I have a '12 ram 2500 and bought the companion fitch with the under bed mount, looking at videos on the install it looks straight forward. My only question is what did you do for the handle, in the videos they cut a chunk of plastic out, but I would rather keep it cleaner looking. If anyone with a ram has advice or a pic that would be great. This doesn't apply to the newer rams(13+) as my father has one and the plastic fender liner is shorter and didn't need to be cut up.
On my old 01 I used a holesaw to cut a large enough hole in the liner to stick my hand through. I thought it looked just fine. However you obviously need to be able to get to the handle so you are going to have to cut the liner what about a rubber flap covering the hole, or a harder piece of plastic cut say 1 inch larger diameter than the hole secured with a single screw/nut and bolt in the top so you can just swing it up out of the way when needed. Only other option would be to lower the handle enough to get to it below the liner which at least on my 01 would have been 4+ inches. On my 17 the handle is right below the liner as you said and no need for a hole
On my old 01 I used a holesaw to cut a large enough hole in the liner to stick my hand through. I thought it looked just fine. However you obviously need to be able to get to the handle so you are going to have to cut the liner what about a rubber flap covering the hole, or a harder piece of plastic cut say 1 inch larger diameter than the hole secured with a single screw/nut and bolt in the top so you can just swing it up out of the way when needed. Only other option would be to lower the handle enough to get to it below the liner which at least on my 01 would have been 4+ inches. On my 17 the handle is right below the liner as you said and no need for a hole
It would have to be lowered 4" as you said. I was thinking the same with some rubber to cover it. This is probably what I'll end up doing unless someone has found a better method. How do you like the hitch, any issues with it?
Hitch has been great. once in a great while when I forget to take out the ball and haul a load of dirt or gravel or something that has a lot a grit in it I have gotten the ball stuck. Which requires getting under the truck and beating it out with a hammer beating might be over stating it but you cant pull it out so you have to hit it upward from underneath and it is just due to grit wedging itself between the ball and the mount. Aside from that the only thing I wish was different was that it didn't weigh so much. I use my truck as a truck so I have to pull the companion out frequently Example I am using our 5th every weekend this month so that means I have to put it in and take it out 4 or 5 times as I cant leave the companion in the bed as I need it for other uses during the week. It really only takes me a few minutes but the thing is dang heavy and a bit awkward to carry around at least for an advanced middle aged person shall we say.
I noticed the weight, I got the hitch in 4 boxes. 2 for the goose neck and 2 for the 5th wheel. Not 1 box was light lol, nothing I can't manage but definitely not something I want to remove every weekend. The 2 reasons I went with this is the 1 hole in bed so I can still use the bed, and the fact it is made in America, I will deal with the weight of that's the only downside.
Well if anyone is wondering, you don't need to cut the liner. I had a local mechanic install it, and he left the liner in tact. It is hidden, all you need to do is reach under the liner and pull it. If I were going to use it weekly I would cut it, but the 5-6 times a year I'll pull it, this works for me.
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