Draw-Tite 4454 GOOSENECK RAIL KIT - Manual (Page 2)

Installation Instructions
Part Numbers:
4454
NOTES:
 This section of instructions refers to installing the 9465 or 9475 head only.
 Always make sure the ball is fully locked before towing.
 Keep the ball and ball sleeve well lubricated.
 Periodically re-torque all the hitch fasteners.
 Check ball, hitch coupler, safety chains and other connections for proper operation every time you tow.
Warning:
 The tow vehicle manufacturers recommended towing capacities should
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES be exceeded.
 Check for adequate clearance between the gooseneck trailer and the rear of the cab and the rear of the truck box before installing hitch.
 All trucks have fuel lines, brake lines and electrical wiring located along the vehicle frame where the rail kit installs. Carefully examine the
location of fuel lines, brake lines and electrical wires before installation and be certain not to damage these when positioning the hitch
components. Be careful when drilling holes, cutting sheet metal and tightening fasteners as to not limit the integrity of these systems.
© 2010, 2011, 2014 Cequent Performance Products – Printed in Mexico Sheet 2 of 8 4454N 1/23/2014 Rev. D
9465/9475 Hide-A-Goose Installation
1. Figure 2 shows a cable bracket which holds a brake line to the inside of the frame rail. Loosen this bracket from the top of
the frame and move the brake line down about 1/2” so that it is not interfering with hitch cross members.
2. From underneath the passenger’s side of vehicle remove or cut out the section of the heat shield that is located between the
frame rails and the bed of the vehicle.
Chevrolet/GMC 1500 Short & Long Beds
1500HD, 2500LD Short Beds
3.
Cut the heat shield on the gas tank or bend the top edge down about 1” down to make room for the hitch (see Figure 3).
4. When installing the 9465/9475 Hide-A-Goose hitch, a hole must be drilled in the bed of the truck. Mark and drill a 1/4” hole
44-3/4 inches (short box) / 49-1/2 inches (long box) from the rear of the bed and centered between the wheel wells. Using a
hole saw enlarge pilot hole to final diameter hole size. Refer to the 9465/9475 Hide-A-Goose hitch instruction sheet for hole
size.
5a. Placing Cross Members Between Bed And Frame, Method 1: Loosen The Truck Bed: Remove four truck bed bolts
(using 18mm socket) completely from the drivers side frame. The bolts are located on the bottom side of the frame. Loosen,
but do not remove, the four bolts holding the bed to the passenger side of the frame. Prop up the driver’s side of the truck bed
enough to make room for the cross members to fit between the bottom of the truck bed side flange and the top of the frame.
5b. Placing Cross Members Between Bed And Frame, Method 2: Notch the Side Flange: From the driver’s side wheel well,
notch the sheet metal flange as shown in Figure 5a for 6’ beds and Figure 5b for 8’ beds. After notching, the cut steel surfaces
should be touched up with paint to prevent rusting.
6. Slide the hitch cross members half way through the notches in the sheet metal flange and place 5/8 carriage bolts from the
9465/9475 fastener kit into the square holes on the vertical leg of the cross members, from underneath the vehicle. Slide the
hitch cross members above both vehicle frame rails and align hitch cross members as shown in Figure 6. Note: if the truck
bed has been loosened as in step 5a, the hitch can be loosely preassembled to the cross members, and the hitch and cross
members can be slid between the truck bed flange and the vehicle frame (see figure 4). The truck bed will need to be
propped up on the driver’s side about 3-1/2” to slide the hitch and cross members into position.
7. Loosely install the 9465/9475 Hide-A-Goose hitch if not done in the previous installation step. Refer to Hide-A-Goose Hitch
instruction sheet for installation.
8. Place 1/4 X 1.00 X 3.00 blocks and ½ carriage bolts through slots in the driver’s side and passenger’s side of vehicle frame
pointing outwards. Install the 5/8 X 1.00 X 2.00 block onto the carriage bolts. Install the hitch frame brackets by aligning the
rearward holes in the brackets with the carriage bolts and install the 1/2 flat washer, lock washers and hex nuts. Loosely install
the 5/8-11 hex nuts and conical toothed washers onto the threaded studs on the ends of the hitch cross members (see Figure 7).
9. Install the frame bracket clamp by placing the clamp to the inside of the frame rail, insert the 1/2-13 X 4.50 GR5 carriage bolts
through the square holes in the clamp and through the frame bracket with the threaded end pointing outwards. Install the
conical toothed washers and hex nuts. Some models require using hole in hitch bracket as guide to drill frame. See Figure 3.
10. After loosely installing the 9465/9475 Hide-A-Goose hitch and mounting kit, carefully align the hitch ball sleeve with the
opening cut in the truck bed. Torque all 5/8-11 GR5 fasteners on the brackets to 150 ft.-lb. (203 N-m) and 1/2-13 GR5
fasteners to 75 ft.-lb. (102 N-m). Use the following sequence: a) torque frame brackets to the frame of the vehicle, b) torque
cross members to the frame brackets, c) torque Hide-A-Goose hitch to cross members.
11. If vehicle bed was lifted to insert cross members, tighten bolts that attach the bed to the frame.
Hide-A-Goose Only – Drilled hole in bed location (see step 4).
Short Box – 44-3/4 inches
Long Box – 49-1/2 inches