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Old 03-01-2014, 03:02 PM   #1
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2014 Dodge Ram 3500 fifth wheel issues

Let me run this by you guys and gals,

I bought a New 2014 Voltage 3200. I decided the truck I had wasn't enough. So I purchased a New 2014 3500 Ram DRW SLT. The toy hauler is ready to go ... but the truck isn't. I've waited and waited. Come to find out the 20k Reese I bought the brackets won't fit the 2014 truck.

Dodge upgraded the entire frame and suspension components, thus, having a hard time finding brackets to fit the frame for the install. Has anyone else had to go through this nightmare. I would have NEVER imagined this of all things!! go figure, I was focused on getting the trailer issues corrected over the last several weeks. NOW cant even get it off the lot.

My truck does not have the gooseneck 5th wheel package set-up like some do 14 Rams do... however, that would be an issue too. No after market brands makes brackets for it yet I'm told by the dealer . Their still working on it.

Thanks for any suggestions.
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Old 03-01-2014, 03:10 PM   #2
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Man, that sucks but you don't need me to tell you that.

Have you looked at the possibility of universal brackets working on the truck? Perhaps the universal might have enough holes in enough places to allow them to be bolted to the Ram.
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Old 03-01-2014, 03:17 PM   #3
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That sucks. I looked a little bit over on the cumminsforum but didn't find anything to help you. Have to take off for a birthday party soon so I couldn't look in depth.

If you don't already belong to this forum

Dodge Cummins Diesel Forum

You might want to register and look around.

Good Luck
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Old 03-01-2014, 03:22 PM   #4
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Thanks guys ... yes! this sucks I'll continue researching ... who would have thought .... my wife is none too happy right now.
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Old 03-01-2014, 03:27 PM   #5
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etrailer.com has a few universal rail mounting bracket kits. You might have to find you a dark, dirty old welding shop and look for the oldest guy in the place to fabricate some mounting brackets for you.

Old guys rock you know and the old welders can fabricate some out of this world stuff as long as they can heat it, bend it and burn it.
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Old 03-01-2014, 03:42 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
etrailer.com has a few universal rail mounting bracket kits. You might have to find you a dark, dirty old welding shop and look for the oldest guy in the place to fabricate some mounting brackets for you.

Old guys rock you know and the old welders can fabricate some out of this world stuff as long as they can heat it, bend it and burn it.
I agree with ya on that! Only problem is you cant weld on these trucks without disconnecting batteries, ecm and no telling what else to keep them from being destroyed ... what ever happened to the simple truck... this thing has more bells and whistles than one can imagine. Got scared when I open the hood
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Old 03-01-2014, 03:55 PM   #7
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I know where the DEF tank is and both batteries. The rest, I let the dealer deal with it. Now that's hard for me to do having been a foreign car mechanic back in the day.

The welder could bolt fabricated brackets rather than welding them on the frame. All the welding and bending could be done on the bench.
There in Nashville you probably have someone that does powder coating so you could have that done also.

You might be able to pull that 3200 home yet.
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Old 03-01-2014, 04:07 PM   #8
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You will have to call on this if you haven't already but I see a hitch and below bed rails here.

2014 Ram 3500 Fifth Wheel Hitch | etrailer.com

I don't know if it is for the 3500 Cummins or not.
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Old 03-01-2014, 04:24 PM   #9
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If I had the tow prep package that was offered in some 14 models etrailer.com has what I need. However I don't have the prep package so its going to have to be a bolt on kit for the newly designed frame which seems to be the problem. People say they have it but are sending the wrong stuff that don't fit.

This is ridiculous! Reese for the second time is sending out what they believe to be the correct fit ... it wont be here until March 10th ... that's ridiculous too.. I have posted this on other sites as well hoping there's a solution. I do appreciate the input keep it coming if you have it.
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Old 03-01-2014, 04:27 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
I know where the DEF tank is and both batteries. The rest, I let the dealer deal with it. Now that's hard for me to do having been a foreign car mechanic back in the day.

The welder could bolt fabricated brackets rather than welding them on the frame. All the welding and bending could be done on the bench.
There in Nashville you probably have someone that does powder coating so you could have that done also.

You might be able to pull that 3200 home yet.


Robert,

I hope I don't have to go this route ... and shouldn't have to. This is a brand new truck ... good grief.. how can someone build and sell a truck that's made to haul but don't sell the right stuff to let it do its job.... idiots...
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Old 03-01-2014, 11:49 PM   #11
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B&W just released the RAM model 5th wheel hitch... which fits the RAM puck frame.

Even though my Ford F-450 came with a Reese 25K hitch, I still use the B&W hitch I used in my old F-250, and love it. Very clean installation, I like the way it works better than the Reese.



COMPANION OEM - 5TH WHEEL HITCH FOR RAM | B & W Trailer Hitches
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Old 03-02-2014, 01:00 AM   #12
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Thanks Tom, and others for all the replies ... I guess what irritates me the most is having to do all the work after buying this stuff. I am leaning towards the B&W Fifth Wheel for Ram 3500, 2014 | etrailer.com and since I don't have the factory prep "pucks" I do have the gooseneck crossover brace which will easily except this hitch. Of course its more money!

I'll talk with the dealer Monday... they're probably going to say what are we gonna do with your Reese ... and I'll say you mean the one that doesn't have the right brackets....? send it back if they cant get it right real soon...
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Old 03-02-2014, 01:49 AM   #13
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I'll talk with the dealer Monday... they're probably going to say what are we gonna do with your Reese ... and I'll say you mean the one that doesn't have the right brackets....? send it back if they cant get it right real soon...
What will these Dodge brackets get you? Will it allow you to mount the Reese with four pucks or what. I don't know a lot about all this. My truck has the factory tow package so I have four pucks and goose neck.

My buddy's truck has only the goose neck. Not factory. He has the B&W Turn Over Ball and a Companion hitch. He really likes it. It is a stout looking hitch.

I love my 25K Reese Elite. It is super easy to put in and take out. In two pieces it is a simple one man job.

Does the dealer give you any idea when they might fix you up?
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Old 03-02-2014, 02:19 AM   #14
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I'm assuming this is what I'm waiting on http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/gr...-204_2_500.jpg
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Old 03-02-2014, 02:33 AM   #15
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I'm assuming this is what I'm waiting on http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/gr...-204_2_500.jpg
Those are in bed rails. Do you really want to do that to the bed of your truck.

There has to be a way to at least get a Turn Over Ball in your bed.

How soon do you plan to use your new trailer? Can you get it delivered or have a friend bring it home for you and you can work on personalizing it while you wait for a hitch?

I had rails in the bed on Dodge 3500 and really did not care for them. I removed them as soon as I was no longer in possession of my last fifth wheel.
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Old 03-02-2014, 02:40 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by arlan in arizona View Post
Those are in bed rails. Do you really want to do that to the bed of your truck.

There has to be a way to at least get a Turn Over Ball in your bed.

How soon do you plan to use your new trailer? Can you get it delivered or have a friend bring it home for you and you can work on personalizing it while you wait for a hitch?

I had rails in the bed on Dodge 3500 and really did not care for them. I removed them as soon as I was no longer in possession of my last fifth wheel.
That's why I said in my earlier post I was swaying towards the B&W Companion hitch because I do have the gooseneck crossover brace already there. Its just a matter of drilling the hole and installing the kit. Since I'm new at this fifth wheel thing the dealer is setting me up with what they distribute. After research into this I definitely want to go with the Companion! http://www.etrailer.com/multi-produc...1549&hunter=5w



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Old 03-02-2014, 02:47 AM   #17
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Well then it sounds as you are not in as bad a predicament as it sounded. Do you still have to have a trailer plug wired and do you have a brake controller installed.

The Companion Hitch is nice. I'd go with the 24K Hitch just because I could. You never know the future might hold in the way of fifth wheels. And it's cheaper to do it right the first time.
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Old 03-02-2014, 02:56 AM   #18
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It has all that. Just got to deal with the dealer... I'll let ya'll know how it turns out.
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Old 03-02-2014, 03:03 AM   #19
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Cool Let us know when you get it all together.
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Old 03-03-2014, 12:50 PM   #20
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I had the B&W Companion on my last truck and I loved it. When I first bought my trailer the dealer was trying to sell me on a brand that would have required rails in my bed. I was dead set against that so I went out on my own and have the turn-over ball set-up installed under the bed of my truck.

With my new truck, I got the factory 5th wheel package so I had to buy a new B&W base that connects into the "pucks" in the bed. I was able to re-use the head of the hitch as they are compatible.

Good luck in your efforts to find something to haul your new trailer with. Unfortunately, a truck capable of pulling your camper with a hitch is not something you can typically borrow from someone.
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