Has anyone replaced a stock (2007 in this case) "non-hitch" rear bumper support bar with a factory one that includes the hitch?

Let me clarify: I bought a new 2007 1500 QC Hemi that did not come with the trailer hitch. So, I found the entire assembly onCraigslist and purchased it. The hitch part is actually welded on to the bumper support bar. So I disassemble everything toswap the 2 pieces out, but the original"bar" will not "lift off" the frame rails, without raising the bed off of the frame rails.

Am I missing something here? I really don't want to lift my bed off to remove this piece, unless I absolutely have to. Is there a "trick of trade" thing I can try to remove/replace this "bar"?

Any help would be appreciated. If there is, or if you know of, a Dodge Truck Body man on this forum that may have some experience with this, please pass this on, or forward me the email address.

Thanks, Steve

[IMG]local://upfiles/76751/7188F02E26164AA19CDD0A83928BB39D.jpg[/IMG]

 

what do you mean the "hitch part" is welded on to the bumper.... is there something acting as a hitch on your truck already?

 

This is from the service manual. I asked my techs and they did not know of any short cuts. Maybe someone else has a better idea....
REMOVAL







1.
Remove the rear bumper












2.
On Light Duty Vehicles, remove the hitch bolts (7)












3.
On Heavy Duty Vehicles, remove the hitch bolts (8)












4.
Disconnect all wire harness support push pins.






5.
Remove the rear two cargo box bolts (3) and loosen the remaining bolts






6.
Using a suitable lifting device, lift and support the rear of the cargo box and remove the hitch.

 

Thank you. I was wondering if I could do it w/o lifting the bed, but it looks like it is a must. Thanks again!

 

A standard dodge hitch simply bolts onto the thing you call the non-hitch rear bumper support bar.

Look at it this way--when you don't get the towing package you get almost all of an entire hitch except for the receiver section that takes the square receiver and the safety chains. These are about $80 retail, and simply add right on to the stock truck frame member that if you look you will notice is built just like a hitch, two end plates, and a formed steel tube that cleanly wraps under the truck. You even get the 4 pin wiring, simply add a Hopkins or other brand adapter and the $80 hitch piece and you're done.

Also, as far as I remember, the add on piece for the hitch is rated to the vehicle tongue and tow weight maximums, so I don't know that an entire aftermarked hitch assembly is going to be of any improvement.

--Matt

 

On an 07, the receiver part is actually factory welded onto the tube support bar. see attached pic. Since my truck didn't come with the receiver part, and I really didn't want to get an aftermarket one, I decided to buy one off of a guy that was wanting to get rid of his. Now I am in the situation that I just need to simply replace the non-receiver tube support bar, with the one that has it. The write up above confirmed that I needed to lift my bed up a bit to be able to lift the original one off of my frame, and be able to set the new on back on.

Thank everyone for the help!

[IMG]local://upfiles/76751/FF7A34AF60DE44BF93926EF3EE62DB51.jpg[/IMG]

 

You don't have to get an aftermarket one:

Look up part number 82207911 on mopar.com

--Matt