Torqued - Hitch / Rail Availability

[Bill n Diana]

Folks,

Does anyone have a 2014 Dodge 3500 without factory prep for 5th Wheel that has had hitch rails or the hitch itself installed in...???

The DW has spent 4 hours at the local RV shop having a set of Reese Rails installed that dealer said would work; only to find out that they did not work... Dealer has now told the wife they need to order the right parts and they don't know if what we need is even made yet due to the frame changes made to the 2014 Ram 3500s.

Right now I am just hoping that someone can tell me what brand system you have had installed which have already been engineered and built to support the new Dodge 3500 frame. I know I had heard that this might be a problem but the dealer assured the wife they had what we needed.

Wife stated that she has not paid them anything yet but they have drilled the holes in the bed of the truck...

I was planning on going camping with this new rig in 7 days...

Thanks for your help.

B n D

[jeeplj8]

have you checked the Dodge dealer? If they offer it factory should be able to buy the parts.

[ependydad]

B&W Turnoverball and Companion hitch will fit your truck. A little expensive, but you end up with a flat/no rails bed at the end of the day.

[Bill n Diana]

Folks,

Thanks for the responses so far... Still would like and am hoping for more feedback...

Truck update... Wife just stopped by with the truck... The bed of truck has 4 lovely new holes in it... Two of them look like 1 inch holes and the other two look like 1/2 inch holes...

Wife told me that dealer told her that they would make this right... Well, like I have told many people in the past that after having retired from the army after 28 years I can't always identify what right looks like but I have seen FUBAR alot... I think my bed is FUBAR...

I guess we will wait and see what dealer comes back to us with...

We are investigating other options now after this drill happy incident...

Happy Travels,

B n D

[D-maxx dave]

B&W companion 3600! Type that in on u-tube.

[avolnek]

Can you post a picture? Not quite sure what you are saying by only 4 holes and so small of holes...

My fathers 2013 dually has 5 holes. 4 in a square pattern and the 5th is for a gooseneck ball in the middle...

[avolnek]

Here is what his bed looks like with out the hitch installed...


he obviously had a bedliner sprayed in between pictures here!

[Bill n Diana]

Update,

I have attached a photo which shows those two holes on the driver's side of the bed. There are two symetrical holes on the passenger side.

These holes were put in the bed when the dealer attempted to mount the rails for my fifth wheel hitch. I am attemtping (or was attempting) to be able to use the hitch from my 2500HD in the NTM 3500 Dodge.

Again this truck was purchased used and WITHOUT the PREP KIT OPTION from the factory. The wife called the dodge dealership and they quoted her $2000 for the parts which make up the $900 factory option.

Appreciate all feedback and suggestions.

Happy Travels,

B n D

[avolnek]

It appears to me you just need the hitch rails installed above the bed and the mounts below?

etrailer.com - Above the Bed 2014 3500 Ram Custom Fifth Wheel Installation Kit Products 5th wheel rails

Here is a link to 3 setups from Etrailer that should work with your truck.

If you are using a hitch that fits industry standard rails any of these kits should work...

[Bill n Diana]

etrailer.com is where I got my initial information with part numbers and confirmed with the dealer... and what lead me to believe this was going to be an easy fix...

We were told that was the kit ordered...

Whether or not that is what they attempted to install I don't know...

Now it appears there is something that really is not / or was not available...

Again, thanks for brainstorming with me...

Happy Travels,

B n D

[avolnek]

If the custom install brackets aren't available yet and you NEED/WANT it now, then opt for the universal brackets. It requires a little more work such as drilling the frame to bolt the brackets on, but will accomplish the same task.

I am sort of at a loss as to exactly what your problem is...

Someone began drilling holes in your bed without the hitch and hardware with them, just to find out things were back ordered/unavailable?

[Bill n Diana]

Wife reports promptly at 0800 for appointment to have bed rails installed.

We had previously coordinated for the follwing to be on hand:

Installation Rails: RP56010-53
Price: $514.90

This was/is also the same rail kit on our chevy 2500HD.

I have been told they followed the directions and placed the rails in the bed and marked where everything was to go...

They then drilled the holes required to mount the rails... They then attempted to work under the bed to attach everything loosely to the frame and underbed... And Low and Behold "STUFF" did not line up... or fit...

Hmmm... And now I have a bed with four holes in it that may or may not be required once the proper brackets are obtained... if they even exist...

Needless to say I am not completely successful at this time in holding back my severe NEGATIVE feelings about the competancy of those involved in either marking the hole locations or drilling the holes without first making sure that the stuff under the bed was as it should have been or needed to be in order for the brackets they had to work...

Again, I am sorry for my sarcasm and negativism at this point... I am just really about what this dealer has done...

Happy Travels,

B n D

[avolnek]

Have you checked with Etrailer that you got the correct parts shipped to you? The part number you have there is correct for your truck.

It all seems to keep pointing back at a piss poor dealership you are working with to be honest...

[Bill n Diana]

The dealer ordered the parts...

...

[avolnek]

so what is the dealership saying they are going to do about this?

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Bill n Diana

The dealer ordered the parts...

...

I think I'd want to see that invoice...

[avolnek]

Would also need to know what didn't line up or didn't fit...

Did the brackets not fit the frame of the truck in general or did the holes they drill not line up with the brackets are to be installed?

Sounds like a VERY lousy dealer...

[Bill n Diana]

Dealership told the wife they would investigate and order the proper parts...

She didn't see their invoice and was not able to confirm waht really was ordered...

Only thing she was told was they would get the right parts and make it right...

BREAK BREAK, DW just called me and told me they called her back and told her the proper parts kit would cost $1300... At this point I need to get with here and figure out which side is up... I know the dealer doesn't know but hopefully the wife and I can still figure this out and recover... I just don't see how a bed rail install kit could cost this much. I was not thrilled with $600 (parts and labor) to begin with...

If anyone else has a solution which they just had applied to their 2014 RAM 3500 bed I am definately interested in hearing what equipment you have... Thanks.

Happy Travels,

B n D

[avolnek]

I feel the dealership you are working with has NO clue what they are doing...

The kit that you referenced earlier was the correct kit. It shouldn't be that difficult to do. Are you working with a truck dealership or camper dealer?

I'd really like to call your dealer and figure out what they are doing to you as none of this makes sense.... willing to release more details for me to call them?

Hell for $1300 you could buy the kit, drive to nebraska and i'd install it in my shop for and you could drive back home and probably save money!

[Bill n Diana]

The DW and I are going to visit the RV dealer and get to the bottom of this... Will let all know after our visit...

Any other folks with 2014 RAM 3500s that have had systems installed...???

Thanks,

B n D