2014 Dodge Ram Fifth Wheel Prep Option?

gtsum wrote:

Dutch & Di wrote:
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

We ordered our truck July 13th, 2013 with a Reese Hitch. We were notified 8 weeks later, they could not get a Reese Hitch. We called Reese and they told us that their hitch for the 2014 Rams would not be available til early 2014

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....

The price from Dodge for the Mopar Curt Hitch was the same as the Reese. Do keep in mind that as part of our deal with them, they were going to purchase and install our hitch among other things

Originally they quoted a price of $500.00 just for the adapter, but then after checking with the parts dept. who in turn called dodge ect. they tried to hit me with a bunch more money, as I had already worked it into the deal that the dealership was buying the bracket, I made some extra calls and spoke with reese themselves, who assured me there bracket would work in my truck and with my existing hitch I ordered through my camper dealer/hitch installer, had it in two days and installed it in the parking lot:W

While Reese didn't have the hitch for our 2014, they did have the picture frame. That was sent to our dealer and was installed by them when our truck arrived. Hugs, Di

So it sounds like Reese will soon have a hitch that mounts directly into the 4 factory prep holes, thereby not having to go with the picture frame adapter?

Does anyone know if a pullrite superglide or other auto slider will fit on the picture frame? I would assume they would fit fine?

I could be wrong but I don't think reese is developing a hitch to drop into the holes, they spent the money on R&D and manufacturing the adapter, basically the prep package and adapter take the place of the rails you would normally install for your fifth wheel

Yes, the pullrite for Industry Standard Rails will fit on the Reese picture frame, I have one now. However, I ordered the Anderson GN setup that just arrived from etrailer today. Will have it hooked up to my 5th wheel this weekend.

Scott

Dutch & Di wrote:
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

We ordered our truck July 13th, 2013 with a Reese Hitch. We were notified 8 weeks later, they could not get a Reese Hitch. We called Reese and they told us that their hitch for the 2014 Rams would not be available til early 2014

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....

The price from Dodge for the Mopar Curt Hitch was the same as the Reese. Do keep in mind that as part of our deal with them, they were going to purchase and install our hitch among other things

Originally they quoted a price of $500.00 just for the adapter, but then after checking with the parts dept. who in turn called dodge ect. they tried to hit me with a bunch more money, as I had already worked it into the deal that the dealership was buying the bracket, I made some extra calls and spoke with reese themselves, who assured me there bracket would work in my truck and with my existing hitch I ordered through my camper dealer/hitch installer, had it in two days and installed it in the parking lot:W

While Reese didn't have the hitch for our 2014, they did have the picture frame. That was sent to our dealer and was installed by them when our truck arrived. Hugs, Di

So it sounds like Reese will soon have a hitch that mounts directly into the 4 factory prep holes, thereby not having to go with the picture frame adapter?

Does anyone know if a pullrite superglide or other auto slider will fit on the picture frame? I would assume they would fit fine?

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

We ordered our truck July 13th, 2013 with a Reese Hitch. We were notified 8 weeks later, they could not get a Reese Hitch. We called Reese and they told us that their hitch for the 2014 Rams would not be available til early 2014

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....

The price from Dodge for the Mopar Curt Hitch was the same as the Reese. Do keep in mind that as part of our deal with them, they were going to purchase and install our hitch among other things

Originally they quoted a price of $500.00 just for the adapter, but then after checking with the parts dept. who in turn called dodge ect. they tried to hit me with a bunch more money, as I had already worked it into the deal that the dealership was buying the bracket, I made some extra calls and spoke with reese themselves, who assured me there bracket would work in my truck and with my existing hitch I ordered through my camper dealer/hitch installer, had it in two days and installed it in the parking lot:W

While Reese didn't have the hitch for our 2014, they did have the picture frame. That was sent to our dealer and was installed by them when our truck arrived. Hugs, Di

deleted

deerslayer wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

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....

Originally they quoted a price of $500.00 just for the adapter, but then after checking with the parts dept. who in turn called dodge ect. they tried to hit me with a bunch more money, as I had already worked it into the deal that the dealership was buying the bracket, I made some extra calls and spoke with reese themselves, who assured me there bracket would work in my truck and with my existing hitch I ordered through my camper dealer/hitch installer, had it in two days and installed it in the parking lot:W

I had stated in an earlier post that I thought Reese was making a hitch that would actually fit in the 4 cam lock holes that come with the GN/5er prep package...That would be the best route. Heck, Reese even makes an identical picture frame adapter that Mopar does and sells it for several hundred dollars cheaper....

NC Hauler wrote:

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....

Originally they quoted a price of $500.00 just for the adapter, but then after checking with the parts dept. who in turn called dodge ect. they tried to hit me with a bunch more money, as I had already worked it into the deal that the dealership was buying the bracket, I made some extra calls and spoke with reese themselves, who assured me there bracket would work in my truck and with my existing hitch I ordered through my camper dealer/hitch installer, had it in two days and installed it in the parking lot:W

I don't know if some of you have seen the chassis pictures of how these TN/prep packages are built into the frame....one's I've seen are not "tack welded" onto the frame, they are very robust and quite capable of handling quite a bit of weight.

Again, I DID check with NC, had brochures, brought up the video of the Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch and was told by DOT officers that in NC, safety chains would not be needed.

Most know I won't tow my 5er with a GN hitch, not recommended by HR, BUT this Andersen is supported in 4 corners with a wide base with ball mounted 18 to 20" off deck of truck where 5er connects...I would not hesitate to use this hitch and still may buy one and in NC, you DO NOT need safety chains with this hitch.

I did see video of where it could a HUGE amount of pressure for this frame to fail.

I also read someone state they were going to get the picture frame adapter and then state they were going to use the center drop in ball.....One DOESN'T need the picture frame adapter IF they are going to use the 5er/GN prep package and ONLY use the center pre-existing hole.

Also, as far as how well these 5 holes are built into the frame of the truck, one can go to Allpar.com, look up 2013 3500 and can see where these 5 cam locks are set up on the frame, they are integrated into frame very well and are very robust to handle GN hitches or picture frame adapter and the hitch that would mount to them.

when I towed from WV to NC end of Nov, I towed over some very mountainous, curvy secondary roads, lot's of ESS curves, ups, downs, rough roads, 16,000# pushing, pulling, going left, going right and I didn't even have any "clunking"...everything solid as a rock.

The cam locks go THROUGH the bed of the truck and lock into the FRAME of the truck, same with center hole....in fact, the Picture frame adapter lines up with frame itself, Legs running front to back..one's running cross way's also end at frame.. a really robust set up

to each his own on which hitch they opt for...heck, one doesn't even have to get the prep package offered by Ram and can still go what ever route they want.

As far as what hitch to you...get whatever works for you, I've used Reese for over 35 years, never had an issue, lifetime warranty..until they fail me, will stay with them.....get what you want...they all do the same thing, just might do it a different way is all, some may do it cheaper than others....

My 2001 Dodge Ram bed has sheet metal inverted 'top hats' as cross members under the bed. When I installed my Hijacker hitch that I removed from my 1993 Dodge, I made spacers in fit inside the top hats as the rail bolts came right down through the top hats. This allowed the weight of the hitch to be mostly transfer to the L bracket on the frame.

I am pretty sure the new beds have similar sheet metal top hat cross members that are spot welded to the underside of the bed.

These type gooseneck attached hitches are working, however that would not be my personal choice. I would really have to think about it! If I did go this route it would definitely be the Companion, and not the Anderson.

All those ridges in the bed are not there to just make it hard to sweep out, they are there to add strength to the thin sheet metal.

Cummins12V98 certainly is testing the weight issue with his MS. One of the advantages besides cost is the number of large hole in the bed. Here is a picture of a RAM bed with the full blown RAM 5th prep. Chris

Me Again wrote:

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

My companion has hard plastic strips that fit in the low part of the bed under the base of the Companion's sides. It has direct pressure to the front and rear supports that attach to the frame. The strips did not come with the frame but were sent at a later date. The newer design has direct pressure pcs with the kit. RVK 3500