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02-12-2007, 12:13 PM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Akiachak
Posts: 128
M.O.C. #6376
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Rail Installation
I'm getting ready to install hitch rails (well, my brother is) and I have a few basic quesitons.
1. While he has the tools and is handy he has not done this before. Should this be left to professionals? How technical is this and how easy is it to NOT do it right?
2. Does a rubber bed mat get cut around the rails so rails are solid on bed?
Thanks!
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02-12-2007, 01:06 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Englewood
Posts: 3,095
M.O.C. #164
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(2) Yes cut the Bed Mat
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02-12-2007, 01:57 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
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It's really not difficult ... read the instructions first ... measure twice ... drill once. Rule of thumb when positioning hitch for visual BEFORE drilling ... center of hitch pin should fall somewhere right over your rear axle centerline to a couple of inches forward. The newer Ford's and Chevy's ... @ 05 and newer sometimes require a special rail installation kit in addition to the standard bolts and angle brackets supplied. If it looks like you are just bolting the rail to the thin truck bed and not onto some fasion of doubler or reinforced area ... re-measure!!! By all means do not bolt through the bedliner ... make a cutout.
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02-12-2007, 03:36 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Bum F Egypt
Posts: 979
M.O.C. #2733
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It can be done, read and understand the instructions. If you get lost call the company they will help. Measure twice cut once! I'm sure some one on this forum will be around if you need a second opinion?
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02-12-2007, 09:07 PM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Down the Road
Posts: 5,627
M.O.C. #889
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I have a fella who installed his hitch, took him 4 or 5 hours to do. Personally I would rather have my dealership do the install. If they mess up, they are buying me a new truck, plus the liability is on them not me for the installation of the hitch. Good luck and as the others have said, measure three times and cut once.
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02-13-2007, 07:53 AM
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#6
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New Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 8
M.O.C. #6533
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I have a question. When you say to cut out the liner, I assume you mean a "drop-in" liner. Can a rail assembly/hitch be installed in on top of a Rhino Liner that's been sprayed in? I will installing both items in a month or so and was planning on drilling all the holes and then having the liner sprayed in. Does this sound correct or am I going about it wrong? Thnaks for the help.
John
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02-13-2007, 08:04 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Hurricane
Posts: 503
M.O.C. #444
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That's the way I did it John.
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02-13-2007, 10:18 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
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Yes about on top of a spray in liner. That's how mine is done on this and the prior trucks. Cut through a drop in (did that on the '95) and rubber liners. You want nothing that can give to be between the rails and the bed.
I installed the rails on my '95 Ford. Be sure you have at LEAST one excellent quality steel cutting bit to drill into the frame. And cool that bit off frequently. I used oil as a lube in drilling into the frame.
As others said, follow directions closely. Measure two or three times. Be sure the pincenter is not behind the axle center. If a shortbed, I'd recommend pin center directly over the axle. On a long bed, up to two inches forward of the axle.
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02-13-2007, 10:36 AM
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#9
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New Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 8
M.O.C. #6533
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Thanks Pete and Steve. I will be doing this in the next month or so and now all I have to do is decide what hitch to use. We are going to buy a 3400RL and will be pulling with a '06 F-350 SRW PSD Long Bed. I'm just trying to make sure I don't make any major mistakes.
Thanks again, and sure thing Steve, I'll flash the lights at you just as soon we're pullin' the 3400 down the road!
John
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02-13-2007, 10:56 AM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Akiachak
Posts: 128
M.O.C. #6376
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Thanks for the info, not sure what I would do without MOC!
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02-13-2007, 01:27 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
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John, you can drill the holes either before or after the liner is sprayed in.
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