Has anyone installed the Ram 5th wheel prep kit part# 82213980AB in their 2014 or newer Ram 2500? We're about to purchase a 5th wheel and I want to use this for my attachment points in the bed. My truck didn't come with the kit pre-installed so I'm going to tackle this myself. I've seen on other forums the kit comes with good instructions, but I'd like to see a video just to make sure I'm comfortable with it.Thanks,KJ

LIKE2BUILD wrote:Has anyone installed the Ram 5th wheel prep kit part# 82213980AB in their 2014 or newer Ram 2500? We're about to purchase a 5th wheel and I want to use this for my attachment points in the bed. My truck didn't come with the kit pre-installed so I'm going to tackle this myself. I've seen on other forums the kit comes with good instructions, but I'd like to see a video just to make sure I'm comfortable with it.Thanks,KJI did it last fall. Took about 4-4.5 hours working by myself, including the electrical outlet in the bed. The OEM bed bolts were really hard to remove do to the locking stuff they used. Two people would be able to do it much quicker. You have to remove the bed bolts and one side and loosen them on the other side, then jack the bed up on one side as a time to place the pucks into the mounts that are on all the frames. I used a board from a trolley floor jack to raise the bed. My SB has three mounting bolts on each side. Drilling the big holes in the bed is scary. I had to order the hole saw, as it is not a size that the box stores stock.https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E8FP6C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1I drilled the first pilot hole and then use a bent piece of wire to check the calibration of the location, and made a slight adjustment of the three other locations based on that finding.PM me if you want I will give you my phone number to talk. I did not install the gooseneck hitch.I really like my B&W hitch. The latch mechanism is the best there is available.Chris

Perfect information. Thanks so much.Your install looks extremely clean and that's the appearance that I want. The 5er we're buying is coming with the hitch that uses standard bolt-down rails in the bed. Call me crazy, but I just really don't want anything permanent in the bed. I want it completely clear so if I carry a load of wood, plywood, drywall....whatever....I don't have to goof around with the rails being in the way.I went back and forth with installing a B&W turnover ball then using a Companion hitch. That's a pretty nice deal but by the time I bought that whole setup I'd be over $1300 into the project. I'm getting the factory fifth wheel prep, wiring kit, and Reese picture frame adapter for under $700. Since I'm getting the hitch for free that puts me way ahead on $$$$$.I guess the final straw in going this route is having 4 points of locking contact for the hitch compared to 1 for the B&W setup. Yes, I know the Companion spreads the weight across bed and it is a very well engineered system, but I do like the idea of having hitch locked directly into the frame rails. Another nice thing is picture frame adapter makes it versatile and if I want to upgrade 5er hitches it's just simple plug and play without any other mods.KJ

I dont have a video but did install mine on a 2014. The tricky or worse part is cutting the holes. First you have to loosen the box bolts and slip the pucks in between the brackets. They provide a template for the hole placement but I wasn't comfortable with using a hole saw having to take one try at it and being dead on. The template got me in the ballpark and I then drilled several small holes and used a die grinder to clean it up and keep it on center. I did try to use a smaller hole saw at first thinking it would give me room to clean up the hole if it was a little off center but it didn't want to cut that steel very well. As you get the pucks in and look at the template you will see what I mean.When you attempt to drop the picture frame into place the "key" shape pins on the picture frame may not want to drop into place in the pucks. At that point you may loosen the pucks a little and re tighten. You may also have to clean up the edges of the pins a little to get them to drop in. It's all sort of crude and not a precision set up yet it can be a little touchy to get them to drop into place at first. You wont need to grind a great deal off of them, you are just going to finesse them a little. Try the puck on the pin before you install anything just to see what I mean.When the picture frame is in place you can then see how the engagement of each pin/puck feels and adjust as needed. You may need to pull the cotter pins and adjust the depth of engagement for each pin with the large nut adjuster. I adjusted it so there was no up down movement of the picture frame. While I was doing that I used anti seize on everything so it wasn't a nightmare to work with it years later. It's not real high tech but cutting the holes is the important part. You have leeway in it because of the plastic insert so it's not like you will ruin everything. Look at the plastic inserts and picture the tolerance you need to stay within. This isn't part of the install but I also shortened my arms so I could lift the whole unit out at one time while hanging on the FW pin. As it is designed you will need to pull the 4 pins and clips to first remove the upper portion of the hitch. When the upper portion has been removed it then allows room for the 4 arms to swing inward 90 degrees releasing the picture frame. I cut my arms short enough so that they can swing in 90 degrees and allow the picture frame and all to come out at one time. I have drilled, tapped and bolted the end of each arm when in the engaged position. Those that want to get all excited about the warranty just relax. It's not a space ship. Filing and cleaning up the ends of the pins isn't going to allow them to release and shoot the whole works in the air and wipe out three states and all their inhabitants either.

LIKE2BUILD wrote:Perfect information. Thanks so much.Your install looks extremely clean and that's the appearance that I want. The 5er we're buying is coming with the hitch that uses standard bolt-down rails in the bed. Call me crazy, but I just really don't want anything permanent in the bed. I want it completely clear so if I carry a load of wood, plywood, drywall....whatever....I don't have to goof around with the rails being in the way.I went back and forth with installing a B&W turnover ball then using a Companion hitch. That's a pretty nice deal but by the time I bought that whole setup I'd be over $1300 into the project. I'm getting the factory fifth wheel prep, wiring kit, and Reese picture frame adapter for under $700. Since I'm getting the hitch for free that puts me way ahead on $$$$$.I guess the final straw in going this route is having 4 points of locking contact for the hitch compared to 1 for the B&W setup. Yes, I know the Companion spreads the weight across bed and it is a very well engineered system, but I do like the idea of having hitch locked directly into the frame rails. Another nice thing is picture frame adapter makes it versatile and if I want to upgrade 5er hitches it's just simple plug and play without any other mods.KJIf you have not yet purchase the Reese PF, STOP and look at the Demco 6099 frame. It can be release without first removing the hitch. I pick my whole hitch/picture frame as a single unit.ORRRRRRrrr save the picture frame money, sell the free hitch and get a B&W RVK3600. You will not be sorry on doing that, I guarantee you will not be sorry if you go this route!!!!!Chris

rjxj wrote:This isn't part of the install but I also shortened my arms so I could lift the whole unit out at one time while hanging on the FW pin. As it is designed you will need to pull the 4 pins and clips to first remove the upper portion of the hitch. When the upper portion has been removed it then allows room for the 4 arms to swing inward 90 degrees releasing the picture frame. I cut my arms short enough so that they can swing in 90 degrees and allow the picture frame and all to come out at one time. I have drilled, tapped and bolted the end of each arm when in the engaged position. Those that want to get all excited about the warranty just relax. It's not a space ship. Filing and cleaning up the ends of the pins isn't going to allow them to release and shoot the whole works in the air and wipe out three states and all their inhabitants either.Thanks for the info. I was thinking about doing something similar to the locking arms. My thought was to cut them short enough to to rotate out and clear the wheel wells. Then I was going to tack weld tabs on the locking arms and picture frame that I can lock together with the pins.KJ

Installing Ram 5th wheel prep | Good Sam Community

42 Replies

LIKE2BUILD
Explorer
Jul 26, 2016
What about the Curt 16K with Dual Jaw and full pivot head? Any experience with this?

I was on the phone with Etrailer.com and they said the hitches that fit direct in the Ram fifth Prep are difficult to get. I have a trip coming up in August and I'll need to have everything in line by then.

KJ
Me_Again
Explorer III
Jul 26, 2016
Fifth wheel hitches with out side to side tilt are dinosaurs. Your are throwing money down a rat hole purchasing a Reese picture frame for a very out dated hitch that creates issue hooking up on uneven ground.

Sometimes free is just not a good deal! Chris
LIKE2BUILD
Explorer
Jul 26, 2016
Cummins12V98 wrote:

Your call but IMHO you are throwing good money after bad. The RVK3600 will be ready to go when you decide your truck and RV are not big enough. Do the math. Picture frame adapter is $370 sell your "FREE" hitch $300? You are down to $500 for the proper hitch. NO brainer to me. You need to sell your wife on this.

The cheapest I've seen the RVK3600 is $1,100. Even if I get $300 for the RBK (doubtful without the rails) I'm still out $800 versus $370 for the picture frame.

KJ
LIKE2BUILD
Explorer
Jul 26, 2016
Me Again wrote:
Is it a four way tilt unit? Chris

No
LIKE2BUILD
Explorer
Jul 26, 2016
Me Again wrote:
LIKE2BUILD wrote:
I got the kit from MoparOnlineParts.com

Here is their info for the kit:

Model(s): Ram 2500,3500,4500
Model Year(s): 2014 2015 2016
Part Number(s): 82213980AB

That kit is for 2500 only, the kit number I linked is the one for the 3500's. 82213665AB Chris

Yep, my Truck is a 2500.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Jul 26, 2016
Is it a four way tilt unit? Chris
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jul 26, 2016
LIKE2BUILD wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Do your self a HUGE favor sell the hitch put the money towards this you WILL thank me!!!

Great idea, but the wife wants to do this on the lowest possible budget. She looked at hitch prices and just about choked. She sees the seller giving us the hitch with the 5th wheel and doesn't see the need to buy another one. I can get the pucks and picture frame adapter for a reasonable price and make it work.

I would LOVE to get a B&W with the Dual Jaw, but that just isn't going to be in the financial cards right now.

KJ

Your call but IMHO you are throwing good money after bad. The RVK3600 will be ready to go when you decide your truck and RV are not big enough. Do the math. Picture frame adapter is $370 sell your "FREE" hitch $300? You are down to $500 for the proper hitch. NO brainer to me. You need to sell your wife on this.

Now I see you are getting a RBW hitch. Ask your wife if she wants to hear a big clank overtime you stop and take off???? I can comment on this since I went from RBW to B&W.

You will HATE the hitch. I did.
LIKE2BUILD
Explorer
Jul 26, 2016
Me Again wrote:
So what is the hitch that you are getting. The older Hijackers will not fit the standard rails. Most others will. Some get good reviews and some tend to drop the trailer on the bed rails from time to time.

Chris

I believe it's an RBW hitch. The owners have towed with it for 4 years with no problems. I know it's not a high end hitch, but telling the wife we need to buy all this other stuff just isn't going to fly.

KJ
Me_Again
Explorer III
Jul 26, 2016
LIKE2BUILD wrote:
I got the kit from MoparOnlineParts.com

Here is their info for the kit:

Model(s): Ram 2500,3500,4500
Model Year(s): 2014 2015 2016
Part Number(s): 82213980AB

That kit is for 2500 only, the kit number I linked is the one for the 3500's. 82213665AB Chris
LIKE2BUILD
Explorer
Jul 26, 2016
I got the kit from MoparOnlineParts.com

Here is their info for the kit:

Model(s): Ram 2500,3500,4500
Model Year(s): 2014 2015 2016
Part Number(s): 82213980AB

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Installing Ram 5th wheel prep

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