Since it is too cold to prime my Ram and the rear bumper is out of the way, I thought I would install my Reese 37096 Class 3 Hitch.







Bolts and hardware spread out and counted t make sure everything is there.




Spare tire may be in the way, so I removed it.






Frame pieces bolted to frame at rear. No drilling required here. Holes in frame lined up.




Front end of frame bracket in place. There is no hole in thios location on frame so it has to be marked to drill ½” hole. There are wires inside convoluite tubing inside frame rail. Drill with caution.



Hole drilled and bolt installed.




Right mounting frame placed to mark location of hole to drill at front. Exhaust was in the way and made it a little harder to drill. There are wires inside convoluite tubing inside frame rail. Drill with caution.





Hitch comes with wire with coiled end to pull carriage bolts out from inside.

Insert carriage bolt in coil on end of wire.



Feed wire through hole.




Pull wire and work bolt through hole. Install nuts.




Insert a couple of molts in frame and end bracket







Hitch attached to mounting brackets and tightened. There are more holes than bolts. I will probably install more bolts in the empty holes. More is better, right?




Adjust hitch assembly to center between frame.




Hitch installed. Be sure to torque all bolts.




Now I need to buy and install a brake control unit and get it installed. Local auto parts stores do not have the correcct wire. The only thing they have that is long enough is too light.

 

Sweet deal man! I need to get a receiver on mine. 2500 with no towing capability is kinda useless....

 

One of the reasons I picked up the Ram was that I only had the Yota to pull my Roll Back Trailer to haul cars. Now if I can catch a break with the weather to get it painted, I'll be good.....

 

what gauge wire do you need for the electric brake? i want to install them on my 81 but some of the wires i pulled from my 91 are to short and spliced together a few times. i never do any towing but i got the parts so minus well install them.

the hitch looks good other than the fact it looks like it bolt together. i like the old style 1 piece hitches. less bolt the less likely it is to fail.

 

Good write up with good pics GD. Fortunately this is one mod I don't have to worry about. Mine has the stock tow package on it.

 

Just tail lights can be 16 or 18 ga. I run 12 ga for brakes and 12v accessory for trailer such as interior lighing and such. Brake controller should have listed the minimum wire gauge listed.....but I wire heavier just to be sure and minimze voltage drop.

 

my brake controller came installed on my 91 so i know nothing about it. are you sure 12 ga wire would be thick enough? from what i can find the max amp rating for 2-4 brakes is anywhere between 7-16 amps. i was maybe thinking 10 ga.

 

Yep. I'm sure.

10 ga - 30 amps
12 ga - 20 amps
14 ga - 15 amps

 

ok. thanks. i would have hated to do things twice.

 

10 ga would ot hurt anything though. I just checked mine and that is what I have to brake and acc wiring.