Howdy, folks!

I recently posted a thread about my new B&W 1394R gooseneck hitch, but that was before I actually got it.

As my signature indicates, the install was performed on a short bed quad cab RAM (with a bedliner). If anyone out there can picture it, there's a solid rectangular steel crossmember that runs across the width of the bed frame and provides you with a mounting point for the hitch's center section. Well...there is a point on each side where the hitch side plates mount to that cross member -- as well as the angled cross member about 9" back -- that look like drilled out steel "tabs." During my install, the connection point where the tab on the passenger side meets the front cross member barely lined up (the tapped hole in the cross member was almost too far toward the driver's side).

As for the opposite side, the same connection point didn't line up. One might think -- given the offset I described on the passenger's side -- that the tapped hole in the front crossmember would be offset to the driver's side as well here, but that's not the case. To the contrary, it was too far to the right to allow threading of the bolt! Common sense -- and a little thought about the design -- would lead one to believe that any possible offset such as this would occur between the center section and the crossmembers -- NOT at the hitch side plates. Anyway, this also leads me to believe that I either received the wrong side plates OR the wrong front cross member.

In the end, I torqued down every bolt connection except the one I described above. My real concern is whether or not the lack of a bolt at that point will affect my ability to safely mount a trailer. We've been forced out of New Orleans by the storms, so time and money have been a major concern for us lately. I thought my investment in the B&W hitch would take care of my trailer needs, but, obviously, I was off the mark here. As I wouldn't even attempt to disassemble the hitch without a full lift, I'm not about to now. As soon as we get back on our feet again, I'll get that connection point welded, but, until then, I'm wondering about doing any towing with the hitch. Considering that the two crossmembers lay on top of the frame rails, I'm not really worried about the weight factor. To the contrary, I'm worried about the forward and reverse forces on the hitch during acceleration and braking.

Considering that all the mounting points on the side rails are in place, I don't think that I should be too worried about this, but I'd be gald to read any thoughts anyone else has about this.

Have a great day,
Bill

 

Hey Ram, I wish I were smart enough to follow along with the description here, but it aint happenin. I have sold several of these hitches to shortbed owners in this same year and nobody has had this problem before so somehow it goes together just gotta figure out the puzzle. I will include the B&W Helpline info here, give them a call and walk through it with them.
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1216 Highway 224
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Humboldt, KS 66748

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I agree with the above poster. I have sold and my tech's have installed hundred's of those and we have never experienced anything like that. I would do this, find an authorized B&W dealer near you and have them take a look at your install. They will know right away if there is something wrong witht he way you did it or if it is a hitch defect, at least myself or my guys would. DO NOT WELD IT! When everything is done correctly with a B&W hitch it bolts together perfect, we've never had hole's not line up. If there truly is a problem with your hitch, B&W will send you another one.

 

Bill, Let us know how It all works out for you! We tell people how great a product works for us and then they have a problem it kinda tastes funny! I am curious if they help you out! Service is a big thing to me!......we can all make a mistake.
Good Luck!

 

B&W will make it right for him. I'm wondering if there isn't something off with the frame of the truck? Was the 4" hole drilled in the correct spot?


I have had trucks where it was easier to put in the top bolts (crossmember to side plate) first, then force the sideplate down to the frame and install the bolts through the frame. It may seem like it doesn't fit right and you shouldn't have to force anything like that, but there a bunch of trucks I've done that with.


As for hauling with the hitch like it is, don't do it. You need to have the crossmember secured to the side plates to keep the hitch from rocking up when under hard acceleration or braking.