Experience installing Pic Frame Adapter in New Ram

[yellowdog00]

I just got a 2015 Ram 3500 with fifth wheel prep in the bed and wanted to install a Pullrite Slider hitch in it. This will be my first fifth wheel so all this was new to me.

I knew I had to get the picture frame adapter to fit the 4 pucks in the bed before installing the hitch. Most people get the Reese adapter instead of the one made by Pullrite because of about $200 price difference. I elected to get the Pullrite adapter because it breaks down into 4 pieces and is easier handle weightwise and I'd seen good reviews of it.

The problem I had which I've seen others have with the Reese is the pucks weren't perfectly aligned for the pins to fall into. It bound up and would not fit on the drivers side. I called Pullrite and they said for the Ram you need to loosen the two bolts under the bed that hold each puck to the frame. This gives you enough slop for the pins to fit and then with the pic frame in, you tighten the puck bolts on the frame. I saw on a Ram forum where someone installed pucks into a new Ram that did not have fifth wheel prep. He had pics of bolt location and told me to use a 18mm socket and retorque to 90-95 ft lbs.

Again this is my first fifth wheel hitch and I'm not very mechanically inclined but I am stubborn enough that I wanted to try it myself. I hope this may help others who run into this issue.

[eHoefler]

You can add the pucks if not factory installed, they are bolted in.

[mowin]

yellowdog00 wrote:
I don't know whether the. Factory pucks are welded to the frame or not. I'll let Mowin answer that as he installed pucks in his Ram and gave me advice on the torque setting of the bolts.

All I know is that after I loosened the two bolts on the two drivers side pucks, my pull rite pic frame fell right. There was about an 1/8" of movement after loosening. I then re torqued the bolts smith the pic frame in place.

While I've read numerous threads about whether you need or don't need a slider with a 6'4" bed, I'm that guy who will find a way to need it with my luck. To me it's pay now or pay later and the peace of mind is worth it to me.

Your truck came with the prep correct? If so, the pucks are not welded in by the factory as you were able to loosen the bolts to get the pic frame to fit.

[yellowdog00]

I don't know whether the. Factory pucks are welded to the frame or not. I'll let Mowin answer that as he installed pucks in his Ram and gave me advice on the torque setting of the bolts.

All I know is that after I loosened the two bolts on the two drivers side pucks, my pull rite pic frame fell right. There was about an 1/8" of movement after loosening. I then re torqued the bolts smith the pic frame in place.

While I've read numerous threads about whether you need or don't need a slider with a 6'4" bed, I'm that guy who will find a way to need it with my luck. To me it's pay now or pay later and the peace of mind is worth it to me.

[eHoefler]

Factory pucks are welded to the frame, you are going to have to adjust your picture frame. I had the dealer include the RAM picture frame and 25K hitch when I purchase my truck.

[mowin]

yellowdog00 wrote:
I just got a 2015 Ram 3500 with fifth wheel prep in the bed and wanted to install a Pullrite Slider hitch in it. This will be my first fifth wheel so all this was new to me.

I knew I had to get the picture frame adapter to fit the 4 pucks in the bed before installing the hitch. Most people get the Reese adapter instead of the one made by Pullrite because of about $200 price difference. I elected to get the Pullrite adapter because it breaks down into 4 pieces and is easier handle weightwise and I'd seen good reviews of it.

The problem I had which I've seen others have with the Reese is the pucks weren't perfectly aligned for the pins to fall into. It bound up and would not fit on the drivers side. I called Pullrite and they said for the Ram you need to loosen the two bolts under the bed that hold each puck to the frame. This gives you enough slop for the pins to fit and then with the pic frame in, you tighten the puck bolts on the frame. I saw on a Ram forum where someone installed pucks into a new Ram that did not have fifth wheel prep. He had pics of bolt location and told me to use a 18mm socket and retorque to 90-95 ft lbs.

Again this is my first fifth wheel hitch and I'm not very mechanically inclined but I am stubborn enough that I wanted to try it myself. I hope this may help others who run into this issue.

I'm the guy who added the pucks to my ram and posted pics. I'm glad my post helped you figure it out.

[e-light]

yellowdog00 wrote:
I just got a 2015 Ram 3500 with fifth wheel prep in the bed and wanted to install a Pullrite Slider hitch in it. This will be my first fifth wheel so all this was new to me.

I knew I had to get the picture frame adapter to fit the 4 pucks in the bed before installing the hitch. Most people get the Reese adapter instead of the one made by Pullrite because of about $200 price difference. I elected to get the Pullrite adapter because it breaks down into 4 pieces and is easier handle weightwise and I'd seen good reviews of it.

The problem I had which I've seen others have with the Reese is the pucks weren't perfectly aligned for the pins to fall into. It bound up and would not fit on the drivers side. I called Pullrite and they said for the Ram you need to loosen the two bolts under the bed that hold each puck to the frame. This gives you enough slop for the pins to fit and then with the pic frame in, you tighten the puck bolts on the frame. I saw on a Ram forum where someone installed pucks into a new Ram that did not have fifth wheel prep. He had pics of bolt location and told me to use a 18mm socket and retorque to 90-95 ft lbs.

Again this is my first fifth wheel hitch and I'm not very mechanically inclined but I am stubborn enough that I wanted to try it myself. I hope this may help others who run into this issue.

Not sure it helps but I have read another post on another forum (don't remember where) where another person had to loosen the pucks to get the rails installed. It worked for that user. I don't remember the specifics though. I would say if you're going to do it, get the factory torque specs and make sure you retorque to the same specs...you seem to be on top of it.

Maybe too late now and not sure if you knew, but you can get 5th wheel hitches that fit directly into the pucks...or you could have gone the Andersen route and used your gooseneck ball to attach their Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection hitch.