2014 Dodge Ram Fifth Wheel Prep Option?

REESE 30154 from Croft Trailer
I just got one of these from this dealer. When you call and make your order ask if they can put their hands on one and ship it to you. These have been on back order for a couple of months in many places I called.
I called them and had mine in my truck within 3 days. Reasonably priced and nice to deal with.
It took me about 15 minutes to unbox and install it.
Oh, and to answer your question; I don't believe any hitches line up with this prep package.

Ram really blew it when they offered a 5th wheel hitch prep but no hitch to fit it. Hard to believe they still have not come up with a compatible drop in hitch. Or that no hitch manufacturer has offered one yet.

DUMB. Doesn't it seem like they could have struck a deal with one of the major hitch manufacturers like Ford did and pre-drill the holes to fit a specific hitch package?

hbensley wrote:
REESE 30154 from Croft Trailer
I just got one of these from this dealer. When you call and make your order ask if they can put their hands on one and ship it to you. These have been on back order for a couple of months in many places I called.
I called them and had mine in my truck within 3 days. Reasonably priced and nice to deal with.
It took me about 15 minutes to unbox and install it.
Oh, and to answer your question; I don't believe any hitches line up with this prep package.

It's cheaper than the MOPAR picture frame adapter, (what it is called by MOPAR)....you mount your hitch onto it.

Some hitch installers have come up with hitches now that are mounted to rails that fit into and lock down to the 5er/GN prep package. (Reese and Curt, I believe), but if one already has a hitch they want to use, like I did, the picture frame adapter is the way to go.

One thing one should check is to make sure you don't have to make adjustments to the 4 lock downs...I had to adjust two of the four on my adapter...one was too tight to lock down, the other one locked down, but seemed loose to me. If you look at the directions, you are shown how to make the adjustment to ensure your adapter frame is properly locked into the trucks frame.

texasdiver wrote:
DUMB. Doesn't it seem like they could have struck a deal with one of the major hitch manufacturers like Ford did and pre-drill the holes to fit a specific hitch package?

The picture frame adapter allows one to use a variety of different hitches..The picture frame adapter mounts into the bed of the truck and my 20K Reese Signature hitch locked into it. There are quite a few different hitches one can use on the adapter.

But it was dumb on Ram's part to NOT have the picture frame adapter available when the trucks came out....I got my truck in May and no adapter until July....Chrysler made it right for me though by giving me a Chrysler Max Car care extended warranty of 7 yrs, 100,000 miles, zero deductible and I paid about 1/2 of what MOPAR is charging for the adapter, so what Chrysler did for me for the inconvenience, to me, made up for their dropping the ball on this 5er/GN prep package.

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.

My 13' is identical to the 14'...mine came with the GN/5er prep package. IF you have a hitch and want to keep it, most will adapt to the picture frame adapter, (I used the 20K Reese Signature hitch that I removed from my previous truck.).

As I stated earlier, there are a couple of manufacturers that are now making some hitches that have already have the rails attached to the hitch and they fit into the 5er/GN prep package 4 lock down holes.

One is reese, believe curt may be other one....

Another route one can go would be to buy a Reese elite drop in ball (used in center hole) and take a look at the Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch, it IS a 5er hitch...several on the cummins forums have gone to these hitches due to not being able to get picture frame adapter when they purchased their trucks.

You might some helpful information on the cummins forums about the prep-package, as well as hitches that are being manufactured that have rails already attached that fit into the 5er/GN prep package lock down holes.

Original poster here again. Thanks for the input so far.

One of my concerns is that the bed rails seem to be at least a couple inches higher than on my 2004 GMC. That seems like the nose of the fifth wheel will be a couple inches higher than it has been, or that the gap between the railtop and the RV will be smaller. If I need to use the "picture frame" adapter, won't that raise the nose of the fiver even higher?

Hotel California wrote:
Original poster here again. Thanks for the input so far.

One of my concerns is that the bed rails seem to be at least a couple inches higher than on my 2004 GMC. That seems like the nose of the fifth wheel will be a couple inches higher than it has been, or that the gap between the railtop and the RV will be smaller. If I need to use the "picture frame" adapter, won't that raise the nose of the fiver even higher?

The picture frame adapter IS higher,than the regular rails like I had in my last truck. I ended up dropping my hitch height down one hole and am actually a little more level than I was on my last truck with my 5er ( 39' 9", and loaded to 16,050#).

Might want to join this forum if you are considering a 2014 RAM.

Clicky

wski wrote:
Might want to join this forum if you are considering a 2014 RAM.

Clicky

I had recommended he go to the cummins forum earlier, but didn't provide a link, thx:)