[quote author=Cummins Luke link=board=11;threadid=21995;start=30#msg207352 date=1068313981]
This thread should be closed fast. Many of you people are not talking sense here : :-[
[/quote]

I thought that WAS the requirement for this thread?


Rich

 

[quote author=y-knot link=board=11;threadid=21995;start=30#msg207089 date=1068239277]
I short my butt would be in a sling if for any reason the truck was involved in an accident while pulling a trailer. Who needs it?
[/quote]

That is the main reason I don't make them for our work trucks. No matter how well something is made, whether it be by me or Draw-tite, or B&W, there is a chance that it will break. If a home-made hitch broke while pulling a trailer and it caused damage in money or life, the total responsibility would be on me. If a company's hitch broke, they would at least partly responsible for the consiquences.

 

A goose neck or fifth wheel plate is where overkill is the rule. A professional big truck shop will always do it the same way. The frame on the second gen is set up for this process, with indentations for 2 inch angle iron each side. You just go to the local steel supplier, get a plate 3/4 sheared to the size you need it to be the width of the angle iron wider than the frame. To raise it up to bed hight I also had another plate sheared a foot and a half wide and a little narrower than the main plate. Put the small one on top, weld it all around, get a machine shop to bore the hole for the hitch ball, three bolts, on each side to the angle irons and bolt the angles to the frame. The frame will come apart before this will fail. I have $60.00 in the setup. Another tip is to weld the ball nut to the bottom of the plate. You can than unscrew the ball if you need with a big wrench or stilson. The nut on the bottom likes to loosen over time regardless of the tightness, welding it stops it from loosening.

Same thickness plate naturally a little larger is how a stationary fifth wheel is mounted on a big truck. This is cheaper and stronger than any of the aftermarket units made for this purpose. Ahhhh you add 75 pounds or so to the truck, but never have to worry about the hitch.

As I said earlier, the second gen has the depressions in the sides of the frame for the angle irons at the proper location for a pin setting. This also strengthens the Dodge frame. The bed does not have to be removed to install this, make up the plate and then slide it between the frame and the bed with the wheel liners out. Drill a hole 1/4 inch dia through the bottom in the center of the hitch hole then use a hole saw to cut the floor of the bed. A couple of holes drilled with spacers attach the safety chains to the plate.

 

Thank you Haulin Dixie
I respect your post. But all the same I have a better piece of mind with the B&W reciever type ball. I have read many of your posts and I think you have a good sense about stuff.
To buy the raw materials and weld everything together verserse buy it??
I am not knocking your system. Many of us do not have either the skill or the materials on hand to perform such a feat.
In the past 30 + years of driving I have seen many a things going down the road that, I would not be seen with.
Don't bother to response to this if you don't have the back ground to back it up. It is very easy for a youngster to get on the computer and start letting their fingers overrun their capabilities.
Take care
See Ya
Chris

 

[quote author=Papa Smurf (CRuD) link=board=11;threadid=21995;start=45#msg208717 date=1068607479]
Thank you Haulin Dixie
I respect your post. But all the same I have a better piece of mind with the B&W reciever type ball. I have read many of your posts and I think you have a good sense about stuff.
To buy the raw materials and weld everything together verserse buy it??
I am not knocking your system. Many of us do not have either the skill or the materials on hand to perform such a feat.
In the past 30 + years of driving I have seen many a things going down the road that, I would not be seen with.
Don't bother to response to this if you don't have the back ground to back it up. It is very easy for a youngster to get on the computer and start letting their fingers overrun their capabilities.
Take care
See Ya
Chris
[/quote]

Chris this post was made with reference to the shop doing it. Done properly it is strong and good, I have seen some 1/4 plate deals welded with an AC buzzbox to the frame that I would be afraid to move across the street.