The Mad Norsky
Yankton, South Dakota
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Joined: 04/14/2003
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Contacting Dodge about this worries me in that there are only 29,000 miles on this truck, and I do have warranty left.
I wonder what direction they would go with this??? In my mind, they would cancel any warranty I had left. Then again, maybe (what do I mean maybe, I know I ) worry too much. 
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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You dont necessarily have to give them your name and truck's VIN number to ask a question about the trucks. Pretend to be a prospective buyer asking about the trucks in general. I would advise though that the dealer probly doesn't know the answer to your question and may tell you something completely off-base. I would contact Dodge engineering dept directly. They are the likely the only people qualified to answer the question.
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bucky
Eastern Shore of MD
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Joined: 05/07/2003
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Any contact with Dodge would best be handled thru a local dealer that you already have a relationship with. And I would speak with the Body Shop manager only. He or she is the one that will know or have the proper access to any repair solutions on the frame involved. An alternative would be a body shop in the area that is respected and busy with lots of insurance co contracts. Maybe approach it as "could I get an estimate for removing this hitch and installing my new one?" Dodge and Ford are both quick to void warranty's or parts of them, depending on the local rep. I would hesitate to contact Dodge directly, because of your existing warranty. Or, tongue in cheek, look at TT's 
99 F250 PSD CC LB 3.73 4X4 7360 lbs, and it can sink in the mud FAST, 2004 Coachmen Catalina TT 297RKS 8200 lbs on the road.
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sirwilliam
BC
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Joined: 02/02/2003
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Trade the truck off for another one............
Steve
5'ER
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Contact Dodge engineering directly and don't give them your VIN number, just the year and model of the truck. I doubt the dealer knows enough about the metalurgical properties of the truck frame to give any accurate information about the effects of welding on it. Anything they say would be merely guessing, no better than we can do here.
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Jumbo Cranium
Texas where else
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Joined: 02/04/2005
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Engineer9860 wrote:I have read somewhere, because of the alloy steel in the Dodge truck's frame, that any welding at all was not recommended by Dodge.
I hope the welds don't lead to trouble later on. Even cutting off the old brackets, and grinding the weld smooth, still leaves the parent frame material's grain structure permanently altered.
Might want to conferr with your local Dodge dealer before continuing.
Not true at all. Dodges own TSB on the frame says welding is perfectly ok as long as "proper welding techniques are used, I did mine and its just fine.
Roger
Shelley, my sweet baby.
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Jumbo Cranium
Texas where else
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Joined: 02/04/2005
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Here is the Dodge TSB. AFAIK the frames have not changed since '03.
TSB
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The Mad Norsky
Yankton, South Dakota
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Joined: 04/14/2003
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Jumbo, that surely settles my worries on the welding part of the problem. Thanks!
Now, hopefully Monday (the 19th) with visits to local dealers to Colibert and B&W both (may as well try a fitting, even though telephone said no way), the other problem will get solved.
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camping man
Central Fla.
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Joined: 09/01/2001
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I'd grind it off too, and start over.
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Kodiak5er
Alex Bay NY Summer; Sanford FL Winter
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Joined: 07/11/2004
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Find a welder that knows how to use a plasma arc torch and have them cut the old stuff out of your way. Then grind what's left if you need to smooth things out.
The plasma arc will input the least heat of any method available. You can write your name in sheet metal with one of these and the sheet metal won't warp at all.
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