Best 5ver hitch for '04?
09-24-2003, 07:35 PM
#1
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Best 5ver hitch for '04?
Hey guys, I'm probably going to be getting an 04 here pretty soon and I remember reading about issues with the frames and 5ver hitches. I'm wondering what you guys think the best 5ver hitch is for this model year?
I plan on towing a lot, and I sometimes have to park on uneven areas, which puts a lot of stress on my current hitch. Any insight into this would be appreciated. I'm also curious about pricing. Thanks
Jack
I plan on towing a lot, and I sometimes have to park on uneven areas, which puts a lot of stress on my current hitch. Any insight into this would be appreciated. I'm also curious about pricing. Thanks
Jack
09-24-2003, 09:31 PM
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Re:Best 5ver hitch for '04?
I just had a Reese 16K hitch installed in my new 04. Just make sure you go to a good hitch shop who knows what their doing. For the Reese hitches they have to use a special bracket kit because of the new tubular frames. The fronts brackets are on the outside of the frame and the rears are on the inside. You can either have the brackets bolted or welded. I opted for the bolts. The 16k has the four way pivoting which makes it nice hitching and unhitching.
I think mine was $640 installed which included the special Dodge bracket kit.
I think mine was $640 installed which included the special Dodge bracket kit.
09-25-2003, 01:50 AM
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Re:Best 5ver hitch for '04?
I had the Pullrite 18,500 installed on my 04. No holes were drilled in the frame, it is a complete bolt on. No welding either. It pivots sideways and front to back. It also has a jaw that wraps around the pin, .030 clearance. The others have a sliding plate. Towed over 1700 miles so far without any problems. My neighbor has 20,000 pound Reese and he was impressed with my Pullrite. The price was around $600.00, not sure as the dealer installed it as part of the deal for the 5ver.
Pullrite/
Pullrite/
09-25-2003, 06:23 AM
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Re:Best 5ver hitch for '04?
Get the B&W with the Companion 5er. Best of both worlds. ;D Put about 2000 miles on mine so far and no problems. And best of all, when you are not towing, take the Companion 5er out and have full use of the bed.
09-25-2003, 07:28 AM
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Re:Best 5ver hitch for '04?
[quote author=butchera link=board=11;threadid=20096;start=0#msg189043 date=1064488990]
Get the B&W with the Companion 5er. Best of both worlds. ;D Put about 2000 miles on mine so far and no problems. And best of all, when you are not towing, take the Companion 5er out and have full use of the bed.
[/quote]
It would definitely be nice to have full use of the bed. When I'm not towing, I have a topper on it for the dog, and my SAR gear, tools etc. My next project is to build some kind of pully system, or some kind of rolling thing that will hold the topper up instead of us having to carry it off all the time. That gets painful on the back. There has to be a better way.
Get the B&W with the Companion 5er. Best of both worlds. ;D Put about 2000 miles on mine so far and no problems. And best of all, when you are not towing, take the Companion 5er out and have full use of the bed.
[/quote]
It would definitely be nice to have full use of the bed. When I'm not towing, I have a topper on it for the dog, and my SAR gear, tools etc. My next project is to build some kind of pully system, or some kind of rolling thing that will hold the topper up instead of us having to carry it off all the time. That gets painful on the back. There has to be a better way.
09-25-2003, 07:37 AM
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Re:Best 5ver hitch for '04?
Jack,
The guys that installed my cap had a thing that looked like an engine hoist that had been modified. Instead of the pivoting arm, they extended the vertical rail and put a runner on it connected to an electric wench. They then put some legs on the runner. They then would walk it over to the rack, open the door to the cap, slide the legs in and use the wench to lift it. Then they rolled it to the truck, lowered it down and backed it out. Real slick. I may have to build one like it because your right - that thing gets heavy.
later. . .
The guys that installed my cap had a thing that looked like an engine hoist that had been modified. Instead of the pivoting arm, they extended the vertical rail and put a runner on it connected to an electric wench. They then put some legs on the runner. They then would walk it over to the rack, open the door to the cap, slide the legs in and use the wench to lift it. Then they rolled it to the truck, lowered it down and backed it out. Real slick. I may have to build one like it because your right - that thing gets heavy.
later. . .
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09-25-2003, 08:57 AM
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Re:Best 5ver hitch for '04?
Just put on my new 03 3500 drw a 16K UBS Valley hitch. No rails in bed similar to the B&W, but with 4 point mount instead of the single mount. Easy to install and solid as a rock, with no slack and easy hitch/unhitch. No banging or slack in connection either. Not Cheap!
09-25-2003, 10:53 AM
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Re:Best 5ver hitch for '04?
The B&W is at http://www.turnoverball.com
Lots of pics.
Another one to look at would be http://www.pullrite.com
I was going to get the pullrite w/super brackets but their mount would not fit the 3500 DRW 2X4, it would fit the 4X4 tho. Something about the helper springs being in the way but enough room on the 4X4.
I'll try to get some pics in a day or so. working some long hours this week.
Lots of pics.
Another one to look at would be http://www.pullrite.com
I was going to get the pullrite w/super brackets but their mount would not fit the 3500 DRW 2X4, it would fit the 4X4 tho. Something about the helper springs being in the way but enough room on the 4X4.
I'll try to get some pics in a day or so. working some long hours this week.
09-25-2003, 08:16 PM
#11
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Re:Best 5ver hitch for '04?
[quote author=Jack Thorpe link=board=11;threadid=20096;start=0#msg189057 date=1064492899]
My next project is to build some kind of pully system, or some kind of rolling thing that will hold the topper up instead of us having to carry it off all the time. That gets painful on the back. There has to be a better way.
[/quote]
Guy next door has a shell as well as a 5th wheel.
He put screw eyes on the 4 corners, and has pullies on the ceiling of his garage.
When he wants the shell off, he backs into the garage, attaches the ropes and lifts it off.
Just keeps it up against the ceiling of his garage till he wants to put it back on.
This would only work for stock height trucks though, not mine.
One has to be able to fit in the garage, and have a shell.
phox
My next project is to build some kind of pully system, or some kind of rolling thing that will hold the topper up instead of us having to carry it off all the time. That gets painful on the back. There has to be a better way.
[/quote]
Guy next door has a shell as well as a 5th wheel.
He put screw eyes on the 4 corners, and has pullies on the ceiling of his garage.
When he wants the shell off, he backs into the garage, attaches the ropes and lifts it off.
Just keeps it up against the ceiling of his garage till he wants to put it back on.
This would only work for stock height trucks though, not mine.
One has to be able to fit in the garage, and have a shell.
phox
09-25-2003, 10:26 PM
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Re:Best 5ver hitch for '04?
Info on Valley UB Hitch and picture of the Hitch in and out of the bed is at http://www.valleyorders.com/Public/C...EEL/INDEX.HTML
I have spray in bedliner so you cant hardly see the plugs with the hitch out.
I have spray in bedliner so you cant hardly see the plugs with the hitch out.
09-26-2003, 06:49 AM
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Re:Best 5ver hitch for '04?
Didn't have to do a thing with mine but I'm 2WD. If I was 4X4, might have to flip the axles.
The duallys squat down real nice with a load in them. Hook up the 10K 5er and the bed is almost level.
The pullys in the garage would work but then the opener would be in the way. I haven't even tried to get it in the garage. Garage @ 22ft (outside measurement) + Truck @ 20' 10" = not much room.
The duallys squat down real nice with a load in them. Hook up the 10K 5er and the bed is almost level.
The pullys in the garage would work but then the opener would be in the way. I haven't even tried to get it in the garage. Garage @ 22ft (outside measurement) + Truck @ 20' 10" = not much room.
09-26-2003, 07:31 AM
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Re:Best 5ver hitch for '04?
[quote author=Jack Thorpe link=board=11;threadid=20096;start=0#msg189544 date=1064550164]
You guys who have duallys, I noticed that the rear end of those things are very high. How do you get your 5vers hooked up? Did you have to flip the axles or lower the truck?
[/quote]
I had to flip the axles on the 5er. The 4x4 just sits too high to do it otherwise. Sone of the newer 5ers are now coming with different suspensions and taller tires to make the axle flip unnecessary.
You guys who have duallys, I noticed that the rear end of those things are very high. How do you get your 5vers hooked up? Did you have to flip the axles or lower the truck?
[/quote]
I had to flip the axles on the 5er. The 4x4 just sits too high to do it otherwise. Sone of the newer 5ers are now coming with different suspensions and taller tires to make the axle flip unnecessary.