Ideas for leveling bed with 5th wheel hitch rails?

[jshumate]

On my previous '97 CTD with Reese hitch rails, I used double layers of flake board, cut to fit the bed sections, to level the bed surface to the rail height. It was combersome, heavy and not very durable.



I plan on buying the Pullrite Super 5th to put in my new truck. Since I have a 2WD, the Super Rail won't work for me (unfortunatly).



Anyone out there have a better idea for this problem?



Thanks in advance.

 

[TowPro]

Flake board, is that wooden plywood?



With the reese hitch rail, it is designed to sit on the metal bed, then they give you these spacers that slide in under the bolts (top or bottom depending on which way the corrugated bed is at that location).



The weight of the RV is not on the bed, its on the hitch rail, which is transferred through to the frame by the bolts and spacers. In my 98 and 02 I drilled 1" holes through the bed liner and used washers to stand the rails up 1/2" so the plastic bed liner could move around under the rails This worked great. In the 06 I installed the hitch rails, removed them, got a linex liner sprayed in, then reinstalled the hitch rails right on top of the linex.



the reese rail install on the 3500 SRW requires some additional brackets on the rear mounts. These brackets are very HD. I think they are 1/2' thick!

They mount on the inside of the frame on the back, then the stock L bracket mounts on the outside for the front rails. The job takes time because of all the drilling, but it was no harder then the last 3 Dodges I have installed them on.

On my previous '97 CTD with Reese hitch rails, I used double layers of flake board, cut to fit the bed sections, to level the bed surface to the rail height. It was combersome, heavy and not very durable.



I plan on buying the Pullrite Super 5th to put in my new truck. Since I have a 2WD, the Super Rail won't work for me (unfortunatly).



Anyone out there have a better idea for this problem?



Thanks in advance.

 

[Hoefler]

Get some 1/4" x 1" bar stock. You can use on top or on the bottom side as needed. You won't need more than a 24" long bar cut into 2" pieces. Works real well and when you tighten the bolts, it will stay put.

 

[klenger]

B&W Turnoverball and Companion 5th wheel hitch.

 

[jshumate]

I guess I wasn't very clear. What I meant was using something on top of the bed mat or bed liner that would butt up against the hitch rails providing a level surface in the bed. When I used the flake board (cheap plywood) before, I cut three pieces, 1 for the space behind the rails, 1 for between the rails and 1 for between the front of the bed and the rail.



This all started when I once had to move a grandfather clock across country and wanted it to lye on a flat surface.



I guess this is why they make under the bed rail systems now.

 

[TowPro]

Oh, OK. I saw this mat at tractor supply they use for horse and cow stalls. Its about the right hight for what your looking to do. Check it out, every Tractor supply I been to has a pile of them out front. Here is more info

 

[JimScott]

5th wheel hitch

I installed the Pullrite Super 5th in my truck. I made some plugs to fill the holes when the hitch is out. I like the way it works. I still lay a couple of 2 x4s in the bed when I'm hauling plywood because I don't like sliding it over the rough surface of the spray in bedliner. I don't need a gooseneck hitch so I didn't go with the Turnover ball setup.

Jim

 

[JRMora]

B&W Turnoverball and Companion 5th wheel hitch.

Me too. I haul sheetgoods in my truck when I don't have the hitch in. Looked at the Pullrite also.



Juan