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17 Ram 3500 DD minor upgrades

We've had some very bad utility bed installs, at DWP one batch of @ 250 truck only had 3 bolts holding the bed to the frame. 2 in the front through a 3" wide 3/16th thick steel strap welded to the box. and 1 in the rear through the bed floor.
After a year or two the front strap would crack through and only the rear bolt was holding. Informed the powers to be of said cracks had a few repaired by our certified welders. Management put a stop to that, because warranty negotiations, but didn't red tag the fleet till 2 beds ended up 1 on the street busy blvd, the other on the freeway, fortunately the freeway was early morning and no one was hurt.
Could have been as bad as the School bus that the refuse truck packing ram gouged the side and killed two kids. That truck had been reported, packing ram problem was known issue. Truck was released to use by Management, He was fired and sued. Then ever city trash truck from that spec group was dead lined. Manufacturer called in to make changes,
then implemented by city mechanics at manufacturer's expense. I believe the manufacturer was sued too.
I could tell crappy equipment builder stories all day. The amount of money spent wasted is staggering.
 
I like that, simple but effective. Why is it so rusty?
 
I was doing the final measuring before I tack weld the square tube. Was centered on the bed because that is what I will see walking up to the truck. Checked it to the center of the frame and BAM......

Left side of the bed measures 3/4" longer from the frame than the right. Bed is 3/8" to the left. Loosen all 4 of the bed bolts, jack the back of the bed up and it will not budge. I realize that as I try to move it over with a fulcrum, the bolts are binding and holding it from moving. Pull the bolts out and it moves with some effort. The bolts will not go back in. The bed bolt holes are slotted, so it should not be an issue and I am at the center of the slots. Looking up from under the frame it all looks ok. Then I realize they do not line up front to back. Had to slide the bed back 3/8". That was tough to get done by myself. Another hour waisted because of the installers.

I am already tired and sore.
 
Still have braces, filler plates, safety chain holes, the trailer light plug and final welding to accomplish. Everything you see is 1/4 wall. The hitch receiver is still a 22" from the ground. Makes my weight distribution hitch 4" high. It is supposed to be at 18" and it will not go lower.

I really hope there is enough beef there to last my lifetime. I was concerned with torsional rotation down on the ball. Starting and stopping rotation of the assembly. I have seen so many going down the road rotating front to back.


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This is what they claim a 16k hitch with weight distribution is. 6 bolts in the bottom of the frame. Just does not seem adequate.


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ktmoutfront said:
Still have braces, filler plates, safety chain holes, the trailer light plug and final welding to accomplish. Everything you see is 1/4 wall. The hitch receiver is still a 22" from the ground. Makes my weight distribution hitch 4" high. It is supposed to be at 18" and it will not go lower.

I really hope there is enough beef there to last my lifetime. I was concerned with torsional rotation down on the ball. Starting and stopping rotation of the assembly. I have seen so many going down the road rotating front to back.


View attachment 372212View attachment 372213View attachment 372214View attachment 372215

This is what they claim a 16k hitch with weight distribution is. 6 bolts in the bottom of the frame. Just does not seem adequate.


View attachment 372216
Click to expand...

You do tend to overbuild things...
 
I don’t like receivers bolted to the bottom either. I had that on the blazer when I bought it. Yuk though it’s common practice :(
 
This is the ugliest pile of crap I have ever built. Looked good on the bench, not so much on the truck. I have two more fill plates between the upper and lower tubes to put in. Grind all of the flat surface welds down. Sand blast and paint it.

Had to install it this morning so I had brake and blinker lights today.

20210322_184624.jpg
 
ktmoutfront said:
This is the ugliest pile of crap I have ever built. Looked good on the bench, not so much on the truck. I have two more fill plates between the upper and lower tubes to put in. Grind all of the flat surface welds down. Sand blast and paint it.

Had to install it this morning so I had brake and blinker lights today.

View attachment 372397
Click to expand...
Paint it white!?
 
Looks fine to me and it doesn't look like every other bumper.
 
Bumper is completely done. Way overkill.

20210404_171118.jpg

drilled 48 9/32 holes for the E-rack mounting. Drilled through the E-track and bed at the same time. Then removed the e-track and and drilled for the nut zerts, another 48 times. Then installed the nut zerts. My hands are killing me. But the truck is done now. Until I get another hair brained upgrade idea.
20210404_171107.jpg
 
Nice truck. I'd put some nerf bars or side steps on it. I had them on my '05 and it made getting in/ out much easier.

Summit has some really nice and wide side steps. Black would look good w/ your bumper.
 
Next wild hair was, a crane.
I needed my heavy transmission jack to replace a tank under a food truck. Eileen and I could get it in the truck, but when I got there I would be screwed.

So a hitch mount for the Northern Tools truck crane was needed. I did not want to make the crane permanent. 20210425_161322.jpg20210425_161314.jpg

The chain is to hook the arm on and jack it tight.
 
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