5th Wheel Hitch Installed

You would think....But just being around them for a long time I know those are the correct brackets...but I think on a taco I am not sure the frame is strong enough to handle them. But if you look at how a fifth wheel is mounted on a larger truck it looks just like that...but I don't remember there being two brackets on the front. I always just remember there being 4 brackets all together!

 

This is what it should look like.

 

OP, I'm rooting for you but your design needs some help. You need to support that weight across a wide surface of the frame, not at 4 bolts on each side. Those bolts will have all the weight on them, which places a hell of a lot of strain on the frame in those places.

I'd recommend boxing the frame in, running a cross brace or two across between the frame spars, and mounting the weight on top of the boxed portion of the frame. Put the cross braces equal with each mount. Gusset your leaf spring mounts and invest in some Timbrem bump stops.

 

This x's 100000000

 

with a plate like that, the only way it will help keep the bolts from "tearing" the frame or wollowing out the holes, is if it were welded on. otherwise it stiffens the frame from bending, but does not help support the weight.

 

Alright, improvements have been noted.

Rails will be blocked underneath, giving extra support.
Frame will be boxed as well, strengthening it and helping it hold the weight.

To keep it from Tearing (already added a 3/8 Plate on the back side of the frame), but i will also have the brackets welded on each side, extending support to the whole bracket instead of just the bolt holes.

Its hard to see in the pictures but underneath the Rail there is a 1/2in Steel Plate (42inx6in). These go from one side of the frame to the other in place of the bed that was cut out. It also adds support for the 12 carriage bolts that will be holding the rails down. If you look where the bed is cut on each slot there are frame supports running from one side of the frame to the other, ironically just where they needed to be.

Last but not least, there will be blocks put on the frame above the shocks, welded to the frame and the adjacent bracket.

I appreciate all the suggestions, this is how the reese rails install instructions were (except with 4 angle brackets and not as many blocks). I've seen both the frame plates, like cc350 posted, and these angle brackets.

I'll be workin a lot the first couple days of this week, so it'll be thursday/friday before I can get this stuff done.

Thanks.

 

Right on. The blocks and boxing the frame will be good additions.

 

Post pics once you hook up your 5er! I really want to see this! I can't imagine pulling a 5er with a tacoma but anything is possible! This is my first smaller truck (came from a 2500 Duramax) and I have been used to pulling all kinds of loads up to 20k. Now I just pull my rhino around and that is probably less then 2k behind the truck and I know its there....but then again I have always pulled stuff with the duramax and never felt it behind me. But good luck man, I think the plate idea is a great idea to help strengthen the frame. I have always installed and pulled with hitches that use the angle brackets and I know in your case they are not the weak point based off the loads I have pulled with them. It sounds like you have things figured out and there has been allot of good input on here....I am rooting for you but if I was going any where far with it I would upgrade / downgrade (however you look at it) to a larger truck.

 

I'd go with the air bags. They will really help with the stability.

 

Not saying it is or isn't strong enough but... OP says the maximum tongue weight would be 600 lbs and that's way lower than the 1/2 ton or so rated capacity.

This weight... and the 6500lb towed weight... will be carried on the same frame that an OEM hitch is attached to. But a 5th wheel would handle it with a lot more stability?

 

You have a good point there with the tongue weight and I didn't realize it was just 600 lbs of tongue weight. I would rather have this weight on a fifth wheel vs a bumper pull.
The truck will handle the weight better on a fifth wheel since the weight will be distributed on truck more evenly.The more I think about this the more I think its possible...would I do it?...probably not but its a pretty cool idea and it seems like it could be done. The trailer will be pushing all the towing specs to the max but just for close camping trips it might work!

Sorry if I came off negative about the idea of this, but I honestly can't imagine pulling a fifth wheel with my tacoma but hey anything is possible!

 

When I think of 5th wheels I also envision a truck with duallies hauling a 20,000lb horse trailer. Not a scenario I imagine a taco in at all. But OP has said his trailer is around 6500lb with 600lb tongue weight. Keep it to that and I'm having trouble sharing in all the bad mojo goin' on.

One thing I do note.. the way this is mounted to the frame ALL the tow loads of the trailer (both static and dynamic) are handled by the mounting bolts in shear. I'm sure the hitch mfr. considered this in design, but their assumption is you'll use the holes as drilled and prepped them.

It's very important to make sure the holes OP puts in the brackets and frame are correctly sized, clean drilled and de-burred and in alignment with those in the frame. This is prolly the number 1 source of in-service failure for fastening systems with loads in shear: poor hole prep. Even using grade 8 won't help if the holes are poorly prepped.

Just somethin' to think about....

 

Holes drilled in the frame were properly prepped. A burr can reek havoc on a bolt, and cut into it making it weak and fail.

Got the blocks cut and fitted today. Going to get the boxing Brackets done this Sunday along with prepping the frame to be welded. Uploaded some pictures. There will be 8 blocks all together.

2x2 Steel Tube i Used 24" Long Cut with PortaBand


Block Fitted on Frame


Half done.

 

While you're at it, go head and box the frame!

 

Got brackets and frame welded today. Pulled the camper around a bit tonight, worked great. Gonna move it about 20 miles tomorrow. I'll post some pictures of the hitch and camper hooked up.

 

love the additions much safer!!! awesome job op, but i do think bags would be an awesome addition for the towing stability man

 

The rear sags just a little bit. I still have about 4" of clearance before it hits the stops when it's sitting still. But Airbags are definitely in my future =)









And here's the bed pieces cut out. The bed itself wasn't that thick, but it had about a 2in support underneath. Seemed to be made out of a fiberglass type of material.



If you look closely, you can see the sawzall blades that I cut short to make sure i didn't cut any lines. Jammed a couple times and broke a few (oops) but didn't cut any lines!



Overall the truck did great pulling. I pulled along going around 60, and even up hills it seemed to do well without slowing down. RPM's were around 2300-2400 in 4 most of the time at that speed. Only thing I might add is a bigger cooler if I decide to pull it more and some air bags.

 

Proved a lot of people wrong. Looks great man and glad you're safe

 

I'm adding my 2 cents in a little bit late, but here goes...6500 lbs is a lot to ask of a 4.0L V6 engine. Yes, the truck will do the job, but you have to think of the long term affects it will have on your engine and transmission. I've spoken with a few people that say that they wouldn't tow a trailer over 3500 lbs with the 4.0L V6 Tacoma for that very reason. It would be nice if our Taco's were designed to tow larger trailers or carry bigger cabover campers, but unfortunately they're not made that way. If you carry 600lbs or more in your bed on a regular basis then you really do need airbags or the back sags very noticeably. Overall vehicle and trailer weight could become an issue at some point too. As another poster mentioned, insurance may be a problem if you're ever in an accident because your pushing the very limits of the truck. I have been looking on and off for a lite camping trailer for a little while now. I would prefer a hard sided camper, but I may end up just getting a tent trailer (preferably with an inside toilet and shower). Good luck in the future with your trailer and keep safe.

 

It's already been done so what's the point in telling the OP about the alleged ill effects?

OP, I like your courage. Do it I say, if you are this committed and skilled at custom fab work, any alleged engine/tranny work shouldn't faze you.