schamran

Are they made for our trucks? has anyone ever built one? pics?
Thanks!

rebal

we made 2 for ours my sons has a 5/8 square plate across the bed and we welded in a pocket and made it so it would turn over . on mine I used a B/W turnover from a 01 Dodge and modded it to fit then welded it in to the frame the problem with 1st gens is there is little clearance between the bed and frame in that area. so it is going to take a little fab work

schamran

Yeah. I just when out to look at it, and no, there is no clearance. I was kinda hoping I could put the plate I have underneath the bed, but I don't see that happening without some fab work. It wouldn't be a good idea to put the plate inside of the frame rails would it? If I re-enforced it? Back to the drawring board!

acorn

I have a fold-down ball in mine, it just lays down instead of turning over. I can try to get some pics if you want...

--acorn

schamran

Pics would be great!

acorn

Here you go, got a couple underneath the truck too:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

--acorn

schamran

Thanks man. I have a new idea, so feel free to shoot it down. I hope it's safe. I want to cut up the plate i have already, and put it under the bed. I know there isn't much clearance, but I found a way to make it work. I plan on re enforcing it with 3/16" or larger angle iron as well. What I want do, instead of making a "turnover ball" is make the mount flush with the bed, but use a regular ball and weld the nut under the plate. I would just have to turn it in and out with a giant crescent wrench. I would have to put the lock washer on the top though. This would also allow me to make shims to add an inch or so for better clearance if need be.

acorn

That is how my old chevy was, you just screwed the ball into the threaded hole in the plate. I pulled the bed, and put an old flatbed on, with oak boards, but the ball was underneath the bed in that configuration. So I unfastened the center boards and just took them out when i was towing. It was ugly, but it worked.

One thing that worried me tho, was the possibility of the ball coming unscrewed while towing. I don't know how likely that is, but it never happened. I had no lock washer, but screwed and unscrewed the ball with a big pipe wrench and 5 or 6 foot cheater bar, so it was tight

--acorn

BTM

I have one on my truck, it might even be from the factory. Rich

schamran

Okay great. I was looking at the fancy ***** with the receiver style shanks and they are expensive! I was hoping this would work, and still be flush when It's out. I was thinking about putting some kind of pin underneath the nut as well so that it wouldn't be able to loosen up.

KD93

Acorn, that's a pretty sweet looking configuration you have there. Did you go somewhere to buy that, or fab it up yourself? Mmm, got me thinking. I've been wanting to get a flip-over ball too, but awful expensive and hard to make it work. But this would work great, if I could get my hands on it!
And welcome to the forum, BTW.

rebel_horseman

http://www.codyhitch.com/installation_kits.htm

They have a pop-up kit and they also list the adapter kit for 1993 and older Dodge trucks.

andyt

I have the screw in type on my truck. Built a plate under the bed with reinforcenents. Ball is from $25 from TSC rated for 25K lbs.
Word of advice: Don't put the lock washer that comes with the ball between the ball and plate because the washer is smller diameter and will not support the shank. The best thing to do put a pin or jam nut on the bottom.

schamran

Okay. Thank you!

JTCHess

I have the B&W setup on my 93 D350...