can you now weld to the 05 frame? I saw some where you could drill it.the guy at the trailer hitch shop said dodge would let you weld to it.is there any truth to that. 05 short 6 speed 1 ton srw 610 no vib 23mph. love this truck.

 

i have it welded to frame and it shouldn't be diff. than yours

I don't trust a bolt on setup.

 

As far as I can tell NO WELDING.Frame has NOT changed for 05 from a 03 etc.All the major hitch manufactires are ALL bolt on.

 

this started a fight last time.... ill just say my opinion dont weld on the frame...

 

READ the info thats suppied from D.C.and I also THINK on ALL hydro formed frames.NO WELDING and only drilling in the areas that are prescribed by the manufacture.In a HARD collision if welded and frame gives way I bet huge ramifacations can result.I bet also its described in the BODY shop repair manuals on such.I would also think that the truck manufacture and the gooseneck suppliers would have maybe just a small clue to whats proper and not.My first THREE trucks I also took my gooesneck hitch from one to the next.The 03 was differant so had to purchase another.

 

All I can say on the subjct is make sure you buy a NEW hitch designed for the 03 & up trucks. All of the mfg's have gone and redesigned their hitches to work with the NEW frame so just spend the money and get the correct setup for your truck. If you let these hitch shops cut and weld on your frame as they see fit then you are asking for trouble somewhere down the road
Just my .01 worth of advise.

 

A friend of mine was getting a hitch installed last year on his new 03 dually and the hitch shop was trying figure out how to use his old GN setup. They did not want to weld it in, he said "here I'll weld it in"...... two weeks layer his truck bent in the middle while pulling a trailer. Makes you think the mfg mean what they say about no welding. That frame is just about like 2x6 10ga tubing.

 

thanks for the info. will go with a bolt on hitch .

 

I had my dealer do the hitch install so when i picked up my truck it was ready to go, I like all of you had heard all the rumors about welding, and low and behold that is what they did. They told me that the installer they used had been doing all their work for like 15years and they knew what to do. I naturaly threw a fit, I called DC and they said that there was not a problem. There is a service bulletin that states this but i am not sure where i read it maybe on TDR. The other concern i had was they placed my hitch directly over my axle, i also was not happy about this, however after pulling my trailer and talking with several people it does not seem to be a problem. So leroy don't worry about welding if that is what you want to do.

 

I've been through this on TDR as well. Can somebody please show me where DC says not to weld on these frames? There is a TSB spelling out welding procedure, and a disclaimer that set DC aside if a welded accessory causes a problem, but no where can I find anything stating "no welding".

My goosehitch is welded in and been used hard for a year and a half with no problems

 

renegademanufacturing.com has worked well for me.

 

Just curious why wouldn't you want a gooseneck or fifth wheel right over tire's

 

Proper welding techniques are discussed in a TSB...somebody may recall which one.

 

Kyle G. - They handle the load a little better if the hitch is mounted an inch or 2 ahead of the axle centerline.

 

Here's the TSB

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2003/13-001-03.htm