So I have a new 2014 3500 mega. I really don't want bed rails. I opted for a non prepped truck so I could get the truck sooner. Now I think I should have waited.

Anyway, the parts guy was confused and I am now as well. Service guys said there is a prep kit that can be installed after the fact that will act like the factory prep.

Went to parts guy and all he could talk about was a goose prep and kept saying the outer 4 holes were only for chains. Said the kit is $700 and should be available in April.

Anybody know about this?

Basically I want an underbed mounting system. I don't like the bed rail. Had it on the last 2 trucks and am done with having stuff trapped under the rails.

Now that the picture frames are available I was thinking the prep was the best option.

Reese is no good on their options. Superglide has yet to get back to me and hiJacker said theirs will work underbed on the new 2014.

I pull a '08 Fuzion 362 with the lippert 1116 pinbox.

What I thought id like was a underbed mount with fixed 5er saddle and then a sidewinder on the trailer. Or a auto slider. I have tagged my other trucks 3-4 times and really want the piece of mind not to worry about hitting the cab.

I have been looking all over the web and all I hear is get a b and w goose. But that don't work with a slider other than theirs (not auto slider) or the sidewinder.

Suggestions? Camping season is rapidly approaching.

 

The B&W turnover ball hitch for 2013/14 is better than the factory set up, once you have the goose hitch there are a few options other than the B&W companion and their slider. I think it's Anderson that sells a set of regular 5ver hitch rails that just drops into the B&W goose then you can use ANY make of hitch you want. I might add that I tow a 5ver with a SB and the B&W regular non slide companion, my trailer has cut away front corners that allow 88degrees of turn, I've never come close to touching the cab.

 

Busboy,

I must have the bad luck. Or my rails in two trucks were mounted in the wrong spot because I have 3 receipts from the body shop saying different. Thus a bit gun shy with the manual slider.

From all I read, even on their site, B and W is not recommend with auto sliders or the sidewinder. It will void their warranty. But they now make a 5er that plugs into the factory prep.

I have in the interim found the prep kit part number for the 2014 dodge 82213665AB. This is the four brackets that mount on the factory locations as well as the caps for the holes. Price is anywhere from $200-$400 depending on where you order from. This is definitely becoming an option.

I want underbed mounts and superglide and reese does not have that option for a 2014. Rails alone are $200. Not including the kit for the 2014 frame mount, which is at min an additional $100.
So I am looking at doing the prep and then getting the picture frame, probably from reese that will make it a universal rail distance. Then look at either going with a auto slider (superglide or hijacker as they have universal mount versions) or a sidewinder. Sidewinder option looks cheeper so far.

Now if b&w had an auto slider then that is a whole other ball of wax.

 

Not sure you understood. The B&W turnover ball only makes one hole if you are only going to use it for a 5ver, the factory has 5 large holes. The adapter that fits into the B&W turnover ball is a Curt X5 Fifth Wheel Adapter for B and W Square Shank Turnover Ball Hitches. If you google it you'll see that it is a standard set of 5th wheel hitch rails that attaches ONLY into the turnover ball, this means you can use any make of hitch that will attach to a standard 5ver rail.

 

Yes I understand fully. My point is this. b&w will not warranty their product if an auto slider or sidewinder is attached using their ball mount. Yes there is a rail mounted to the ball socket, but still an auto slider in my case would be attached rendering the warranty useless. That may not be a big deal to some. But for me it is.
The curt option at least in my looking is still one where I have to get out of the truck every time it gets close and slide it back. I have that option now and don't like it. I have to do some pretty fun backing to get into where I park it.
If I had a long bed then no problem b&w would be hands down the winner.
Most under bed 5er mounts have 4 points of contact. The rails also have that many, but are covered by the rails themselves. I also like the idea of distributing the weight over a larger area of the truck. As well, it should be a more solid mount and the bed itself is not used for bracing like the rail adapter for the b&w.
I guess we have two different ideas on a fix. And that is ok. Spice of life.

 

I'm not trying to "sell" you on any product it's just I have a B&W in my 2011 which is the "old" style way of mounting the turnover ball hitch, I installed it so I know exactly how it's installed. My son has the turnover ball in his 2013 and it's such a nice installation and bolts directly into the same factory frame mounts for the factory goose hitch, it's a better product and there is currently nothing to compare as the factory hitch has the 4 other large holes in the bed plus if you were going to use a goose trailer the chances of ever hooking the safety chains up in the winter are about zero, they install into adapters that have to fit into the two rear mounts for a 5ver hitch. I think the cab clearance issues depends a lot on what the trailer front is like. Whatever hitch you decide on I was only trying to give you advice, the price of hitches is ridiculous and to buy the wrong one can be sometimes irreversible.

 

Listen to busboy for the turnover ball.

Then, like he suggested - Andersen makes a hitch system to pull a 5th wheel with the turnover ball. This same Andersen hitch system also sets the 5th wheel pin a few inches rearward to avoid cab contact, or the need for a slider. All while still keeping the weight over the axle.

 

http://www.andersenhitches.com/Catal...onnection.aspx

 

Busboy and Doj Dewd
I took your advice. I just ordered a B&W goose and the Andersen. My only concern is bed flex or crushing of the ribs in the bed. I looked over the bed and the cross rails underneath should support the frame of the Andersen. Has anyone placed shims in between the ribs of the bed and the cross rail of the frame to reduce potential of crushing the rib and flexing?
Or am I just paranoid? Would not be the first time i have been accused of this. I overdo tiedowns on my ATVs all the time. I plan on a spray in liner in the near future as well.

 

The B&W turn over ball for the 2013/14 trucks it's like Dodge designed it as part of the truck and B&W built it, I know you will be pleased. This opens the door to use almost any hitch you want to use, I have been using the 2011 style companion to tow my 13,700lb 5ver, there are no filler strips like the newer model but I have no bed damage. I did install thicker rubber pads than what the hitch came with but they are only 5X5 1/4 inch thick rubber belting at each corner, I have no bed liner of any kind so the clear coat is scuffed where the hitch sits. As I mentioned if your 5ver is newer it probably has the cut away corners, mine states on their web site it gives 88 deg of turn in a short box without hitting.