I'm getting ready to order a 5th wheel hitch for my truck(2003 dually). I was told by the hitch retailer that the frame is thin on my '03 as they went to a tubular design and that I can't drill and botl to it. I need an extra kit for $200 thats no-drill and clamps around the frame.

1) I'm not keen on paying an extra $200
2) I'm not keen on it being "clamped" to the frame.

What did you guys do to mount bed hitches on your trucks?

 

i have a pullrite superglide hitch and it is clamped to the frame. i have always thought that it was a big no no to drill on the rear portion of our trucks frames.

 

I bolted my Reese in several months ago. You'll need a few good drill bits and a lot of WD-40 cool keel the bits cool. PITA to feed the bolts through the frame. I used bailing wire. PM if you have any specific questions. I'll help in any way I can.

 

I am using the same 20K Reese that was in my '96 and '01. in the '96 it was welded, I bolted it in the '01, but when I got the '08 I finally was able to find Husky clamp on brackets after a lot of searching that all I had to do was buy the matching Husky rails for. Some do bolt their brackets in the 3rd gen trucks, they simply get spacers in the middle of the frame so that the bolts don't crush it. I just didn't want to go to that trouble.

 

it is a a real paine we endeded up fabracating more of the kit than was supplied not for the average

 

My Pullrite is clamped to the frame also. It works fine.

As long as you drill or weld in the correct way,you can do either to a 3rd gen frame.

Dodge published a TSB about it a couple years back.

 

B&W turnover ball goose neck.Clamps.Real popular hitch.In fact when I look in trucks beds hardly ever see another brand.

 

Yeah, I run a B&W Companion 5th wheel hitch that drops into the turnover ball socket.

They clamp to the frame, but also have a pin on the sideplate that locates to a pre-existing hole in the frame.

 

Another vote for the B&W hitch, then you have the option for a gooseneck if you ever need it. The companion 5th wheel hitch is awesome and leaves no rails in your bed to get in your way.

 

Yes, there is a TSB on it. My 5th Wheel brackets are welded to the frame. I do a visual check once or twice a year to look for any visible issues, and haven't found any yet.

The brackets were welded on in July '03, hauled the 5th Coast to Coast to Coast, ~10k miles, with no issues. In '05, hauled it up to AK and back, as far north as Coldfoot. Lots of frost heaves and gravel roads on that May trip, if the welds were going to bust, that was the trip that should have done it. Welds still look good.
Back to morning brew. . .

 

Hey thanks for that link. I'm really not concerned with the installation aspect of it. Just the long term reliability or what would happen in an accident. I didn't want the thing to rip loose and come thru the back of the back cab. The local distributor made it sound like the frame wasn't thick enough to support bolting thru it.....

 

If I remember correctly the problem with drilling the frame is when you drill all the way through and then torque too tight, this can distort the frame rails. If you decide to drill all the through then use a sleeve and washers to run the bolts through.

 

I was thinking of just drilling thru one wall and then fishing the bolts thru....

 

You know with ALL the bolt on hitches out there I would not consider drilling or welding.Thats just me.No reason for it.