5th wheel hitch mounting - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 12-30-2016, 11:37 AM   #1
Ion
Junior Member
 
Name: Ion
Trailer: in the market-
British Columbia
Posts: 10
5th wheel hitch mounting

I have a just upgraded from a 2000 Dakota 2wd V6 to a 2005 Dak with 4X4 and 4.7 V8. The frame of the truck is different now and I am wondering what to do to install the 5th wheel hitch into the truck.

The new truck does not have any convenient mounting holes in the frame to attach brackets for the hitch (No welding allowed) and so I am curious to hear from another Dakota owner

Ion
Ion is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2016, 12:38 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
The Minimalist's Avatar
 
Name: Clif
Trailer: 08 Weiscraft Little Joe 14 Subaru Outback 2.5i CVT
Louisiana
Posts: 754
Registry
You might want to contact the hitch manufacturer and see if they have instructions for mounting that hitch to your make/model.
__________________
Clif
The Minimalist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2016, 03:04 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Trailer: 2002 19 ft Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
Posts: 3,640
Send a message via Yahoo to Darwin Maring
Our 2007 Silverado has a boxed frame and I drilled holes to mount the hitch to the frame.
Darwin Maring is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2016, 06:05 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,413
I know the rule with big trucks, as in tractor / trailers, the rule was never drill holes in the top or bottom flanges of the frame, only drill through the sides.
mary and bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2016, 06:35 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
sokhapkin's Avatar
 
Name: Sergey
Trailer: 2014 Scamp 16 layout 4, 2018 Winnebago Revel 4x4
SW Florida
Posts: 851
Quote:
Originally Posted by mary and bob View Post
I know the rule with big trucks, as in tractor / trailers, the rule was never drill holes in the top or bottom flanges of the frame, only drill through the sides.
Why? What is the reason? I could understand "no top" rule, but why "no bottom"?
__________________
Sergey
sokhapkin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2016, 06:42 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Trailer: Boler 13 ft / Casita FD
Posts: 2,038
Did drill through the side of frame per instructions of the 5th wheel mounting brackets... Alinement of the two rails was very important for hitch to be easlily taken out of back of truck. My hitch is alittle out of square so it goes in hard.
Rails purchased at NAPA Auto Supply store and came with all hardware and shims.
Gerry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2016, 09:27 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Paul O.'s Avatar
 
Name: Paul
Trailer: '04 Scamp 19D, TV:Tacoma 3.5L 4door, SB
Colorado
Posts: 1,845
Quote:
Originally Posted by sokhapkin View Post
Why? What is the reason? I could understand "no top" rule, but why "no bottom"?
In any I-beam the highest stresses are at the top or bottom, the web can have a lot of holes in it. It would be hard to quickly figure out where the stresses are low to allow for drilling holes in the truck frame. It is not a simple textbook case.
Paul O. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2016, 02:07 AM   #8
Ion
Junior Member
 
Name: Ion
Trailer: in the market-
British Columbia
Posts: 10
My previous Dakota (2000) had two very generous holes each side that allowed for 5/8" Gr 8 bolts with eight 1/2" Gr 5 carriage bolts connecting the rails to the bracket plates I designed. Worked out very well.

Update; since I asked here, today, I found information at the DSP website, the maker of my hitch, and they suggest a series of brackets that will be drilled for through the frame web. I would have preferred that Dodge had punched some holes for me.
Suffice to say, I will be staying as close to center as possible and the bracket will be a single plate with wings for the rail pickup.

Ion
Ion is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2016, 05:18 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Trailer: Boler 13 ft / Casita FD
Posts: 2,038
I was told that the hitch pin should be centered over rear axle of truck, and all pre-drilled holes I had already, in my Chevy Silverado, were of no use to me.
It's quite a job to measure and get it all lined up so brackets would be in proper position.
If not use to doing a lot of measuring and figuring, I sugest you bring it to others.
Gerry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2016, 06:50 AM   #10
Moderator
 
Jim Bennett's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2009 19 ft Escape / 2009 Honda Pilot
Posts: 6,224
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Minimalist View Post
You might want to contact the hitch manufacturer and see if they have instructions for mounting that hitch to your make/model.
This is definitely the best advice. The manufacturer will have instructions for mounting if they support use with your vehicle. Every vehicle uses different methods. I have seen simple bolt on procedures like with my 2015 F150, and others who installed the same hitch having to drill holes.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
Jim Bennett is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2016, 09:30 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Name: JD
Trailer: Scamp 16 Modified (BIGLY)
Florida
Posts: 2,445
The bottom would be the worst place to drill and the top next, but the center of the web has almost no stress due to bending.
I thought that most trucks had mounting holes in the proper spots for the factory hitches and that the after market manufacturers utilized the same holes, but I don't fool with trucks much.
On my Chrysler Town and Country truck I installed the OEM hitch and the mounting was specified in the installation manual
redbarron55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2016, 12:30 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Name: Lee
Trailer: Casita
Texas
Posts: 493
Registry
I think truck frames utilize Huck bolts for fastening. a system developed by Alcoa. Not sure if anyone uses them to mount frame mounted trailer hitches but it might be worth a look. It appears to be an extraordinarily strong method of attaching frame members.
__________________
Lee
Captleemo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2016, 01:14 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Name: JD
Trailer: Scamp 16 Modified (BIGLY)
Florida
Posts: 2,445
Huck bolts are a specialized fastener that usually require a special puller much like a very large pop rivet.
The puller pushes the collar around the "bolt" and stretches it to specification.
While the "bolt" looks like it is threaded it is really a series of concentric ridges and the collar is formed into them.
When the fastener is pulled to specifications the bolt breaks off leaving the parts fastened

redbarron55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2016, 04:19 PM   #14
Ion
Junior Member
 
Name: Ion
Trailer: in the market-
British Columbia
Posts: 10
All is well, I did the install on my old truck and it went well. The new one will be much the same but having to drill some holes. No big deal for me.

Gerry, I was told to have 'about' a 1-1/2" lead on the hitch pin. I used a spirit level to project the axle line up to the top of the box, marked it on a piece of masking tap on the box edge, taped a piece of weed whacker line across the box and projected measurements onto the box floor.

The adapter bracket was as long as the rails (38") and has the corresponding wings with gussets to match up with the rail mounting bolts.

The problem at first blush was not to drill holes, but now I feel more comfortable to just that. Since it will be awhile till its warm enough to work outside, I will make some inquiries with the Dodge dealer and a couple of trailer shops.

Ion
Ion is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-01-2017, 03:29 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Trailer: Boler 13 ft / Casita FD
Posts: 2,038
a 1-1/2" lead on the hitch pin shouldn't be a problem.
A friend of mine, who's answer to all problems is "What Ever" has a sliding hitch in his truck...He put it in his truck this past spring for the first trip of the season and failed to make sure his pin placement was over the axle and when making a tight turn into a gas station took out his back window of his truck.
When we finally met at the campground I looked at his hitch placement and it was about 6 inches foward on the slide and told him the problem and he said " What Ever, I just picked it up and put it on, so it coudn't have changed from last year".
You know he never did change the position all summer but was more carfull while taking corners...What Ever...
Gerry is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Mounting 5th wheel hitch question for Scamp? Jamesbucklin Towing, Hitching, Axles and Running Gear 10 04-30-2016 08:17 AM
Toyota Tundra Scamp 5th wheel hitch mounting laird allen Towing, Hitching, Axles and Running Gear 5 08-11-2012 05:41 AM
5th wheel hitch to hitch pull jackstrr Towing, Hitching, Axles and Running Gear 9 07-19-2011 04:19 PM
Innovative 5th-Wheel Hitch Patrick M. General Chat 12 07-05-2007 04:08 PM
Suggestions Needed: 5th wheel hitch cover Gail Shook Problem Solving | Owners Helping Owners 2 07-07-2006 09:13 AM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:21 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.