So, not gonna rehash the whole store, just that ive been trying to get into a 5ver with a small budget but cant get past the hitch.
Needless to say, the hitch installation was never completed because i could not find a way to install the spacers due to the location of the rail holes in a crossmember.
So i took the truck to a local expert who put it up on a lift and inspected the install. Thats where the concern turned from spacers to frame brackets.
Once on the lift, we could see that the brackets installed by the previous owner was an accident waiting to happen.
The previous owner had welded on the universal brackets to the frame, and did a rather fair job on the front brackets. However, once on the lift, we could see that he had cut the rear brackets short and then welded them to the top of the frame. Holy ****!!!! Frome looking from the outside it appeared to be a full bracket welded onto the inside of the frame.
So, heres what im thinking. First, the installed hitch is too far forward. Reese says 28 5/16 from the rear and mine is at almost 33. I may order the reese brackets 50040, bolt them in place and relocate the position of the rails to a more centered location and leave the welded brackets on the frame.
So 4 questions:
Will the current location of the hitch be a big problem?
Has anyone used the 50040 bracket and do you have a pic of it installed?
Can you grind off these brackets without weakening the frame if they are in the way of installing bracket 50040?
What other options may i have?
Im running real low on funds for this project so i could use some budget minded advice. Thanks in advance.
Needless to say, the hitch installation was never completed because i could not find a way to install the spacers due to the location of the rail holes in a crossmember.
So i took the truck to a local expert who put it up on a lift and inspected the install. Thats where the concern turned from spacers to frame brackets.
Once on the lift, we could see that the brackets installed by the previous owner was an accident waiting to happen.
The previous owner had welded on the universal brackets to the frame, and did a rather fair job on the front brackets. However, once on the lift, we could see that he had cut the rear brackets short and then welded them to the top of the frame. Holy ****!!!! Frome looking from the outside it appeared to be a full bracket welded onto the inside of the frame.
So, heres what im thinking. First, the installed hitch is too far forward. Reese says 28 5/16 from the rear and mine is at almost 33. I may order the reese brackets 50040, bolt them in place and relocate the position of the rails to a more centered location and leave the welded brackets on the frame.
So 4 questions:
Will the current location of the hitch be a big problem?
Has anyone used the 50040 bracket and do you have a pic of it installed?
Can you grind off these brackets without weakening the frame if they are in the way of installing bracket 50040?
What other options may i have?
Im running real low on funds for this project so i could use some budget minded advice. Thanks in advance.
NorthwestBound wrote:
Thanks for the input on the spacers. I did the uninstall, cut of the old welded on brackets and then installed the Reese 50040 kit.
Wasnt too hard, need a second pair of hands to bolt up the brackets tho.
My bedliner looks like **** but oh well, form over finish.
I went a different route with the spacers. While you slid them inside the crossmember, a video online shows drillng a bigger hole and dropping them into the crossmember. I chose to just run the bolt up from the bottom inside the crossmember, nut and washer on the top, eliminating the spaacer altogether.
I feel more comfortable with this kit installed. It was way to easy to cut those brackets. There was very poor penetration on those welds.
Safety first! Im just glad i can move on and begin searching for 5th wheel now.
Let me make a suggestion on that Reese Twin Jaw hitch, take the rise out of the release handle, I noticed a scuff on mine and 10 minutes later it looked like this!
NorthwestBound wrote:
My bedliner looks like **** but oh well, form over finish.
I once cut a drop in liner for 5th wheel rails! Never again! Cr@p kept getting under the liner!
Start saving to have the extra holes filled and a spray in liner done.
Chris
Thanks for the input on the spacers. I did the uninstall, cut of the old welded on brackets and then installed the Reese 50040 kit.
Wasnt too hard, need a second pair of hands to bolt up the brackets tho.
My bedliner looks like **** but oh well, form over finish.
I went a different route with the spacers. While you slid them inside the crossmember, a video online shows drillng a bigger hole and dropping them into the crossmember. I chose to just run the bolt up from the bottom inside the crossmember, nut and washer on the top, eliminating the spaacer altogether.
I feel more comfortable with this kit installed. It was way to easy to cut those brackets. There was very poor penetration on those welds.
Safety first! Im just glad i can move on and begin searching for 5th wheel now.
Wasnt too hard, need a second pair of hands to bolt up the brackets tho.
My bedliner looks like **** but oh well, form over finish.
I went a different route with the spacers. While you slid them inside the crossmember, a video online shows drillng a bigger hole and dropping them into the crossmember. I chose to just run the bolt up from the bottom inside the crossmember, nut and washer on the top, eliminating the spaacer altogether.
I feel more comfortable with this kit installed. It was way to easy to cut those brackets. There was very poor penetration on those welds.
Safety first! Im just glad i can move on and begin searching for 5th wheel now.
Thanks guys. Aftet the initial anxiety attack subsided I ordered the Reese 50040 kit without the rails. This should relocate the hitch to the proper location and give me a little more peace of mind. Etrailer had it for $260 but got it for $197 and free shipping on Jet.
