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LITERATURE NUMBER MPD 70381 |
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FOLDING HITCH BALL |
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OPTIONAL UNDER TRUCK |
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INSTALLATION KIT |
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AENGLISH |
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•Installation •Operation •Maintenance |
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Effective 11/21/07 |
REFERENCE NUMBERS REFER TO ILLUSTRATIONS ON PAGE 4.
SAFETY ALERT SYMBOLS
Safety Symbols alerting you to potential personal safety hazards. Obey all safety messages following these symbols.
WARNING |
CAUTION |
avoid possible |
avoid possible |
injury or death |
injury and/or property damage |
INSTALLATION
CAUTION
VEHICLE DAMAGE
•For adequate transfer of forces produced during towing these instructions MUST be followed.
1.Raise truck at frame so that the weight will be taken off the suspension and rear wheels will be away from wheel well openings. This will give more access to the side of the truck frame where the mounting plates will be installed.
FOR YOUR SAFETY READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS
BEFORE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION
Installer: Provide these instructions to the consumer. Consumer: Keep documents for future reference.
WARNING
PERSONAL INJURY / PRODUCT DAMAGE
•Know the trailer weight and added load weight. Do not exceed the capacity of the coupler, ball or stem, whichever is lower.
•Do not exceed the towing vehicles rated towing capacity.
FOLDING HITCH BALLS
The Atwood Folding Hitch Ball is a hitch ball designed to be mounted on a pickup truck, positioned above and forward of the rear axle for towing gooseneck type trailers.
Max. Gross Vehicle Weight: |
25,000 lbs. |
Ball Size: |
2-5/16˝ diameter |
Tongue Load: |
5,000 lbs. |
For larger trucks, contact the vehicle manufacturer or Atwood Mobile Products for recommendations.
To adequately transfer towing forces to the truck, the folding hitch ball must be supported by a structure that ties the folding hitch ball into the truck frame. The Atwood Under Truck Installation Kit is a complete bolt-on support structure. Fabrication instructions for an alternate support structure using the Bed Plate or H Frame method of installation are also included.
ATWOOD UNDER TRUCK INSTALLATION KIT
Use Installation Kit with Atwood Folding Hitch Ball
TOOLS REQUIRED: |
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Drill with 3/4˝, 7/16˝ bit |
Hammer |
Torque Wrench |
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9/16˝ wrench & sockets |
Center Punch |
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15/16˝ wrench or sockets |
Saber Saw |
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INSTALLATION PARTS: |
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QTY |
DESCRIPTION |
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2. VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH EXHAUST HEAT SHIELDS AND/OR WHEEL WELL LINERS -
Temporarily remove shields and liners to provide adequate space for installation of long cross angles and side frame mount brackets. Keep these parts for replacement after hitch installation.
3.Place carriage bolts in square holes at the ends of the angles.
4.Slide cross angles (long) in between frame and bed under the vehicle, one end at a time (the downward portion of the angles will be facing each other) FIG 3 & 4.
5.Insert side frame mounting brackets (end with slots) from side of vehicle between vehicle frame and angles installed in previous step FIG 5.
6.Loosely bolt cross angles to side frame mount bracket (14˝ long) FIG 5.
CAUTION
VEHICLE DAMAGE
•The center of the ball must be 2˝ to 6˝ in front of axle centerline.
•The position of the ball must allow for proper clearance between trailer and both rear of cab, and rear corner of truck bumper when making turns of up to 90°.
7.Position the center of the frame mount brackets 2˝- 6˝ forward of the rear wheel axle centerline (providing adequate clearance for brake, electrical and fuel systems) FIG 6.
8.Center the long cross angles on the vehicle from right to left. This is key to having the folding ball assembly centered in the bed FIG 4. Check installed cross angles to be sure that they are square with the truck frame.
WARNING
PERSONAL INJURY / VEHICLE DAMAGE
•DO NOT CUT gas lines, brake lines, electrical wiring, etc. when making cutouts or drilling holes in truck.
9.From the under side of pickup truck, mark the center of holes in bed using the hitch as a template. Drill holes to fit carriage bolt using a 3/4˝ drill bit FIG 4.
2 |
CROSS ANGLES (LONG PARTS) |
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SIDE FRAME MOUNT BRACKET (14˝) |
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BOLT PACK |
8-CARRIAGE BOLTS 3/8˝ X 2˝ GRADE 5 ZINC PLATED |
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8-STANDARD BOLTS 3/8˝ X 1-3/4˝ GRADE 5 ZINC PLATED |
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16-WASHERS 3/8˝ X 1 ZINC PLATED |
16-NYLON LOCK NUTS 3/8˝ GRADE 5 ZINC PLATED
4 SPACERS
10.Before cutting 12-7/8˝ x 8˝ hole in bed of vehicle be sure to recognize the hole must be offset 2-1/8˝ towards the driver’s side for ball to be centered in truck bed FIG 2.
11.Make cutout on the floor of truck bed. See FIG 1 & 2.
1
12.Bolt the folding hitch ball assembly to installation kit through the truck bed using (4) four, SAE Grade 5, 5/8˝ carriage bolts, nuts and lock washers (supplied with Atwood folding hitch ball). Shim (not supplied) as necessary to accommodate corrugation in floor of truck bed.
13.Check operation of ball and safety chain attachments. Make adjustments to allow for free operation of parts. Tighten 5/8˝ carriage bolts to 150 (ft.lb) torque.
14.The tops of the steel angles must fit flush against the underside of the truck bed. The frame mount brackets and/or spacers must fit against the outside of the truck frame for proper installation.
15.Mark the center of the mounting holes being used with center punch.
16.Check inside frame before drilling to be sure no lines or wiring will be damaged by drill.
17.Drill (4) four holes on each side of vehicle using 7/16˝ drill bit.
18.Use spacers as needed FIG 7.
19.Tighten all 3/8˝ bolts to 33 (ft.lb) torque. Failure to tighten bolts as described may result in fastener loss or failure.
20.Replace wheel well liners and heat shields to original locations in reverse order if removed.
21.Proceed to INSTALLATION CHECK.
H-FRAME METHOD - FIG 8
The H-Frame support structure consists of |
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2 |
- support structures |
6˝ by width of truck frame x 1/2˝ thick |
8-G |
2 |
- support structures |
6˝ x 8˝ x 1/2˝ thick |
8-H |
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- stiffener angles |
2˝ x 2˝ x 26˝ long x 1/4˝ thick |
8-E |
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- frame brackets |
2˝ wide x 3/8˝ thick |
8-F |
CAUTION
VEHICLE DAMAGE
•For adequate transfer of forces produced during towing these instructions MUST be followed.
WELDING INSTRUCTION
•M.I.G. OR STICK - 5/32˝ fillet weld minimum.
•M.I.G. WELDING - Use A.W.S. ER 70S-3 or 6 wire or equivalent with a
diameter of .035 - .045. The recommended shielding gas mixture is 75% - 95% Argon & 25% - 5% CO2.
• STICK WELDING - Use E6011 A.W.S. welding rod or equivalent with a diameter are as follows: 1/8” electrode set power between 115-130 Amps DC or 5/32” electrode set power between 140-160 Amps DC.
The installer must make his own H-frame, stiffener angles, and frame brackets. Use structural quality hot rolled or cold rolled steel bar. All steel used must meet minimum ASTM A-36 specifications.
1.To form H-Frame support - Weld support structures FIG 10-G and 10-H together with 1/4˝ uninterrupted fillet square butt joint welds on both sides of the plates FIG 10-A.
2.Weld stiffener angles (FIG 8-E) to bottom of H-Frame using 1/4˝ fillet 1˝ - 2˝ skip weld full length of each stiffener angle on both sides of leg FIG 10-B. Stiffener angle may also be through bolted with 4-1/2˝
Grade 5 bolts. Tighten to 60 (ft.lb) torque.)
3.MOUNTING LOCATION AND TRUCK BED FLOOR CUT-OUT
Proper mounting location for folding hitch ball to distribute weight properly between truck axles -
a.Center BALL between sides of truck bed floor, FIG 1-A
b.Locate BALL 2˝ to 6˝ in front of rear axle centerline FIG 1-A
4.Before cutting 12-7/8˝ x 8˝ hole in bed of vehicle be sure to recognize the hole must be offset 2-1/8˝ towards the driver’s side for ball to be centered in truck bed FIG 2.
5.Make cutout on the floor of truck bed FIG 1 & 2.
6.Put Folding Hitch Ball in truck bed, align with cutout in floor of bed FIG 8-A & 9.
7.Mark holes to be drilled on truck bed using holes in folding hitch ball as a guide for locations. Drill 11/16˝ diameter holes.
8.Place H-Frame FIG 8-G/H under floor of truck bed and above frame of truck. Align with cutout in floor of truck bed. Clamp in place against bottom of bed.
9.Drill four holes in H-Frame using holes previously drilled in truck bed for a guide.
10.Bolt the folding hitch ball assembly and H-Frame to the truck bed. Use (4) four, SAE Grade 5, 5/8˝ carriage bolts FIG 8-D, nuts and lock washers (supplied). Shim as necessary to accommodate corrugation in floor of truck bed.
11.Tighten 5/8˝ nuts to 150 (ft.lb) torque.
12.The tops of the steel frame brackets must fit flush against the underside of the truck bed. The inside of the steel frame brackets must fit flush against the truck frame for proper installation.
WARNING
VEHICLE DAMAGE
•Mounting brackets must be bolted to frame. Welding will NOT provide the structural strength needed for towing and may void factory warranty on vehicle.
13.Position the frame brackets along each side of the truck frame providing clearance to any crossmember, fuel line, electrical or brake system. Drill 17/32˝ (.531˝) diameter holes through truck bed and H-frame.
14.Secure the frame brackets to the truck bed and H-Frame with SAE Grade 5, 1/2˝ diameter bolts, nuts and lock washers (not supplied).
15.Drill two (2) 17/32˝ (.531˝) diameter holes through the lower leg of the frame brackets and truck frame. Position the holes in vertical center of the truck frame.
16.Secure frame brackets to the truck frame with 2 each SAE Grade 5, 1/2˝ dia. bolts, nuts and lock washers (not supplied).
17.Tighten all 1/2˝ bolts to 60 (ft.lb) torque.
18.Proceed to INSTALLATION CHECK.
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