Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh (and you have no idea how appropriate a pirate's argh is, but that's another story)

so, the hitch arrived today, and i tried installing it...

i will save you other troubles, but the hitch doesn't fit...
i attached pictures. there is something in the way. i guess i'll try returning this one and get the small one and weld the fourth mounting point. as of now, i'm out of other ideas... doh!

 

http://fileresource.sitepro.com/file...69848BFD84.pdf

I found an additional part # for a curt hitch for '02 long box trucks #13330 looks similar to the short box one. It looks like it might be designed to reach in between those bolts and up to the frame (MAYBE????)

Here's their entire application guide:
http://fileresource.sitepro.com/file...283C23DDD9.pdf

 

Thank you ramdamit!

Unfortunately that one won't work, because of one of the mounting points. (in the pdf the number 8). that's the reason i'm not using the "small" hitch. that one hole has been drilled too big on the truck. but if i have to use it, i'll just go with the small hitch. it's class III as well.

it's just so frustrating.. a hitch is 4-6 bolts, and not such a hassle...
should i mention the hitch is 51 pounds.. i don't even wanna know yet how much it's going to be to ship it back

 

i talked to the curt customer service and they say the part shouldn't be there.

can you please take a pic of that part of the frame for me and tell me if you got the same thing there? maybe i can just remove it, if i ever get thru the rust there...

i'm trying to find some pictures online, but no luck so far...

 

this is the picture curt's sent me. i think it looks a lot different than on my truck.
if you look at one of my pictures, there is a tube actually covering this part, that's why i took pictures facing the rear of the truck.

EDIT:

did i just answer my own question? tube bumper??

 

Who knew it would be this hard. Most of us are just '02-'05 looks good, I'll take it.

I just looked at the pdf to install the small hitch,your pic and the curt pic and I would have to say yes it looks like you have a tube bumper. I'm assuming now that's why Curt list two different frame mount hitches for long box trucks in the second pdf I posted (13361 & 13330). When you use their quick guide app on their site it only lists the 13361. It looks like the 13361 is for long boxes without the tube bumper and the 13330 is for long boxes with the tube bumper. You'd think with two listed they'd have a note about the tube bumper just like the note about Rams built before Nov. '02.

It looks like both your choices for hitches use the same bumper mounting points. If I knew for sure it was going to fit I pesonally would still go with the 13330 eventhough it still uses the bumper mount points. It still has 4 frame mount points and then I would just re-drill the bumper mount points so the holes in the bumper and the hitch are the same size and then just get some larger proper fitting bolts. Then again I guess you could do the same on the small one and you wouldn't have to worry about whether or not it'll fit.

Good luck. I hope you get one soon so you can tow your bikes.

 

I was looking at your old pictures again and it almost looks like a tube style hitch you have there already, could you post a pic of the whole under bed/back area so we could see better,it's hard to tell what your looking at from the close-ups.

 

No, it's not a tube style hitch :-) there is no hitch, but i'll post a pic if you'd like!

i called Dodge. they say that depending on the bumper (step or not) the bumper underneath is different. either a tube style (like mine) or not.

So, i guess that's why everyone is carrying just the small hitches...
man, i wish this was all a little less complicated..

@ramdamit

good idea and i absolutely agree, however i won't risk it one more time! makes me think again that could be the reason why no one else makes them..

jcwhitney actually sent me a return label and they will cover the shipping costs, so i don't wanna have to deal with it again LOL! i'll go with the small one, and my dad has a few ideas how to fasten it.

so, i hope it works out somehow.

Thanks a lot for all the tips and help!

 

Sorry for not spotting that before, it was kinda hard to tell what I was looking at in a couple of those pics. Hopefully dear ol dad can get you squared away.

 

I would just have a garage to weld it on. No more complications with hardware not fitting properly. Most people never pull off a hitch once it's on anyways.