brakesmart. Nice product, little pricey, but works like a dream. I look forward to them releasing the boost/egt module. The install was easy.



Pat

 

[draymorris]

Brakesmart!

Pay for it, install it (real easy to do) and you will never have another controller. They are great!

 

[jsimpson]

What does Brakesmart do that the Prodigy doesn't?

 

[RustyJC]

The Prodigy is a modified inertial controller with an initial "boost" function. It basically varies its braking output to the trailer based on the deceleration rate it measures in the truck. The problem with this is that the deceleration rate the truck can produce varies with road conditions.



The BrakeSmart measures the truck's hydraulic brake pressure and sends an output to the trailer brakes that's proportional to the hydraulic pressure in the brake system, so the trailer braking is a direct function of what you're doing with the brake pedal.



The Jordan is similar to the BrakeSmart, but it uses a cable attached to the brake pedal arm to sense what you're doing with the truck brakes. Not as neat, but almost as effective as the BrakeSmart.



Rusty

 

[SRadke]

Originally posted by RustyJC

The BrakeSmart measures the truck's hydraulic brake pressure and sends an output to the trailer brakes... .

How does it monitor pressure? Is there a sensor in a port somewhere?



-Scott

 

[klenger]

See http://www.klenger.net/dodge/brakesmart/slide01.html for more info on the BrakeSmart installation.