2014 Dodge Ram Fifth Wheel Prep Option?

Hotel California wrote:
Has anyone ordered a 2014 Ram with the 5th wheel prep option? If so, what did you need to do to install your hitch? Do any hitches actually just line up with the pre-drilled holes? Dealer is having a difficult time answering questions on the subject.

Mopar offers a "picture frame" that is designed to attach to the factory mounting points, then you mount your hitch to it.

jmtandem wrote:

.....I still may can my picture frame adapter and go with the drop in ball and Andersen ultimate hitch...so much ligher in weight and so much easier to mess with....looking back now, wished I had gone this route.

I have spent time on Anderson's website and even watched the video where the hitch was crushed by a huge press at 50,000+ pounds. All in all pretty impressive. The one thing I am trying to get my head around is how much pressure does the base of the hitch put on the truck's sheet metal bed and if little or no pressure is applied then how does the base of the hitch not move around? I guess I need to see one in operation and the answer would be easy to see. I realize it goes into the GN, and the base is just there for support. But, still there must be some weight on the base and therefore the sheet metal of the bed. Am I visualizing this wrongly?

On both the Anderson and the Companion, all the weight is on the sheet metal bed. The gooseneck connection is used to crank the wider base of the hitch down tightly on the sheet metal bed. The Companion was modified after first production to limit bed damage that the early ones caused.

Also in may book this Anderson is a gooseneck hitch, an would require safety chains. Talking to them on the phone did not produce an definite not required and a fair bit of hedging on their part. And they are now offering an option to purchase safety chairs.

I would also not like the extra landing gear work to hump the coupler over the ball to hitch and unhitch, causing one to have to lift the trailer an extra 4 inches or so.

Ball and Couple??? That requires safety chains in most states. Tell me where the difference is between the Anderson ball and coupler and gooseneck ball and coupler, that requires safety chains, other than Anderson is not totally up front about it.

Chris

.....I still may can my picture frame adapter and go with the drop in ball and Andersen ultimate hitch...so much ligher in weight and so much easier to mess with....looking back now, wished I had gone this route.

I have spent time on Anderson's website and even watched the video where the hitch was crushed by a huge press at 50,000+ pounds. All in all pretty impressive. The one thing I am trying to get my head around is how much pressure does the base of the hitch put on the truck's sheet metal bed and if little or no pressure is applied then how does the base of the hitch not move around? I guess I need to see one in operation and the answer would be easy to see. I realize it goes into the GN, and the base is just there for support. But, still there must be some weight on the base and therefore the sheet metal of the bed. Am I visualizing this wrongly?

Me Again wrote:
Here is part of the Washington state code, this is for under 10,000 GVWR. I will look more. They state 5th wheel hitches are exempt. Ball and couples require safety chains.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=204-70-030

I just talked to Anderson about safety chains and he maybe along to contribute to the thread. But it is a grey area, with some states they have contacted saying technically yes and others no.

Chris

I spoke with Andersen back in May, then again in June, was REALLY close to buying the Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch, was told it didn't need safety chains...Took a brochure along with me to Asheville DMV where I was set up with an appointment to meet with DOT, I showed pictures, we looked at the videos' ( I was interested in NC law)...again , WAS TOLD, I did not need safety chains with this set up, even THEY didn't consider it a GN,

deerslayer wrote:

Dutch & Di wrote:
We ordered a Reese Hitch when we ordered our 2014 truck because that is what we had in our 96 Dodge.
Unfortunately Reese said they would have a hitch til 2014. Dodge suggested we purchase the Chrysler Curt Hitch. The found out that it would not "fit" so they ordered a Reese picture frame which did fit into the truck beds bolt holes. Go figure. Reese had a picture frame but no hitch. We had to do some modifications ourselves afterwards to take care of the "clunking" that we had when starting out or stopping but all is well now. Hope this helps. Hugs, Di
ps another forum with a wealth of information is this one http://www.turbodieselregister.com

Hotel California wrote:
Has anyone ordered a 2014 Ram with the 5th wheel prep option? If so, what did you need to do to install your hitch? Do any hitches actually just line up with the pre-drilled holes? Dealer is having a difficult time answering questions on the subject.

Just curious what hitch did they not have? I found my dealer and dodge themselves were useless when trying to figure out the hitch in my truck. Once I did some leg work on what was working in the real world I got the reese adapter and my reese hitch dropped right in. I am not sure how the goose neck works as I don't have one, but to my knowledge it should drop right in

I certainly wouldn't purchase a hitch from Dodge or Mopar, their prices are ridiculous..you would get it cheaper at Camping World...best place to go is a hitch installer....Almost ANY conventional hitch that sets on rails will work with the picture frame adapter....

Gunship Guy wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

Gunship Guy wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:
last time I checked, the Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch DID NOT require safety chains but the hooks up can be incorporated to the drop in ball to where the safety chains, if one thinks they are needed, can be attached to ....but again, the Anderser Ultimate 5er hitch IS NOT considered a GN hitch, and from last check DID NOT require safety chains, but maybe it varies from state to state

the Ram factory GN hitch center hook up doesn't have any place to hook chains, but depending on the drop in ball you get, again, they come with attachable shackles where safety chains can be hooked to.

I'm just going to get the chains as a CYA in case I ever get pulled over. Better safe than sorry. Don't want to waist time debating the issue with LEOs, if it ever came down to that. Tweety's offers the chain kit for $64. Cheap insurance.

I got the Reese goose ball kit that came with the pucks for attaching chains to the factory holes.

I thought The Reese Elite drop in ball, as well as the Mopar drop ball both came with the safety chain hook ups....I know around here, with the configuration of the Andersen, one doesn't need the chains...but understand your reasoning.

Hauler, you are correct. The Reese Elite ball did come with the chain pucks for the Ram factory holes. Just not the chains or a way to hook the chains to the Andersen hitch.

Don't know about other states, BUT again, the Andersen Ultimate 5th wheel hitch IS NOT CONSIDERED a GN hitch...it mounts to the ball on the deck of the truck, but due to it's construction, with a base, supported by 4 legs and ball that 5er mounts to being 18-20" off the deck of the truck bed, it's not known as a GN...I came within a hair of purchasing this hitch, I did ALL the research on it, ragged on it, calling it a GN, but after checking in NC, SC, VA, TN and WV, (where I do almost all of my towing), speaking with the DOT, even sending pictures and links to the hitch when asked for, I was told that the set up DID NOT need the chains....just telling you what I was told by the DOT's of those states....I was about to pull the trigger on the ball and the hitch.....I still may can my picture frame adapter and go with the drop in ball and Andersen ultimate hitch...so much ligher in weight and so much easier to mess with....looking back now, wished I had gone this route.

I guess if someone feels a bit concerned about the set up and they want to use chains, have at it, but THEY ARE NOT required due to the fact that by, at least the 5 states I checked into, chains WERE NOT needed....safety break away cable is, but no chains, but, to each his own...If I purchase one, I will not use the chains...they aren't necessary....going by what several state DOT officials told me and what Andersen conveyed to me as well

hbensley wrote:
Reese p/n 30140 will get you the gooseneck ball and safety chain connections to drop in the factory g/n fiver prep package. (2 5/16" ball)

Don't know the part number, but Tweedy's sells the Reese Elite drop in ball for under $200 that drops into the center hole of the prep package and you can use it for a GN or for the Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch.....

Dutch & Di wrote:
We ordered a Reese Hitch when we ordered our 2014 truck because that is what we had in our 96 Dodge.
Unfortunately Reese said they would have a hitch til 2014. Dodge suggested we purchase the Chrysler Curt Hitch. The found out that it would not "fit" so they ordered a Reese picture frame which did fit into the truck beds bolt holes. Go figure. Reese had a picture frame but no hitch. We had to do some modifications ourselves afterwards to take care of the "clunking" that we had when starting out or stopping but all is well now. Hope this helps. Hugs, Di
ps another forum with a wealth of information is this one http://www.turbodieselregister.com

Hotel California wrote:
Has anyone ordered a 2014 Ram with the 5th wheel prep option? If so, what did you need to do to install your hitch? Do any hitches actually just line up with the pre-drilled holes? Dealer is having a difficult time answering questions on the subject.

This doesn't make a lot of sense>>>I have a MOPAR picture frame adapter that drops into my 5er/GN prep package....the Reese picture frame adapter is IDENTICAL to the MOPAR picture frame adapter and just about ANY conventional Reese 5th wheel hitch will drop right into the adapter. My Reese 20K Signature hitch fit into the adpater and locked down. I got a buddy who has a 13' 3500 SRW hitch with picture frame adapter and he put his Reese 16 K hitch on the picture frame adapter.....Unless Reese is just running low on hitches??? It makes no sense that they don't have a hitch that will mount onto the adapter..

Reese p/n 30140 will get you the gooseneck ball and safety chain connections to drop in the factory g/n fiver prep package. (2 5/16" ball)

Dutch & Di wrote:
We ordered a Reese Hitch when we ordered our 2014 truck because that is what we had in our 96 Dodge.
Unfortunately Reese said they would have a hitch til 2014. Dodge suggested we purchase the Chrysler Curt Hitch. The found out that it would not "fit" so they ordered a Reese picture frame which did fit into the truck beds bolt holes. Go figure. Reese had a picture frame but no hitch. We had to do some modifications ourselves afterwards to take care of the "clunking" that we had when starting out or stopping but all is well now. Hope this helps. Hugs, Di
ps another forum with a wealth of information is this one http://www.turbodieselregister.com

Hotel California wrote:
Has anyone ordered a 2014 Ram with the 5th wheel prep option? If so, what did you need to do to install your hitch? Do any hitches actually just line up with the pre-drilled holes? Dealer is having a difficult time answering questions on the subject.

Just curious what hitch did they not have? I found my dealer and dodge themselves were useless when trying to figure out the hitch in my truck. Once I did some leg work on what was working in the real world I got the reese adapter and my reese hitch dropped right in. I am not sure how the goose neck works as I don't have one, but to my knowledge it should drop right in