jliveit
ohio
Full Member
Joined: 02/21/2008
View Profile
 Offline
|
Just ordered my 18k reese signature hitch that uses the four pucks and says that 4 -2 1/2" holes have to be drilled in the bed. My question is has anyone thats installed one of these got any tips on what kind or brand of hole saw works best ( bimetal?)? Just want to make the cleanest 4 holes I can, just hate the thought of drilling in my new bed so any tips you have would be appreciated.
|
HMCRV'r
Jacksonville, NC
Full Member
Joined: 01/27/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Jliveit,
I just went to Lowes and picked up a bi-metal hole saw with the arbor included. Make sure you have a 1/2" drill with enough power to get you through other wise you might break your wrist when it catches on the thin sheet metal they now use in the our beds.
Measure twice, cut once!! Good luck.
* This post was
edited 02/27/08 07:08pm by HMCRV'r *
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 CTD QC LB 4X4 48RE
18K Signature Series hitch, Firestone Ride Rites
2008 Forest River Sandpiper 316BHT
JT's, 5th AirBorne, Equa-Flex
|
Mike_5667
Southern Ohio
Full Member
Joined: 01/29/2005
View Profile
|
Hi Jliveit,
My son and I installed my 18K Signature Series hitch and the four 2 ½” holes were also our concern. Like HMCRV’r, I went to Lowes and bought a bi-metal hole saw with the arbor included. When we started cutting the first hole, the hole saw wanted to move on me. To fix this problem, I took a two foot piece of a 2”x6” board and used the hole saw to cut a 2 ½” hole through the board. I then stood on the board and used it to hold my hole saw steady over the hole I was cutting. This worked for me.
Measure twice or more before the cuts.
Good luck,
Mike
|
jliveit
ohio
Full Member
Joined: 02/21/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Thanks, really like the idea of using the 2"x6" board to hold straight. I am quite mechanical but the thought of putting 2 1/2" holes in my new bed makes me a little nervous and I want a clean edge. Did you have a bed liner sprayed after the frame mounts and holes were drilled or what did you do about the edges were the holes were drilled? Have both cordless and electric 1/2" drills and will definitely measure at least twice before the drilling starts.Thanks for your replies.
|
Mike_5667
Southern Ohio
Full Member
Joined: 01/29/2005
View Profile
|
Jliveit,
I cut the holes in my nice shiny new white truck bed. A few months later I had a Line-X bedliner sprayed on. I took some masking tape and taped it over the sockets in the rails under the bed. The Line-X guys then did a good job on the spray-in liner.
At a later date, I drilled a 1 ½” hole through the left rear post to mount the 7 pin connector inside the bed. This time I drilled trough the Line-X liner. I think the Line-X made it easier to cut the hole. The saw didn’t jump/slide any. It was an easy hole to cut.
Good luck,
Mike
|
|
|
RCMAN46
NorthWest
Senior Member
Joined: 02/24/2008
View Profile
|
I have done two signature hitch installations. One item that is difficult is to locate the holes. I made a tool by taking a 5/8 bolt and grinding a sharp point on the end. After you have installed the under bed rails insert the bolt from under the bed. Run the bolt until it contacts the bed. Then from inside the bed place a 2/4 near where the hole should be and hit with a hammer. You should have a dent in the bed from the 5/8 bolt. This locates the holes. Make sure the underbed rails are level with the bed and square with the frame rails. When drilling the holes I used water to keep the heat down so as not to burn the paint.
|
Maine-iacs
Maine
Senior Member
Joined: 11/20/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Lavarock, bless you! That's a marvelous idea and solves the problem I was anticipating. Even measuring twice it's too easy to be off by just enuf to be noticeable.
One follow up question for everyone in general - Mike 5667 refers to installing the 7 pin receptacle in the bed. Where are you putting yours?
Until recently I've only seen them on bumpers. Never occurred to me to put it anywhere else.
Maine-iacs from the Great State of Maine
2002 Holiday Rambler Presidential 30SCD 5th wheel
2004 F-350 Lariat X-Cab PSD FX4 longbed
|
RCMAN46
NorthWest
Senior Member
Joined: 02/24/2008
View Profile
|
I put my 7 pin receptacle just in front of the wheel well on the drivers side. My 2005 Chev DMAX came with a camper cable under the bed and was coiled near the bed and cab on drivers side. There was enough cable to reach were I mounted the recetacle. Also close to where the 5th wheel king pin release is.
|
red_neck_camper
Stafford, VA., USA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/21/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
My receptacle is on the driver's side, just behind the wheel hump, about 6-8 inches up from the floor. That seems to be the most common place I've seen. Reese sells a kit with the receptacle and wiring harness that plugs into the back of your bumper-mounted receptacle, so no wires to splice.
Ken
2007 FORD F-350 4WD SC Longbed, 6.0L Powerstroke, Reese Signature Series 18K hitch.
2007 Keystone Montana Mountaineer 342PHT
|
