HELP fifth wheel hitch bed rail install in a 2004

[Paul H]

Ok I have a 2004 now, and need to install bed rails for the fifth wheel hitch.

There is a hidden hitch goose neck ball hitch installed under the bed with it's massive plates bolted to the frame, Any Ideas?

The bed bolts fall right under the center holes of the rails on each end, if I bolt the rails down using the bed bolts and put bolts in the center of the rails through the bed would that be enough?

Please don't tell me I have to remove the hidden hitch goose neck ball hitch first.

[firesoutmatt]

The hitch needs to be bolted to the frame and not just the bed.
If you can bolt to the frame of the other hitch that should work.
I would try a truck repair place and have someone look and see what you have to make sure.

[Paul H]

Anyone have a photo of their rail install?

Just need to see how they are bolted, either a home install or a pro up fitter shop install Thanks.

[firesoutmatt]

Call the manufacture of the hitch and get instructions.

Or you can go online and get them .

[yankeeroper]

I would say that the gooseneck will probably have to go, due to interference with the brackets for your 5ver. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

What brand of 5ver are you wanting to install?

Also, what part of Ohio are you in?

[mbcolorado]

I have a B&W hidden ball/ 5er combo on my 2002 f-350. If you do have to remove your hidden ball hitch you might consider a B&W combo model, its a quick change out.

Have you seen the Goose neck adaptor you can put on your 5er? Will that work?

[Paul H]

Well the goose hitch in there now looks to be a B&W.
I have a Draw Tite 15k fifth wheel and was going to mount the rails for it.

The rails fall right over the 4 center bed bolt locations and the holes line up. May just make my own angle bracket that attatches to the end bolts of the B&W hitch where it meets with the frame plates.

By the way I am about 30 miles due east of Columbus Ohio

[mbcolorado]

I went to B&W web site and saw a picture of what you probably have. My B&W hitch is the Companion model.

Take a look at this web site http://www.turnoverball.com/downloads/pdf/3000.pdf
on page 2 of the PDF file you can see the Gooseneck ball, then down a couple of pictures you can see a square post sticking up in place of the ball.

You pop up the Gooseneck ball, un bolt the ball, bolt on the square post adapter, bolt the 5th wheel hitch to the square post with 2 u-bolts and your done.

When you need a flat bed, every thing folds out of the way like yours.

I relies there is extra cost due to you have the Gooseneck already, but a possibility could be return your 5th wheel hitch, sell your B&W
Gooseneck hitch & try the B&W Companion.

[Scottz]

Paul, sounds like you have a set up similar to mine except my goosneck was welded to the frame by the previous owner. A shop installed my Reese 16k 5th wheel hitch (should be similar to your Draw Tite) without much problem. I know have both goosneck and 5th wheel capability.

[ QUOTE ]
if I bolt the rails down using the bed bolts

[/ QUOTE ]

You can do this, but I doubt you can use the bed bolts. My shop removed the bed bolts, reamed out the holes through the bed and frame and installed the bolts that came with the rail kit. I think there are also some other bolts. I'll go out tomorrow and look closer and let you know. I'll see if I can get some photos.

[Scottz]

Here are some photos.

This one shows one end of a rail. The center bolt is where the old bed bolts were and it goes through the frame. The other two bolts only go through the bed. It is the same on both ends of each rail.

Hitch 1

This photo shows the 5th wheel hitch and the goose neck hitch.
Hitch 2

[Scottz]

Anyone see a problem with the way mine is installed?

[Bob C.]

You might have a problem, as I dont think Ford engineered the frame flanges to handle the load from a 5th hitch. Most 5th hitches place the load on the side of the frame (by using brackets), not on the flange.
BUT... I have seen a kit from one of the hitch builders that had you mount the hitch to the frame flange, not to the side. I sent them all back after seeing the following:
(The folowing is is copied from the Ford body builders web site https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas...l/2000/275.PDF )

FRAME
1. Holes that would weaken the frame sidemember
should not be drilled in the frame. Holes are not to be
drilled in the sidemember’s top or bottom flange.
2. Holes to mount brackets, out-riggers and supports,
may be drilled in the vertical frame side rail web with
the following restrictions: .

Material between edge of hole and inside of upper
or lower flange must not be less than 1.50 inch for
low carbon steel (36,000 PSI yield).

The minimum edge distance between any two
holes up to 0.625 inch diameter must be 1.00 inch.
For larger than 0.625 inch diameter holes, the
minimum edge distance must be 1.5 times the
diameter of the largest hole.

0.75 inch is maximum hole diameter.

Avoid close vertical succession of fasteners.

All attaching fasteners, including flat washers,
must be of high strength steel (Grade 8).