How To Install The New 'Freedom' Hitches

Truck owners can totally free-up their truckbeds with new hitches that quickly convert from fifth-wheel to gooseneck

By now, many truck owners have heard of a new type of "freedom" hitch, named for its ability to completely free up a truck bed, or convert to a fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch almost instantly. This newfound versatility not only allows a truck owner to carry flat loads (such as 4' x 8' panels) and oversized cargo, but also hook up an RV, car or motorcycle trailer in minutes.

Traditionally, many truckbeds have been cluttered with fifth-wheel gear weighing 100 lbs. or more, requiring two men to remove. What freedom hitches provide is maximum flexibility to suit any truck owner's lifestyle. For towing heavy loads such as cars, ATVs, or watercraft, they quickly become gooseneck hitches. Just as quickly, they change to fifth wheels for pulling large RVs or multi-car trailers. Yet, they enable truck owners to once again reclaim full use of the truckbed, for errands such as moving furniture, building supplies or other large objects.

Considering that truck owners can pay up to $45,000 or more for a new truck brawny enough to tow five tons or more, it's not surprising that many are jumping at the chance to take back the full use of their truckbeds when not used for towing.

These new freedom hitches are now widely available from dealers throughout the US, and conveniently installed by them. However, truck owners not afraid of doing their own "wrenching," such as changing a radiator or doing their own brake jobs, may want to install one of these hitches on their own, as many competent do-it-yourselfers are doing.

Below follow some general guidelines on the basic steps required to install most freedom hitches. For illustrative purposes, these steps will be based on the freedom hitch offered by Putnam Hitch Products - a national hitch manufacturer based in Bronson, Mich. - because: 1) it requires no welding; 2) the truckbed does not have to be removed; 3) it uses the smallest (3-1/8") hole through the bed, and comes with a metal template for correct placement; and 4) for most newer truck models, no holes need to be drilled through the frame - existing frame holes will work.

This particular hitch also has the lightest kingpin adapter because of its unique mounting arrangement that keeps the fifth-wheel gear mounted on the trailer – hanging upside down from the pin box. All that's left in the truckbed is a lightweight (35 pound), low-profile kingpin, which removes in less than a minute to completely clear the bed, and can just as easily convert to a gooseneck hitch.

"For people towing multiple trailer types who want full use of the truckbed, the freedom hitch by Putnam can easily be changed by your wife or grandmother," explains Al Ackerman, co-owner of PSA Inc., a Bad Axe, Mich.-based retailer/installer of car and truck accessories.

Installation process
For installing the underbed portion of the hitch, these general guidelines will provide a conceptual basis from which the installation process of most freedom hitches can be built upon. At the very least, knowing the required steps can help in deciding on whether to tackle the job in the first place or let a professional installer handle the job.

• First, lower the spare tire, remove the exhaust heat shield, and then position the underbed angle irons of the hitch. These lie on top of the frame rails (transversely, across them), but underneath the truck bed.

• End plates are used to secure the hitch's angle irons. This helps square the angle irons to the truck frame, at the correct distance from each other. The end plates are bolted directly to the truck frame using pre-existing holes.

  On some older truck models, 2-4 holes may need to be drilled; 5/8" in diameter. The side plates as a guide for placement of these holes.

  Fasten the bolts, lock washers and nuts, but only "finger tight" at this time. Final tightening occurs after the center plate (which holds the kingpin or gooseneck ball) is attached.

• Temporarily mount the metal template to the front angle iron. This ensures that there is no mistake when making the cut into the floor of the truck bed. Start with a 5/16" drill bit to create a pilot hole, then use a 3 1/8"-diameter hole-cutter to finish. It is through this hole that the kingpin or gooseneck ball is placed.

  "It's the smallest hole in the truckbed I'm aware of," says Ackerman. "The system preserves the truck's original structure."

• Install the center section of the freedom hitch by raising it up to and between the angle irons. Secure it in place with four carriage bolts. Now, all nuts and bolts can be tightened to torque specifications.

• Finally, attach a metal extension handle to a spring-loaded slide pin, which is used to lock the kingpin or gooseneck ball into place.

This completes the underbed installation of the freedom hitch.

Making the switch from hitch to "wide open"
Once the underbed portion of the freedom hitch is installed, switching to a gooseneck hitch or fifth wheel is rather straightforward. For a gooseneck hitch, lower the gooseneck ball into the hole in the bed. Pull the spring-loaded extension handle toward you and release it when the gooseneck ball is fully seated, locking it into place. Reverse the process to remove the gooseneck ball and completely free up the truck bed.

To tow a fifth-wheel trailer, place the 35 lb. kingpin adapter into the bed of the truck in much the same manner as for the gooseneck. That is the final step with the Putnam hitch because the fifth wheel stays permanently mounted on the trailer pin box in an upside down position. This unique arrangement provides a measure of protection from would-be thieves looking to back into uncoupled trailers and haul them away.

The best of both worlds
Advances in creating lightweight, convertible, freedom hitches now give truck owners much greater lifestyle flexibility. Whether installing this new breed of hitches themselves or having a dealer do it, truck owners not only free up their truckbed from traditional fifth wheel clutter, but also give themselves the freedom to quickly change from fifth wheel to gooseneck when the weekend arrives and it's time to have fun.

For more info on the freedom hitch by Putnam or other convertible hitches, write to Putnam Hitch Products at 211 Industrial Ave., Bronson Michigan 49028; call 800-336-4271; visit http://www.Putnamhitch.com.