Hitch problems

[ASTRO]

Dropped my Dodge 3500 off at the fab shop for some hitch work. Supposed to be custom fabbed 4" heavy angle, 1"x4" flat stock and 1/2" plate steel bored for goose ball. We agreed on welding it up and BOLTING it to frame. I go to pick the truck up and its ALL welded to the frame.

The guy claimed since I didnt provide the fasteners, he assumed I wanted it welded. He also claims its stronger welded. The work is top notch but I didnt think welding to the frame was acceptable. Will a hitch welded to the frame fly with the highway nazis?

Need to get my rig inspected soon. Your expert opinions are welcomed.

[jsstrans]

Dropped my Dodge 3500 off at the fab shop for some hitch work. Supposed to be custom fabbed 4" heavy angle, 1"x4" flat stock and 1/2" plate steel bored for goose ball. We agreed on welding it up and BOLTING it to frame. I go to pick the truck up and its ALL welded to the frame.

The guy claimed since I didnt provide the fasteners, he assumed I wanted it welded. He also claims its stronger welded. The work is top notch but I didnt think welding to the frame was acceptable. Will a hitch welded to the frame fly with the highway nazis?

Need to get my rig inspected soon. Your expert opinions are welcomed.



as far as i know. NO welding to the frame is permitted, but im sure someone else will chime in also.

[Buster]

Hitches are welded to the frame frequently. That being said, I would not be happy with the shop and would at least be looking for a partial refund. You should not have any problems as far as the inspection goes. It is not illegal to weld to the frame and, if done correctly, will not hurt anything.

[haulin rv]

As long as it is not welded to the top of the frame you'll be ok.

[ccoop769]

Got mine welded to the top, and sides. With a bunch of reinforcement plates also. I can take a closeup later but I have almost 300k of hard miles and still holding strong.

[ASTRO]

I looked at Coop's garage pic of the back of the truck and mine looks similar. Im sure mine will be fine. Just not exactly what I ordered up. The fab shop said sorry, cut a few bucks and said they'd stand behind their work. Maybe I will drill and bolt through the frame side and angle to make myself feel better. Hey Coop, I guess your welded hitch mounting has never presented a problem as far as inspections?

[Buster]

Don't bother adding bolts. It would be a waist of time.

[ccoop769]

I looked at Coop's garage pic of the back of the truck and mine looks similar. Im sure mine will be fine. Just not exactly what I ordered up. The fab shop said sorry, cut a few bucks and said they'd stand behind their work. Maybe I will drill and bolt through the frame side and angle to make myself feel better. Hey Coop, I guess your welded hitch mounting has never presented a problem as far as inspections?

nope, I always get holy crap that looks heavy duty. Ive added a few extra reimbursement plates since those photos. iw ill update my pics later

[Dorsey]

nope, I always get holy crap that looks heavy duty. Ive added a few extra reimbursement plates since those photos. iw ill update my pics later


Whats reimbursement plates?

[h2oskibumz]

Plates you spend money on for which you expect to be reimbursed??

[Buster]

You put them on the back of your reversment plates.

[ColoradoRVHauler]

lol too funny.

[ccoop769]

lol, extra steel plates to reinforce. Sorry, english is my worst subject, yes, im a white american too.

[Dorsey]

OK, Thought I might want to go get me some of them reimbursement plates you have. I could use all the money back I can get.

[cosgo]

LOL.... ive got a ton of vehicles and trailers that could use some reimbursement plates!!!!

[Haul-A-Round]

I don't give a damn who they are or what their experiance is they would buy me a new truck !
you do not weld to the frames especialy the dodges. can they not read at all ! what kind of fab shop was it ? if they had known what they were doing they would not have welded to the frame . I hate freaking idiots that make my job 10 times harder. hang their butts !

[ASTRO]

Well I hate idiots too. I've gotten a 50/50 response so far. I did however ask the guys at the shop that does the work on my wreckers. They have done alot of reinforcing to truck frames for the "sneaker style" wheel lift installations. The said that they weld to frames all the time. Top, sides and bottom too. They have boxed frames as well as plated frames at "high leverage" points that tend to crack when using certain types of under body mounted repo lifts. The guy at the wrecker shop(not the guy who welded my hitch) said that quality welding work done to light/medium truck frames is acceptable citing that the frames are not tempered. Also that if welding of truck frames was not acceptable, how could companies convert mega cabs to long beds?

I would have preffered the bolt on application, especially if i decide to ditch the set-up. Thanks for the advice everyone.

[TNVol]

Here's a link to a Dodge TSB concerning welding frames.

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2003/13-001-03.htm

[Roadmedic]

Just covering their rear.

There is no problem with the process of welding on the trucks.

[zoomie]

Hey I was wondering what hitch you guys are using???

[ccoop769]

www.hitchcrafter.com

[zoomie]

Nice!!!!!!!!

[Buster]

Alot of the guys are using the Holland Binkley 33k head.

[haulin rv]

I tried a trailer saver air hitch and found for the cost it wasn't worth it. I just run a 24k Husky.

[ccoop769]

Alot of the guys are using the Holland Binkley 33k head.

32k;).....................