Hi guys, my truck should be here any day and I will have a reese signature series fifth wheel hitch installed shortly. my question is am I better to have it bolted or welded to the frame? The installer will do it either way so it's up to me just a little more for the bolt kit.

 

I'd bolt it.

 

What he said, bolt it.

 

BOLT IT
Just make sure it's the corect kit for this model year. You should only have to drill holes in the bed and not the frame

 

I welded mine . the bolts would have come in contact will the fuel tank .if you do weld use a certified welder. Heating the frame to much will weaken a hydro formed frame. I have a reese 15k

 

Finally got my brackets figured out and I am going to get it welded. Can't get 2 bolts into the frame properly with the front bracket. Different hitches have different distances between their rails from what I have read. I do know that the 3500 has a spring overload bracket welded to the frame right where the front bracket for my hitch is supposed to go, plus the frame takes a dip so the second bolt hole is too high to have the distance required by Dodge's instructions from the top of the frame.

 

Steve, Steve, Steve,
There is a special install kit for the 3rd gen trucks - - comes from Reese. You do not have to weld. This kit fits it in around the brackets you talk about perfect. I would bolt it per instructions from Reese. This will place the hitch about 1/2" in front of the axle. This kit uses many holes that are all ready in the frame. Plus, the new holes are drilled on one side only and the bolt is fished into the new hole. Bolt it.

 

Dats rite. Da bolt.

..Preston..

 

Weld it.
Take a look at the TSB for bolting VS. welding. There are FAR MORE restrictions regarding bolting than there are for welding. Weld it. Here comes the flames do da do do. Opinions are just like (Admin Edit*), every ones got one.

*Please refrain from trying to get around the word censor. (It's there for a purpose. Thanks.)

 

I'd have to say bolt it...you just never know when you're gonna have to take the hitch off for whatever reason. Yes, you can grind out a weld, but who wants to do that? I sure don't, not even if it's one of my own!

 

Well it looks like the bolt guys are winning, I do like the idea of bolts as I have now thought of doing it myself. Thanks for all the replies.

 

All the big rigs are bolted..................On the frames it say s No Weld ,,,,,,,,for obvious reasons you would have to strong back it during the weld to keep it all strait..,,It is not that you can't-just ezer to bolt it

 

Ahh, come on...
Bolt it, then weld it.

 

"Ahh, come on...
Bolt it, then weld it."

I've heard of some engineers requiring that a structural building be welded AND bolted before...a bit overkill I think.

 

I would not trust ANYBODY to DRILL or WELD mine,
Get the no-drill brackets. Reese makes them, and so does pullright and I'm sure there are several others