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Old 03-28-2014, 08:29 AM   #1
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Adding a hitch

I have read in several posts that many of you are welding a hitch to the frame. I was always told to not to weld but to bolt to the frame which is what I have done. I bolted a plate to the I beam and added the hitch to that.
How many have add a hitch, how did you do it and what are you pulling?
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Old 03-28-2014, 09:12 AM   #2
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If your unit is still under warranty you just made it null and void no matter how you did it. Any un-authorized mod to a unit will do that. The JAYCO service center will not even do a modification unless it was available as an option on a particular floor plan.
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Old 03-28-2014, 09:27 AM   #3
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The no welding to frame applies to truck frames which is heat treated and can crack and break from the uneven heat of welding. 5th wheel frames are just structural steel and can be welded just fine.
The warranty on the frame is probably voided and anything else the mfg can blame on the modification.
When I contacted Jayco about putting a simple hand rail on the inside stairs they told me if I did they would void my warranty in that portion of the unit.

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Old 03-28-2014, 09:58 AM   #4
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When I contacted Jayco about putting a simple hand rail on the inside stairs they told me if I did they would void my warranty in that portion of the unit.
The owner's manual says the "entire warranty" is null and void so they could say no to any warranty work, now whether they would or not is something I would not want to chance.
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Old 03-28-2014, 10:51 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by 351rlts View Post
snip.... but to bolt to the frame which is what I have done. I bolted a plate to the I beam....snip
IMO bolting the receiver hitch to the frame is fine, but I would recommend using Grade 8 (hardness) fasteners.

Bob
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Old 03-28-2014, 10:55 AM   #6
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IMO bolting the receiver hitch to the frame is fine, but I would recommend using Grade 8 (hardness) fasteners.

Bob
This^^^^ plus lock nuts or lock tite,dont ask how I know.
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Old 04-24-2014, 06:17 PM   #7
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I had one welded to my 302fk for a bike rack. I just priced it out for my 28dsbh cost was $350 to $400 that was with removing the under belly stabilizers and gas lines welding in the supports and reinstalling it all back like factory.
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Old 04-24-2014, 11:15 PM   #8
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We had a hitch made for our Montana and it was all welded. We had no problems and towed our quads and Rhino for 4 years.
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Old 04-25-2014, 06:59 AM   #9
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We had a professional welder attach a hitch to our 2012 HT 26.5RLS early in 2012 before towing anything. He reinforced the I-Beams about 4-6' from the rear toward the axles and then fabricated a hitch from 3-4" square tubing. The total job took him about four hours from start to finish and included wiring a seven-pin plug as well. We tow a Crestliner SuperHawk 1900 behind the FW and have had no problems. I would be very hesitant to bolt on a receiver hitch to tow something as heavy as our boat, but for putting on bike racks, it would probably work ok. As far as warranty, the manual does say that attaching a hitch will void the warranty, but they are now attaching a hitch as an option, I believe, on the HT line. So, I wonder what changed now compared to when I bought my 2012? Send me a private message with your email and I'll send you some pictures of my hitch work. The cost for the fabricated hitch was right at $500, which I feel was money well spent.
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Old 04-25-2014, 07:18 AM   #10
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The owner's manual says the "entire warranty" is null and void so they could say no to any warranty work, now whether they would or not is something I would not want to chance.
The LAW says something different.. THEY have to prove the modification caused the failure.
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Old 04-25-2014, 07:32 AM   #11
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I had one welded to my 302fk for a bike rack. I just priced it out for my 28dsbh cost was $350 to $400 that was with removing the under belly stabilizers and gas lines welding in the supports and reinstalling it all back like factory.
Same here, was about $500 and it's very stout. I use it for towing our jet ski and also a bike rack from time to time.
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Old 04-25-2014, 09:10 PM   #12
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It seems that we paid around $400 also.
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Old 06-01-2014, 07:45 AM   #13
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We just had the hitch installed on our 28dsbh Council hitch in Council Bluffs Iowa only charged $280 they rated it for 200 lb tongue weight 2000lb towing weight. They do Gretchen work and have great customer service.
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Old 06-01-2014, 10:57 AM   #14
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I don't know what my hitch is rated for, but we are pulling a 19' Crestliner SuperHawk 1900 behind our FW and doubt that a 200 lb tongue weight would be sufficient. Don't forget that the trailer bouncing up and down can put additional stress on the hitch, whether welded or bolted.
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