Yes it is done all the time and is just fine if done RIGHT! And mind you I have seen shops that look the look of professional do crap jobs.

Its quite a bit of work, frame, driveshaft, fuel and brake lines, wiring, E-brake cables, exhaust, etc.

For our trucks we just add onto the back of the frame to skip reworking everything. However we don't put much weight over the extended section.



Note that the extension in the pic is not totally correct either. But I wasn't going to stick the time in a truck with over 400K miles on it. It is much much better then the original extension that a shop installed so it should be just fine for the last little while the truck is in service.

The "truck shop" that did the original extension should not be working on stuff like this...

 

Maybe that's true in Cali, here they do it all the time. I had one done by a welding shop, after hearing that they've done hundreds of stretches in 20 years.

 

As has been noted, they're out there. Not as common but they are out there. Just looking at blue book values, your truck (in stock form) would book out about $17,000, an equivalent (stock form) 2006 would be $19,000. Heck a 2005 or even earlier would be less. I think you'd EASILY spend over $2,000 just in labor, not counting any parts at all. Don't know about where you are, but shops around here all charge $100+ an hour, it could easily take 20 hours (and likely more) to do what you want. Those trucks aren't common enough that every dealership will have one in stock though so you might have to travel so there would be additional costs there. But I really think you'd be money ahead just to buy what you want. I don't have any skin in the game, just free advice freely given - spend 10min and call around and get estimates, but I could see this costing close to $5,000 between parts and labor. Can you even buy sections of light truck frame to splice in? Also, this isn't something you want to skimp on! Make sure they're experienced and get refrences.

I see you've done mods to your truck, but a lot of them you could move over - gears, seats, etc. could all be transferred over. You are SOL on the tires and rims though. But you're gaining a newer truck w/ the 3v higher hp engine, bigger brakes and more options available like the upfitter switches and integrated brake controller.

 

That might be the fact, as each state has different safety requirements and I was offered 7000 lb trailer with no brakes in NE,
In CA my father wanted torsion bar welded for his classic Buick and shop refused on the spot. He took it to another shop saying this is the part for his riding mower and got it welded no problem.
Add on rear frame have very limited use. My F450 come from the factory with wheelbase too short for the flatbed mounted on it and I constantly have issue with heavier loads lifting my front wheels. I noticed F550 are the trucks that are truly design for cargo carrying.

 

I stretch my truck from the factory shortbox to fit an 8'. I bought the cab-back section from an 8' bed truck and had steel sleeves bent to fit in side the frame.

I've shortened/lengthened heavy trucks though so I wasn't really intimidated. It's just the little odds and ends that make it a headache.

 

I knew I remembered someone on here doing that! Do you remember ballpark what your parts cost was? I just can't see a shop doing this for less than the $2,000 value difference on a newer truck, or more likely even 2x that amount. But I've been wrong before.

 

I was quoted $2,200 to stretch the Frame on an F550 (double frame too). I've seen most single frame stretches go between $1,200-$1,800.

 

Something to keep in mind:
Some frames use higher strength alloys or heat treating. Welding will destroy any heat treating, and welds or add in plate may be weaker than stock material- making the new frame much weaker than stock.

Unfortunately, I do not know what steel is used in the Super Duty.

In other words, make sure you use a shop that knows what they are doing. ASK THEM what alloy was used in the SD frame. If they have no idea, it means they have no idea if the result will be strong enough.

 

That's why most shops will weld the extension in, then bolt the reinforcing plate on.

 

Cheaper than I thought, was that parts and labor? I thought it would be that much just for labor here. Was that stretching it or adding an extension on the back?