Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-22-2014, 02:48 PM   #1
Rivet Master
 
IanPoulin's Avatar
 
2021 25' International
Full timer , Virginia
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 665
Images: 4
Any issues swapping out hitch types?

All,

I am looking at a used airstream to purchase and current owner drilled three holes into the frame to support a Pro Series friction WD sway control hitch. If I purchased, I would like to change it over to a Reese dual cam or Propride series. Can folk offer me any gotchas or concerns I ought to have - am I stuck instead with the current hitch type or facing a replacement of that section of the frame to support a new drill pattern?

Cheers,

Ian Poulin
Richmond Va
__________________
2024 Airstream Globetrotter 30RB
2022 Ford F350 Lariat Diesel
WBCCI 4CU 8118
IanPoulin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2014, 02:55 PM   #2
Rivet Master
 
RickDavis's Avatar
 
1961 24' Tradewind
1969 29' Ambassador
1970 21' Globetrotter
Jamestown , Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,783
You should not have any problems with any hitch you want. If the holes show put a bolt in them for cosmetic purposes
__________________
Rick Davis 1602 K8DOC
61 tradewind, plus a few others
13 Ram 2500 TD
99 Dodge TD 577K miles

RickDavis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2014, 03:11 PM   #3
Rivet Master
 
IanPoulin's Avatar
 
2021 25' International
Full timer , Virginia
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 665
Images: 4
So adding additional hole patterns ought not have frame structural implications in that section?
__________________
2024 Airstream Globetrotter 30RB
2022 Ford F350 Lariat Diesel
WBCCI 4CU 8118
IanPoulin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2014, 03:51 PM   #4
Rivet Master
 
dkottum's Avatar
 
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake , Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
If you use a ProPride you will not have to drill any holes in the frame.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles

The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
dkottum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2014, 05:39 AM   #5
Rivet Master
 
Skater's Avatar
 
1995 30' Excella
Bowie , Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
My Reese doesn't have any holes in the frame, either. I don't have the dual cam sway control, but I thought that bracket was pressure fit, too, not drilled (I could be wrong, though).

Obviously if you start getting too many holes at some point you'll lose structural integrity, but one or two isn't going to matter unless they're really large or dangerously placed. And keep in mind the holes from your current hitch are ALREADY in your frame, and if it weakened the frame it would have done so when they were drilled, not when you remove the hitch.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel

Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
Skater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2014, 06:50 AM   #6
Rivet Master
 
m.hony's Avatar
 
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood , Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
Equal-i-zer has no holes in the frame.
EazLift has no holes for the weight distributing hitch, but has 6 very small holes for the anti-sway, which would most likely line up/work with any brand anti-sway as it is just a metal plate with a small ball on it.
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
m.hony is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2014, 10:45 AM   #7
Rivet Master
 
IanPoulin's Avatar
 
2021 25' International
Full timer , Virginia
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 665
Images: 4
Skater -- yeah the Reese dual cam requires hole drilles; and that concern with fatigue is the basis for my question. I guess I could reach out to the Reese folk directly and see if their mount pattern is the same (likely not) or close - or their suggestion.... this may tip the bar and push me towards propride in the longer run.
IanPoulin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2014, 12:26 PM   #8
Rivet Master
 
mimiandrews's Avatar
 
1966 22' Safari
Hilltop Lakes , Texas
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,764
A welder could fill in the holes and restore the strength of the frame, if it's an issue.
mimiandrews is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2014, 05:42 AM   #9
Rivet Master
 
Skater's Avatar
 
1995 30' Excella
Bowie , Maryland
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,345
Quote:
Originally Posted by IanPoulin View Post
Skater -- yeah the Reese dual cam requires hole drilles; and that concern with fatigue is the basis for my question. I guess I could reach out to the Reese folk directly and see if their mount pattern is the same (likely not) or close - or their suggestion.... this may tip the bar and push me towards propride in the longer run.
Interesting, thanks. My trailer had a dual-cam installed at one point; I can clearly see where the bolts for it were. I remember thinking that it looked like they cut the bolts for it off level with the frame, but that doesn't make much sense. Someone probably welded up the holes.

I need to repaint our tongue, so I'll have to take a closer look when I do that.
__________________
1995 Airstream Classic 30' Excella 1000
2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab with Cummins 6.7L Diesel

Sold but not forgotten: 1991 Airstream B190
Sold: 2006 F-250 6.0L Powerstroke Supercab
Skater is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Airstream Life back issues 2004-2009 Stefrobrts Airstream Classifieds 1 02-22-2014 07:11 PM
Equal-i-zer Hitch storage at home idmtman Hitches, Couplers & Balls 5 08-20-2011 04:49 PM
Hitch Ball for a Reese flyingcloud Hitches, Couplers & Balls 16 05-29-2011 09:28 AM
What are tradeoffs in extreme rise/drop hitch heights? amm3824 Hitches, Couplers & Balls 1 03-29-2011 07:56 AM
Hitch height Kman Hitches, Couplers & Balls 1 02-26-2011 04:19 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:03 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.