fifth wheel install
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 207
Likes: 2
From: parkersburg usa
fifth wheel install
hello im installing a fifth wheel hitch on my 94 f350 its a rbw 1500gvw lil rocker with the rails now heres the fun part i already have a b w turnover gooseneck ball i know b w makes a fifth wheel attach for the hitch but it is like 800 i got this one from my buddy brand bnew for 250 now to install the rails there web site calls for a install kit wich looks like 4 pieces of angle that bolt to the side of the truck frame then 4 bolts bolt to those brackets then the other 4 bolt to the truck bed my question is can i drill all the holes strait through the truck bed and frame and put a spacer in between the bottom of the bed and frame so i dont have to worry about the bed floor crushing and just bolt it that way? i had a gooseneck plate hitch on my old truck that was done like that with 4 bolts and it was fine for years of towing i have already test fitted everything and it will work like that does anyone see why it would or wouldnt work
thanks
chris
thanks
chris
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65,938
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From: Millersville, MD
Are you asking if you can simply use the truck bed to mount the hinge to and NOT the frame??? If you are, I sure wouldn't want to be the holder for your insurance!!! If this is a fifth wheel travel trailer, it must be a small one to be able to tow behind a 1/2 ton 150!! I sure don't recommend it......I'd want my hitch to be attached to the frame. My 2 cents worth..... Oops...I just noticed, it's an F350...sorry. But I STILL recommend using those angles to bolt to the frame. I installed mine (with help from my welder son) using stainless steel angles and stainless bolts and nuts and it takes care of my 30' Prowler no problem.
Last edited by BPofMD; Sep 9, 2006 at 09:13 PM.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 207
Likes: 2
From: parkersburg usa
fifth wheel
no im not bolting hitch to the bed the rails sit on the bed can i drill through the bed floor then through the frame and use a 3 1/2 inch grade 8 bolt and tighten it down the rails are bolted th the frame i dont see why it would not work ive seen some sites that sell a hitch the use the stock bed mounting locations the only thing i was worried about was the bed crushing because on the gap between the bed and frame but if i use a spacer there it should be fine
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 65,938
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From: Millersville, MD
I didn't use spacers there and no one I've seen does either. You'd have to have one hell of a torque to flaten all those out....Believe the bolts would shear befor you'd flaten out those raised portions of the bed.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,353
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From: Nothern Indiana
If yout going thru the frame you should be ok. I've installed 3 of them with the install kits and they have the angle iron.The reason I think they do that instead of bolting straight thru like you want to do is that way you can't get any movement back and forth.I would just buy the install kit and be done with it.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 207
Likes: 2
From: parkersburg usa
ok
i am going through the frame with all 8 bolts with the brackets if im correct dont just 4 go throught brackets and the other 4 just to the bed?? i looked at one here in town and it was that way i figure with 8 bolts in the frame i will be fine i will keep a eye on it and make sure all bolts are staying tight and there is no sighn of movement
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From: Nothern Indiana
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Originally Posted by chrisjrosenbohm
no im not bolting hitch to the bed the rails sit on the bed can i drill through the bed floor then through the frame and use a 3 1/2 inch grade 8 bolt and tighten it down the rails are bolted th the frame i dont see why it would not work ive seen some sites that sell a hitch the use the stock bed mounting locations the only thing i was worried about was the bed crushing because on the gap between the bed and frame but if i use a spacer there it should be fine
be used on the hitch rail-to-bed attachment, due to the bed corrugation
pattern. If the hole goes through a valley point, then the spacer would be
placed on the top, or if in a valley, then underneath.
Here's a crude and not to scale diagram:
Last edited by black350; Sep 16, 2006 at 12:30 PM. Reason: line length
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