Frame Crack!
#16
I've welded my gooseneck plates on my last 4 trucks and more than a hundred other trucks over the years. Never had a problem with them yet. We have been using 3/4 inch steel plate on most of them. I've also seen those cracks before, several times, at a couple shops I worked at. I just ground them down and welded them. I use a miller mig welder for everything, not an arc welder.
I can't count the times I had to weld cracks on my last bosses race car too, and weld on mew shock and spring mounts, He had way too much power for that frame. I have never in my life had a weld of mine break.
Oh, on those cracked frames I saw like yours, most of them had some really torn up spring or shackle bushings in them or were ranch trucks. THose guys are really really hard on them.
I can't count the times I had to weld cracks on my last bosses race car too, and weld on mew shock and spring mounts, He had way too much power for that frame. I have never in my life had a weld of mine break.
Oh, on those cracked frames I saw like yours, most of them had some really torn up spring or shackle bushings in them or were ranch trucks. THose guys are really really hard on them.
Well I guess Ill just chock it up to my personal opinion. I just cant bring myself to weld on the frame like that.
I am really not all that surprised the frame cracked. My truck always has extra weight in it. About half my driving is pulling some form of trailer, it also has a 90 gallon fuel tank in the back I keep full. I also work out on forest service and blm roads a lot, and I don't drive slow on them. All that, combined with usually at least 30-60 psi in the air bags, took its tole on the frame. I am curious now though, if the air bags harmed or helped the frame. The more I think about it, the more I think the air bags hurt the frame. Just cause when I have them aired up, that is a lot of pressure focused on one point on the frame. As apposed to the leaf springs spreading the load out over a much longer stretch of frame.
#17
Didn't mean to make you nervous there, just throwing out my two cents on what might have caused the problem. It would have been nice if these trucks had boxed frames in the back which would make them much stronger, but unless you do some fabrication that's wishful thinking.
#18
My truck has had a 3800 pound slide in camper in it since new, when that isn't in there a 1500 pound fuel tank is. In my experience running an F350 4x4 empty is FAR worse than loading it down. I've broken the dashboard, trashed door panels and just torn up some front end components when it was empty. Even on road it beats the crap out of us empty.
As far as welding, who welded the one you saw that broke? There is a certain amount of skill that goes into a proper weld. If done right it's not going to break. That's why I hate stick welders. They are for backyard bubba, not really for professional welds on vehicle frames. In places like shipyards and steel buildings they have a place but I can't think of one anywhere on a truck. I've been doing mig and tig for a long time and never failed an x ray or had one crack on me yet. It just has to be done right.
As far as welding, who welded the one you saw that broke? There is a certain amount of skill that goes into a proper weld. If done right it's not going to break. That's why I hate stick welders. They are for backyard bubba, not really for professional welds on vehicle frames. In places like shipyards and steel buildings they have a place but I can't think of one anywhere on a truck. I've been doing mig and tig for a long time and never failed an x ray or had one crack on me yet. It just has to be done right.
#19
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Your doing the right thing bolting your plate in! I can't stand seeing hitches and bumpers welded in. Call it personal preference if you want but I believe it to be a bad thing to be welding those types of things to a frame. Lots of people do it but I spent 8 hours removing the bed of my truck after I bought it and cutting the gooseneck hitch and rear bumper off the frame.
#20
Didn't mean to make you nervous there, just throwing out my two cents on what might have caused the problem. It would have been nice if these trucks had boxed frames in the back which would make them much stronger, but unless you do some fabrication that's wishful thinking.
#21
My truck has had a 3800 pound slide in camper in it since new, when that isn't in there a 1500 pound fuel tank is. In my experience running an F350 4x4 empty is FAR worse than loading it down. I've broken the dashboard, trashed door panels and just torn up some front end components when it was empty. Even on road it beats the crap out of us empty.
As far as welding, who welded the one you saw that broke? There is a certain amount of skill that goes into a proper weld. If done right it's not going to break. That's why I hate stick welders. They are for backyard bubba, not really for professional welds on vehicle frames. In places like shipyards and steel buildings they have a place but I can't think of one anywhere on a truck. I've been doing mig and tig for a long time and never failed an x ray or had one crack on me yet. It just has to be done right.
As far as welding, who welded the one you saw that broke? There is a certain amount of skill that goes into a proper weld. If done right it's not going to break. That's why I hate stick welders. They are for backyard bubba, not really for professional welds on vehicle frames. In places like shipyards and steel buildings they have a place but I can't think of one anywhere on a truck. I've been doing mig and tig for a long time and never failed an x ray or had one crack on me yet. It just has to be done right.
Obviously you must weld for a living, so i am sure you are far better at welding than the majority of us. I am sure that plays a good part in how welds perform.
#22
Your doing the right thing bolting your plate in! I can't stand seeing hitches and bumpers welded in. Call it personal preference if you want but I believe it to be a bad thing to be welding those types of things to a frame. Lots of people do it but I spent 8 hours removing the bed of my truck after I bought it and cutting the gooseneck hitch and rear bumper off the frame.
Here are few more pictures with it all done. A bit overkill for a gooseneck, but I guess I was killing 2 birds with one stone: the crack and the gooseneck.
all thoes are factory holes in the frame, except for the forward most one, and the rear most one.
#23
#24
Yeah I did v-out and weld the frame, its already cracked so anything is better than leaving it. I just feel other welding on the frame is not a good idea.
#25
Yeah I did v-out and weld the frame, its already cracked so anything is better than leaving it. I just feel other welding on the frame is not a good idea.
However as other guys have pointed out, welding on the frame is probably ok.
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