Gooseneck Hitch Help

tlucier

tlucier

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Location
Mebane, NC
Two months ago I bought a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 from CarMax in Greensboro with 8100 miles...
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It's got what looks like a 5'th wheel set up in the bed, but it doesn't have the hitch. All of the brackets to tie in to the frame are there...
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ai209.photobucket.com_albums_bb284_tlucier_2008_20Dodge_20Ram_203500_HItch_Pic006.jpg

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So can I attach a gooseneck hitch to this set up? If so, what do you recommend? I have no idea if this is a Reese, Valley, or other setup. There is no markings on the rails or brackets. Should I chuck it all and start fresh or can I make something work with what I've got?
Thanks in advance for your help.
 
looks just like this one here to me. even the brackets in there pics to yours.
http://www.reeseprod.com/
click products on left side menu
click fifth wheel on left side menu
click on accessorys on left side menu
then top list there is a goosneck kit to fit your rails.
 
If it were me... and I had no plans to ever use a 5th wheel... I'd sell those rails and buy a B&W. The cost of the gooseneck adapter gets you halfway to the cost of a hideaway gooseneck, and no rails in the way or getting packed full of garbage all the time.
 
Thanks for the input guys. So if I decide to keep the rails and go with the gooseneck adapter plate, do I need to use an adapter plate from the same manufacturer as the rails? I have no idea where the rails came from as they were on the truck when I bought it.
 
tlucier said:
Thanks for the input guys. So if I decide to keep the rails and go with the gooseneck adapter plate, do I need to use an adapter plate from the same manufacturer as the rails? I have no idea where the rails came from as they were on the truck when I bought it.
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look at the link i posted. thay are a match to me on the style and brackets shape also. so i bet its a rease . thats why i told you were to go in the link for pics. :rolleyes:
 
AFAIK, gooseneck rails are supposed to be standard. You can measure them and see.
 
leaving the rails in allows you to leave it as is when not in use and pop in the adapter- no biggie. It also allows the use of a Fith wheel type should that arise. Taking it out and putting in the B and W allows for the use of only the gooseneck unless you buy another adapter for a fithwheel (but this is not its intended use). So your buying stuff either way just to opperate. The only drawback to buying the B and M is your going to cut more holes in the bed (very normal and needed for this), but your still going to have several holes left in the bed from the rails. You can't do much for them other than dummy bolts. To me you'd be doing twice the work for the same end use and only gain 6 holes in the bed and expose several more. BTW I have a B and W and like it but in your case go with what u got.
 
why spend 650-900 for a b and w when al you have to do is but a plate for your rails and reese and draw tite are the same ball plate i think i gave a bout 250 for mine and holds 25000
 
1BADZ71 said:
why spend 650-900 for a b and w when al you have to do is but a plate for your rails and reese and draw tite are the same ball plate i think i gave a bout 250 for mine and holds 25000
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I don't know where you're pricing a B&W but you need to go somewhere else. I paid $399 for mine shipped to my door two months ago.
 
It really just comes down to a personal decision based on how you use the truck. The bed of mine is always full of something. It's got two yards of mulch in it right now. If I ever want to use the 5th wheel, first I've got to wash out all the mud and gravel that's packed underneath the rails. They get in the way when you're loading lumber or skids, you can't sleep back there w/o putting down plywood first, etc.

The 5th wheel rails in mine would have been gone a long time ago, but the jackhole that sprayed the bed didn't remove the rails first, so there's no bed liner under them.
 
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