Looking for our 1st 5ver, many questions....

Thanks for the feedback and pics!!

It looks like you did a good job on the hitch install! Nice thing about doing it yourself, you know how solid things are, and that the bolts were torqued properly.

I have not used that hitch, but any used one needs a little cleaning, and lubing, to free up all moving parts. Remember to do a pull test when hooking up, to insure you are hitched/locked in. Someone else may have a tip for you concerning your Reese 15K.

Jerry

Some pics of install

Ive been absent awhile, work has kept me busy.

So heres where i am so far, an rv friend said yes, the rear brackets are welded on the inside of the frame. I bought a used 15k reese hitch with rails, brackes and all mounting hardware.

I cut the bed liner where the frame rails go then lined up the holes and everything matched.

I installed the rails and temporarily tightened everything up. The only bolts that didnt fit were the three rear bolts on the rear rail. The holes were drilled into the bed crossmember. So i now need to use a hole cutter to drill big holes for spacers the drill the bolt size hole thru the crossmember then tighten to torque specs.

Once i get that done this week, im going to go thru the hitch and lube everything up. It looks like its in pretty good shape, anything i should look for?

Thanks again Jerry, i think ill take it in and have a professional do whatever it takes to make it safe. Theres an rv shop that quoted me $1018 out the door for the hitch (16k) and install, sounds like their make a killing off me but if they do it right the first time it might be worth it.

The front looks to be standard rail pattern, but the rear looks like a cobble job. It looks like the rear frame mounts, may be on the inside of the frame. It is possible the PO used frame brackets for a different truck.

You would almost have to have some rails, such as for a Reese, and lay them in the bed, to measure, and see if the base for whatever hitch you will use, will work.

Hard to say, you may be able to use the front, redo the rear, or maybe just start over, cutting the welded brackets off. It would be best to have a knowledgeable RV friend help, or take it to a truck/trailer shop for advice, or install.

Jerry

Well it doesnt seem to have the 5th wheel rail bolt patter, maybe it was a gooseneck plate?

No Jerry, i dont have a clue. Ill post some measurements in the morning. Hopefully someone will notice.

NorthwestBound wrote:
Cool thanx!

Another question, the truck had a hitch in it before, eveything was taken before i bought it. However, the frame brackets are still there under the bed. Can i buy the rail kit and hitch and install myself? The brackets are welded to the frame.

Probably, many hitch bases will fit a standard rail set up. You would have to measure with the rails lined up with the existing holes, to see if alignment would fit the hitch you are interested in.

Installed rails are kind of standardized, but there are some odd balls out there. Do you know what hitch used to be in the truck?

Jerry

Cool thanx!

Another question, the truck had a hitch in it before, eveything was taken before i bought it. However, the frame brackets are still there under the bed. Can i buy the rail kit and hitch and install myself? The brackets are welded to the frame.

It looks like your figuring is right, but the nada wt, is most likely dry wt. If you add about 1500 lbs for propane, bat, water, and your stuff, would put you at about 9,000 lbs, and about 1,800 pin.

May be over GVWR of truck, but your truck is capable IMO. Still your decision.

Jerry