Gooseneck hitch installation

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I recently was given a nice flat piece of 3/8" steel with the nut for a large shank ball to screw into. It matched up to the frame rails perfectly, so I almost suspect it was in a Dodge before.

This was a budget job, so I mounted this myself, drilling through the bed into the frame and mounting the plate in the bed with 4 1/2" grade 8 bolts and welded the safety chain D ring to the plate as well. I put a 25K ball on it, since I sometimes just get over 10K lbs when towing and did not want to put too little there.

My concern is that when the plate is mounted like this, there is about 1/2" of the pickup bed infrastructure separating the plate from the frame. The bolts can be tightened 100 ft lbs and are very secure, but over time, will this gap cause problems with a heavy load shifting onto and off of the plate?

Kind of hard to describe, but I think folks that have done these hitches before probably run into it all the time.

Thanks for any suggestions on this,
Jon.

 

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I've never seen it happen,but I know it will smash the ribs in your bed flat and get loose. Grade 8 bolts have the tendincy to snap when they're loose,whereas gr 5 will bend. You're better off to do it the right way-under the bed. My plate has 90 degree legs on it so the bolts go thru the side of the frame.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,driftwood,Banks&phscotty,34,000 GVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

 

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Jon:

Get yourself 2 pieces of 3x6x1/4 angle. Could be bigger (4x6 etc). Position the angle on the outside of the frame, with narrow side (3") running parallel to the pcikup box and pointed toward the inside. Push the angle upward tight against the bottom of the box. Should get lucky with atleast one factory hole in frame to bolt up angles. Drill a second... do not weld! Watch for brake lines.

Drill 1 1/16" holes down from top (standing in box) through box and new angles. Bolt up plate and then tack 1" nuts to angle. Makes for easy in and out.

jjw
ND

 

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Only because i have seen this happen with improperly installed g. necks. Friend got into head on with a combine on a one lane bridge(Tow rigs fault) the loaded g'neck went through the cab like a can opener, i will still blame it on the plate and the break away to this day. POINT=hitches are not a place to skimp if safety is a consideration. just my imho, maybe I am just a safety freak

 

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Brandon, people say I overbuild things. Your example makes me feel better about spending the extra time and materials to do the job (IMO) right. Safety should not be overlooked!

 

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I had mine done by a professional trailering shop. Because of the space between the frame and the bottom of the bed, they removed the bed, mounted the plate to the frame, cut a hole in the bed-bottom for the ball, and put the bed back on. This is a big task, but I'm sure you dont want to get run over by your own trailer! Take this seriously, and go the extra step!

 

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Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it. Yep, in an emergency braking situation/collision, I don't want a questionable install.

I like the suggestion about the angles. Not only will I be bolted through the frame on the ribs, but using angle iron up flush against the bed, I'll be bolted in real well. I may weigh that against just removing the plate and swapping it between the bed and the frame the way the pros do it.

thanks again folks, later, jon.

 

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When I put my hitch in I had a simular piece steel. I used grade 12 bolts. To mount my hitch level in my bed I used nuts nuts that were from about grade 12+ (my memopry has sliped) But I put them 3 high between the frame and the plate of steel and that made it flush with the bed. I know that the truck will split in half before this ever breaks.

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99,2500,qc,SLT,black,4wd,35Klb gooseneck hitch, K&N airfilter, 265/75/16 BFG ATko's

 

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Tony what's grade 12?Are you speaking metric?

 

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Tony,

Do you mean that you used grade 12 bolts to shim between the rib of the bed and the frame so there was no way it would crush?

Sounds reasonable.

I may still go the angle iron route mentioned above, but am not looking forward to drilling any of this nonsense. Maybe I can find some pre drilled pieces so all I have drill (or torch a hole in) is the plate in my truck.

later, jon.