What is this?

[Bafazane]

I've been tracking down a noise from the rear end of my truck. It seems like it gets worse the heavier I load the bed. 

 

I don't know how it took me this long to find this, but I'm guessing it's a redneck modification on a fifth wheel hitch mount. I'm assuming my "squeak" is the upper spring hitting the piece of angle iron. The other side is NOT like this.

 

Has anyone else seen anything like this?

 

Pictures are drivers side, looking aft.

[CUMMINSDIESELPWR]

looks like they added an overload spring to the pack that wasnt there from factory and the bolt that holds that angle iron is where the overload perch block usually is.

 

take it out and put the proper overload perch block on.

Edited March 10, 2019 by CUMMINSDIESELPWR

[Bafazane]

You can see the overload perch block behind the angle in both pictures. The location of that one agrees with the other one on the passenger side. I'm just going to pull that piece of angle iron off and call it good. I'm just curious if anybody has seen anything like this on a fifth wheel hitch setup before.

[CUMMINSDIESELPWR]

1 minute ago, Bafazane said:

You can see the overload perch block behind the angle in both pictures. The location of that one agrees with the other one on the passenger side. I'm just going to pull that piece of angle iron off and call it good. I'm just curious if anybody has seen anything like this on a fifth wheel hitch setup before.

if you have the proper overload blocks there, they may have put the angle iron to keep from squatting so much when overloaded. those overload springs arent meant to be a constant use item, rather an emergency spring for a shock to the rear axle while carrying near or max loads to prevent axle from bottoming on frame and breaking and reversing the spring pack on themselves from overcompression.

 

removing that iron is fine and shouldnt be there to begin with

[Bafazane]

I can't figure out if it was as you suggest (an attempt to limit sag when overloaded), a scabbed together fifth wheel hitch mount, or a combination of both. In any case: people are...creative.