removing hitch rails from truck

[Steve K]

I had a fifth wheel hitch installed in my truck by the company where we
bought our fifth wheel. I have sold our fifth wheel and no longer need
the hitch.

Now for the seemingly stupid question, will removing the rails that they
bolted to the frame cause any sort of damage to the frame, weaken it?
Since when I take the bolts out there will be holes in the frame. Or are
they even bolted through the frame? I haven't even looked yet.

I figure I'd need to sell the two rails along with the hitch to make it
sell easier.

Thanks

[B F Lake]

Post by Steve K
I had a fifth wheel hitch installed in my truck by the company where we
bought our fifth wheel. I have sold our fifth wheel and no longer need
the hitch.
Now for the seemingly stupid question, will removing the rails that they
bolted to the frame cause any sort of damage to the frame, weaken it?
Since when I take the bolts out there will be holes in the frame. Or are
they even bolted through the frame? I haven't even looked yet.
I figure I'd need to sell the two rails along with the hitch to make it
sell easier.

Each to his own, but another consideration might be to leave the rails in
and keep the hitch for when you sell your truck someday. If the new guy
wants to tow with it he will like the truck better, and if he doesn't then
he can take out the rails. Meanwhile you can put wood down around the rails
whenever you need an even height bed such as when carrying sheets of
gyprock. We had a camper before and still have the belly bars fitted,
plus now the fiver hitch. More "features."

Regards,
Barry

[Ron Recer]

Post by B F Lake

Post by Steve K
I had a fifth wheel hitch installed in my truck by the company where we
bought our fifth wheel. I have sold our fifth wheel and no longer need
the hitch.
Now for the seemingly stupid question, will removing the rails that they
bolted to the frame cause any sort of damage to the frame, weaken it?
Since when I take the bolts out there will be holes in the frame. Or are
they even bolted through the frame? I haven't even looked yet.
I figure I'd need to sell the two rails along with the hitch to make it
sell easier.

Each to his own, but another consideration might be to leave the rails in
and keep the hitch for when you sell your truck someday. If the new guy
wants to tow with it he will like the truck better, and if he doesn't then
he can take out the rails. Meanwhile you can put wood down around the rails
whenever you need an even height bed such as when carrying sheets of
gyprock. We had a camper before and still have the belly bars fitted,
plus now the fiver hitch. More "features."

Here is another consideration. I recently purchased a new pickup. As part
of the deal, I had the dealer remove the bolts and rails from the old pickup
and planed on using them with the new one. I checked around getting prices
on installing the hitch in the new pickup and found that none of the places
that did that sort of thing would re-install the old rails or bolts. Due to
insurance constraints they all required you to buy a new bolt and rail
package at a cost of $100-$110. This was in the Harlingen/McAllen area of
Texas and I don't know if it is that way everywhere or not.

Ron
'06 Chevy 3500 Crew Cab Long Bed Dually 4x4 6.6L HO Duramax 6 Speed Allison
Transmission