5th Wheel Prep

[tuffr2]

Here is the cost breakdown for the full mounting system plus the B&W Gooseneck Turnover Ball. It is $1,187.45 for the whole kit and caboodle. In this case it was a 30,000lb. capacity ball.

This includes every thing you would need to hook a gooseneck trailer to the truck after this service is performed.

[BarryG20]

I assumed you were just talking about the hitch cost my bad. Installed my hitch myself.

[tuffr2]

BarryG20 - did you cut 3 big holes in the bed of your truck? 1 for the ball and 2 for the safety chains? How easy was that to cut the holes in the exact right spots? Did you cut from under the truck of from the top? Did you remove the bed?

I watched a guy on YouTube install the kit on a Ford and he removed the bed to cut the holes.

I can save $375 if I do the install myself.

[runamuck]

my son just bought a 2020 ram 2500 dsl and friday got all the stuff for hitch and ball..pullright 2600 and b-w turnover ball setup...about 1100$..going to install today. he almost didnt get the ram that he wanted because just about every gmc and chevy 2500 he looked at had the factory prep. not so with the rams, but preferred the ram anyway

[runamuck]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

BarryG20 - did you cut 3 big holes in the bed of your truck? 1 for the ball and 2 for the safety chains? How easy was that to cut the holes in the exact right spots? Did you cut from under the truck of from the top? Did you remove the bed?

I watched a guy on YouTube install the kit on a Ford and he removed the bed to cut the holes.

I can save $375 if I do the install myself.

around here it is about 150$ for install..just more convenient to do oneself.

[Nomad_Haabs]

Originally Posted by kdauto

No disrespect meant, but based on your questions, I would highly recommend reading through a few hours of stuff in both the towing vehicles (this section) and 5th wheel sections. Payload questions should be adressed.

I'd highly recommend you know this stuff before pulling the trigger on the truck. Many people make a 10 000$+ mistake when ignoring this.

If you had specifics on your exact truck (VIN recommended) and 5th wheel trailer you'd get better answers.

I have done that, that is why I addressed the payload issue and am going with the 3500 dually. The question about hitch prep is mainly because we only have so many options for inventory around us now, so I was trying to figure out what I could make work.

After reading all of this we’ve realized it’s better to just find one with the max tow package and not have to deal with any after market hassle

[Jack Klompus]

Originally Posted by Rhagfo

You can buy parts for Ram for about $500 then either install yourself or pay to have installed, don’t know the cost for GM or Ford.

If we are being honest, installing an under bed OEM mount system is WELL beyond the scope of MOST people. Sure, it can be done.

Installing the "$500" Ford OEM puck system for example requires removing the bed. I will leave the exercise to the reader to infer the tools and time required to do that.

[Rhagfo]

Originally Posted by Jack Klompus

If we are being honest, installing an under bed OEM mount system is WELL beyond the scope of MOST people. Sure, it can be done.

Installing the "$500" Ford OEM puck system for example requires removing the bed. I will leave the exercise to the reader to infer the tools and time required to do that.

That statement in itself is a bit scary. Most truck bed are only held on with about six bolts. Once the bolts removed at most one would only need to lift the bed about 6”, likely not requiring even disconnecting the wiring harness.

[tuffr2]

Can two average guys lift a truck bed? If not, can two muscular guys lift it off the chassis?

How about drilling the holes in the exact spot that they need to be. I am thinking 1/2" off is too much. Maybe 1/4" off is ok, I don't know

I am thinking with enough timber you could unbolt the bed and using a jack raise and block the bed 6" off the chassis easy enough. Is 6" off the chassis enough?

If there is an LKQ junk yard not too far. All you need to do is find a totalled dually truck and buy the 5th wheel prep hardware from LKQ. Probably 1/4 th the cost of new.

[Jack Klompus]

Originally Posted by Rhagfo

That statement in itself is a bit scary. Most truck bed are only held on with about six bolts. Once the bolts removed at most one would only need to lift the bed about 6”, likely not requiring even disconnecting the wiring harness.

Not sure what was scary.

Knock yourself out!

[TMyers17]

Originally Posted by tuffr2

BarryG20 - did you cut 3 big holes in the bed of your truck? 1 for the ball and 2 for the safety chains? How easy was that to cut the holes in the exact right spots? Did you cut from under the truck of from the top? Did you remove the bed?

I watched a guy on YouTube install the kit on a Ford and he removed the bed to cut the holes.

I can save $375 if I do the install myself.

I cut the holes in my Ram 2500 bed. I installed a B&W Turnover setup. The instructions from B&W showed exactly where they were to be cut. The best way to keep the large hole saw from walking is to drill a hole in piece of scrap plywood then use it as a template. I held the plywood template down with my foot as I drilled the holes. Start to finish the complete install took about 2 hours.

[BarryG20]

Tuffr
On my ram it was from under the bed. Since ram can come oem with a gooseneck hitch there is a cross member under there that didn't used to be there on the older ones. There is a hole already there in the crossmember so no worry about measuring etc just slide the proper size hole saw in there and drill away and it will be in the right place. I have no idea on the fords. Seems crazy to have to remove the bed but as you know there is plenty of crazy stuff that you have to do sometimes. As far as the safety chain holes b&w provided a template for that and that was done from above. However if you go to B&W's website they have a wide range of hitch install videos and may very well have one for the truck you have and the hitch your going to use. Another good video source is etrailer.com they also may have one for your truck.

Now to be clear mine was an under bed B&W turnover ball gooseneck hitch not as someone previously mentioned installing the oem puck system which I have no idea about and mine is a RAM not a FORD so it may very well be different. The RAM was not technically hard. The hardest part for me was mounting the under bed hitch, somewhat heavy to hold up and bolt in at the same time. I finally got someone to help me hold it up while I bolted it in. However someone younger or stronger than me might be able to accomplish that alone.

I have never had to remove my beds on any of my trucks so never took one off so no help there.

[tuffr2]

Nomad - I agree. It will never be as easy and less expensive than to have the 5th wheel factory prep option.

Sounds like you found a dually truck without the 5th wheel prep package which is odd. I would have expected 'all' late model dually trucks to have this option.

I would just keep looking.

Good luck