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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Cheaper than Jack Benny!

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Indydirtfarmer

12-10-2003 05:34:35




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I hate to pay anyone for something I can do myself. I bought a new '04 Dodge 3/4 ton pick-em-up, and will be getting a new gooseneck trailer in a few days. I'm already sold on the B & W "Hide-a-ball" hitch, i can get the hitch for $289. the dealer wants another $175 to install it. I've never done one. What does it involve? Is it a difficult install? I consider myself fairly good nechanically. I've rebuilt a few tractor engines and trannies, so this doesn't seem too difficult. Anyone out there install one of these on a '03 or '04 Dodge? How much drilling? Does the fuel tank need to be dropped? What about the bed? Does it need to be unbolted? I guess the big question is, is it worth $175? Thanks. John

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Stan TN

12-10-2003 18:01:35




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 Re: Cheaper than Jack Benny! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 12-10-2003 05:34:35  
I don't think Jack was cheap, I'd bet he charged a lot. Frugal is what he was, he didn't spend much.



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Nebraska Cowman

12-10-2003 10:43:50




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 Re: Cheaper than Jack Benny! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 12-10-2003 05:34:35  
one up on you jack, I mean Indy;) when I got my new Super Duty i Welded an old ball to a piece of half inch plate and bolted it on top of the bed. covered the whole mess up with a used rubber mat out of a 79 GMC. It ain't purty but it don't come loose and the price was right. some people think they need a hide-a-way ball but I don't know why. Mine is hidden most of the time by all the stuff I haul around.

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Howard Yoshida

12-10-2003 10:21:21




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 Re: Cheaper than Jack Benny! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 12-10-2003 05:34:35  
Aloha, I would take the hitch home and read the instructions first. If everything matches up with your vehicle no drilling or welding then I would do it myself. If you see any kind of problems then I would let them do it. But, like the other post said,
the liability would be theirs.

Mahalo,
Howard



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rustyfarmall

12-10-2003 09:34:13




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 Re: Cheaper than Jack Benny! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 12-10-2003 05:34:35  
Indy, the dealer I bought my hitch from wanted $100 to install on my 2001 chevy. I thought I would save that 100 bucks and do it myself, which I did. The directions reccomended unbolting the bed and raising it up to gain some working room in the area of the fuel tank, because of the many sensitive electrical connections for the tank, which I did not do. Everything still worked afterwards, but I was very lucky. I also had to drill a 1/2 inch hole through the frame on each side of the truck, which was not easy. I spent the better part of a day laying on my back on a creeper underneath the truck. Looking back at the whole thing now, I would have been much better off to just let the dealer install it.

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Jim in N M

12-10-2003 07:57:25




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 Re: Cheaper than Jack Benny! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 12-10-2003 05:34:35  
Go for it, It's a piece of cake,I did my 3500 Dodge,useing a "turn-over" type ball. The only thing I had to remove was the spare tire while I was doing the job. I didn't evan have to jack the truck up. Jim in N M



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Van

12-10-2003 07:39:38




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 Re: Cheaper than Jack Benny! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 12-10-2003 05:34:35  
John,
Now I understand your post in the Talers section.
Save the $175 and install the hitch, will take 2-3 hours. The bed dont have to come off and the tank dont either. the instructions that come with the ball are very clear where to cut the hole. You just check the size bed you got and the truck year and model against the instructions and measure twice to be sure.The frame holes are already there. Just be sure and get the right part number hitch for your truck, the hitch is made to use existing holes. It sure is hard to drill a 4" hole in a new truck bed, ain't it?
Van

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bud sather

12-10-2003 07:29:18




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 Re: Cheaper than Jack Benny! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 12-10-2003 05:34:35  
John,
I put a turnover ball in a pickup I had. It wasn't that difficult of a job. Sold the pickup a year later and the second time I put my own design in. The last one cost about $50 in materials and some time. GO for it Bud



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MapleStone

12-10-2003 07:25:46




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 Re: Cheaper than Jack Benny! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 12-10-2003 05:34:35  
Hello John,

I have never had anything to do with 5th wheel trailors or hitches but my suggestion is that you look on the web to see if you can find the installation instructions. If you can read the instructions you should have a pretty good idea whether you should tackle it yourself.

I do agree witrh earl on one thing and that is if you hire some one to do it you have a legal out. That said I rarely trust someone else with my safety so it still might be better to do it yourself.

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Brad--IN

12-10-2003 07:07:40




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 Re: Cheaper than Jack Benny! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 12-10-2003 05:34:35  
I disagree with the other posts, I installed my own B&W about 5 years ago on my 99 Ford. That installation was all bolt in without boring new holes in frame. The bed did not need to be lifted off. The installation instructions were very complete and self-explanatory. Save the money. If you have done engine rebuilds, this will be a fun change of pace. Did mine myself in about 2.5 hours. Biggest problem was building enough confidence to cut a 4 inch diameter hole in bed of new truck. Good luck and spend the $175 on more toys.

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Red Dave

12-10-2003 06:05:43




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 Re: Cheaper than Jack Benny! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 12-10-2003 05:34:35  
John, I haven't installed any goose-neck hitches, but I have done some of the class 2 & 3 types.
When I wanted a class 3 on my Jeep, I found that the local U-Haul dealer would supply and install the hitch for about $10 more than I could buy one for. I let them do it, you might want to check them out.



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wh

12-10-2003 05:46:56




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 Re: Cheaper than Jack Benny! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 12-10-2003 05:34:35  
having installed a few here at school with students - YES - it is worth the 175$. if i was putting one in my truck i would feel it was a fair price and would pay it before doing it myself. that said - if you can lift your bed off easily and have the needed tools to properly install it - might want to consider it. probably a "6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other" problem. wade



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earlschieb

12-10-2003 05:45:17




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 Re: Cheaper than Jack Benny! in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 12-10-2003 05:34:35  
Pay the $175.00 John, that still leaves you with $100.00 profit for that 2 acre bushhoging job. At least if it comes loose you can blame the installing dealer, cover your behind and let them do it.



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Phil in MS

12-10-2003 06:05:11




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 Re: Re: Cheaper than Jack Benny! in reply to earlschieb, 12-10-2003 05:45:17  
John,

I agree with Earl.



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