Gooseneck Hitch Question

[C. Harlan]

Hey y'all. I need y'alls opinions on what I should do here. . I recently bought a 2004. 5 3500 DRW 4x4. It has a home-made gooseneck hitch welded to the frame, and when you get down to look across the C-Channel, you can see that it's bowed... I want to remove the cheap piece of channel, and actually get a hide away gooseneck setup... My question is this: How, if at all possible should I go about getting the old platform out?? I know that some cutting will be needed to get the channel off, but is it ok to grind the on the frame without damaging the frame itself?? I just cannot imagine how someone can spend $45k+ on a truck and scrounge on a $300 gooseneck hitch. It angers me, and frustrates me to no end! Anyways, any help would be appreciated!



-Chris-

 

[Duluth Diesel]

EEK! Sounds like the hitch is junk. I wonder if the hitch caused the frame rails to spread when it failed and sagged. Take some measurements between the rails and see if they seem to have spread apart.



Your frame warranty is gone since the hitch was welded on. Chrysler clearly states that welding or cutting on the frame voids warranty. So, whatever you do from here doesn't matter to anyone except yourself. Check for spreading, cracks, etc. Cleanly remove the old hitch, and order up a good new one. I have a Diamond Hitch from Renegade Manufacturing out of Cody, Wyoming. It has been a good hitch for me, and was easy to put in with the help of TDR Member JoshPeters.



Good luck!

-Chuck

 

[jelag]

I would have no problem in removing the hitch and doing what ever you need to correct the frame issue... We have 3 Dodge trucks with goose neck hitches in them... . we used to use the Atwood brand but found they didn't hold up well... the ones we use now are rated at 30K lbs and bolt to the frame... . none require new holes...



My BIL had damaged the frame on his truck... . 3500 as well... and had to pull the bed and repair the frame... . actually welded it up and had to install a strut to stiffen it up. . I would have no problem using good common skills to do this... . I'm sure that DC would void the warranty... . but that for you on your frame has already happened... .



Hope this helps... .

 

[-gtsm-]

I just bought a new hitch today for my new 3500 mega cab DRW, It's the B&W turnover ball , I have one on my 99 2500 4x4 and can recommend the brand as will most people you ask on this forum. As to the removal of the old hitch... I can only give you this advise , try to minimise heat induced to the frame at the points where the old hitch was installed. I would grind the old hitch off a little at a time trying to keep the areas you are grinding from getting too hot. do not throw water or force cool it at all just grind a little at a time until it's off. I truly hope that your frame is not damaged too badly by the previous welding... Good luck.

 

[Hoefler]

I would cut it off the brackets and not do anything to the welds on the frame, just leave it there if it is not in the way of the new hitch. Any grinding you do will thin out the frame material and you would create a weak spot. Cutting it off you risk gouging the frame and heat stressing it further. Cut the hitch off the brackets close to the frame as you can and leave the rest.

 

[bmoeller]

If you cut the old hitch off, I'd use a plasma cutter if you can get one. Much less heat involved. Cleaner cuts as well.



I built my own hitch with 4"x4"x 3/8" angle iron, 1"x 12" wide steel plate, and bolted it to the frame. Have the angles situated the same as they are on a big truck hitch. I do need to add a pice of channel on the bottom to stiffen it up. The plate crosses over the top of the frame, and over the top of the angles, which are facing out. Used the OEM holes and 5/8" Gr 8 bolts.



Grnated our frames are different, but that is what I did.