dmack61

Had a 99 dodge 3500 with a 15K Reese Fifth Wheel hitch. Just recieved our 03 Dodge and need to install the old Reese hitch. Did some research and ordered a bracket kit from 'The Pit Crew Inc'. It came yesterday. Looks pretty straight forward but in the instructions it said to use provided kit 30035 which includes 4 1/2" carriage bolts with tub spacers. Where these supposed to come with my bracket kit?? Can I go and buy some 1" outside dia. pipe and cut it to fit? Any one have any suggestions? I want ot get this thing installed this weekend. ???

FiverBob

My kit came with all bolts and spacers included.


ps: Welcome to the forum.

latitud_rt

The spacers are 4&quot; long and they go in the front holes of the rear bracket, Get that, front holes in the rear bracket. They are used because your front two holes will go through the bed support rail and its 4&quot; deep. When you drill the 1&quot; hole for the spacers, make sure you only drill through the bed and not through the bed support. You also need longer carriage bolts for these 2 holes. Also, in your kit you should hace received a long spring looking thing that is used to feed the knurl bolts through to &quot;boxed&quot; rail and into the holes you will drill. I think you use a 17/32&quot; drill bit and my advise is to use that exact size bit, any smaller and the knurl bolts will not go into the hole without stripping the knurl; any larger and the knurl bolt will just spin in the hole.<br><br>One more hint, the access hole for the front bolts, for the front bracket) is way to small to get the knurl head through, use the 1&quot; bit and make the hole larger.<br><br>As I said before if you didn't get the long spring looking wire in your kit; don't even start because you will not get the bolts through the &quot;boxed&quot; frame.<br><br>All in all, its not that bad. I did by father-in-laws truck about 2 weeks ago and it took about 5 hours.<br><br>Tim

dmack61

Thanks for the response. I bought 1&quot; outside dia. galv. pipe for the tube spacers and grade 5, 4-1/2&quot; hex bolts because I could't find carriage bolts that were grade 5. The kit did come with the spring thing. I am having a little trouble finding the 17/32&quot; drill bit. Went to the usual, Sears, Home Depot and Lowes. I was thinking about using a 1/2&quot; bit and reaming it out a little, but after your post I think I'll keep looking. I'll let you know how it goes this weekend.<br><br>

latitud_rt

I hope all goes well, pm me with any questions. Make sure you get the exact bit. Sears usually carries them but I got mine at a local hardware store for $16.<br><br>Tim

dmack61

Well the hitch is in. Took 5 1/2 hours and was very simple. Took my time and measured twice! The only thing they could have improved on is the pull wire could have been longer. I had to snake a piece of copper house wire for the front bracets and electric tape the pull wire they gave me to it. All in all it was not a bad job. Thanks for all the advice. Next, the prodigy brake controller.