PourinDiesel

After reading some horror stories after people had bent or broke factory OEM hitches on their Dodge 3rd and 2nd gens. I decided I should upgrade or replace my factory level 3/4 receiver for a level 5 receiver.

I decided on the Putnam Level 5 since it mates to the OEM receiver assembly crossbar and creates a "mega" hitch that over doubles the strength of the hitch it replaces.

Purchased from www.anythingtruck.com pretty cheap too!!

I included some photos:

acook

Looks stout!!!

Willy91

Looks good. You're deffinently going to be ready for pulling this year.

MCMLV

Gee that looks cool, and you routed the twin exhaust pipes through the receiver... way to go...

Seriously what do you intend to pull with that, looks like it could handle a house.

PourinDiesel

Something like this:

http://video.thedieselgarage.com/hot...0B01D78ADC.htm

MCMLV

...now that is just plain silly, pulling a sled and it is not even winter...

Awesome, are you doing that on an amateur level or pro? good luck

Are you going to put a bumper back?

PourinDiesel

Yeah, the bumper is back on.
I just pull locally which is about 12 pulls or so during the summer/spring.

MCMLV

I got to ask because I have never been to a live event or sopken to someone who does it: It is more than just raw power, there has to be some technique it it too depending on conditions no?

Willy91

It's a lot more than pure power. There is a lot of things that you have to have set up just right to be able to do good. The pro's are highly modified, not just the engine. Here's a picture of one.

MCMLV

What I was refering more to was driver tecnique. I mean it has to be more than just having the "right" machine and standing on the gas pedal.

PourinDiesel

Yeah there is alot of technique to it.

Not everyone can slip a clutch and come off the line correctly. Everytime you pull you learn more.

truckjunkie

Is that the Putnam part# 25211 Class V hitch?

It looks like you cut the factory receiver portion of the hitch off to get that one to fit, correct? Does that hitch actually mate to what's left of the OEM hitch somehow?

Also, if you did cut the factory receiver off, what did you use to cut it?

PourinDiesel

Yes, Yes and Yes.

DeWalt reciprocating saw with 8" and 12" blade (Milwaukee metal blades). I only used one of each.

truckjunkie

Ooops - maybe I typed too soon - is that bracket in picture #2 part of the Putnam hitch, and it bolts to the old OEM hitch? I think that's what you're trying to show, correct?

PourinDiesel

exactly....