Frame flex between bed and cab

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Apr 6, 2022 | 08:57 PM

#16

6805eagleguy

Mountain Pass

Joined: Jan 2022

Posts: 124

Likes: 63

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rubiranch

I bought my 79 new in June 1979.
The very first night I had it the bed dented both corners of the cab climbing up a washed out stream.
I didn't know it was normal. 3 of my friends owned F-250 4-wd and none of their beds hit the cab.
I took it back to the dealer and they told me they loosened the bed and pushed it as far back at they could.
I don't think they did anything.
First snow storm I was up a canyon and there was another 79 F-250 stuck in the snow so we stopped to help.
I noticed his cab corners were dented by the bed too. What did his truck and my truck have in common??
They were both Camper Specials. What made them different from the others??
Front and rear SWAYBARS!! Mine came off the next day.
I put masking tape in the dents and hit the trails, no more hitting.

I took it back to the dealer and didn't tell them what I did but I wanted the dents in the cab fixed under warrantee.
They fixed the dents, painted the repairs and replaced the moldings.

After a while the bed hit the cab again. The flex in the frame and suspension was awesome.
Amazing articulation from a F-250. I never had an issue with the frame.
I bought that truck specifically to take off road.

that’s super cool

Apr 7, 2022 | 12:41 PM

#17

meangreen92

Logistics Pro

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 4,217

Likes: 154

Here's some frame flex:

First time I watched that video, I laughed so hard my stomach hurt - I'd forgotten what that's like...

I once had a 1984 Capri RS 5.0 with T-tops, and one time I was backing out of a driveway and looking in the outside mirror, and I could see the fender, door, and quarter panel, all moving in different directions...

Apr 10, 2022 | 10:37 AM

#18

speedfreak78

Cargo Master

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 2,238

Likes: 475

Like everyone said, these trucks have a crazy amount of flex built into the frames, partly cause of the overly stiff springs. New body mounts and tightening the bed bolts can stiffen it up a little. If you're gonna be driving in uneven terrain regularly, you really should get some better springs to move the flex from the frame to the suspension.

Apr 10, 2022 | 10:47 AM

#19

speedfreak78

Cargo Master

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 2,238

Likes: 475

Quote:

Originally Posted by meangreen92

Here's some frame flex:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycfzeMv3K5M&t=1s

First time I watched that video, I laughed so hard my stomach hurt - I'd forgotten what that's like...

I once had a 1984 Capri RS 5.0 with T-tops, and one time I was backing out of a driveway and looking in the outside mirror, and I could see the fender, door, and quarter panel, all moving in different directions...

Years ago my buddy bought a '89 Chevy K2500 that flexed the frame like crazy. After a few years of abuse the frame cracked right behind the cab on the drivers side and and it folded up just like that. We pulled it back down, got it as straight as possible and welded/plated it. That lasted for a couple years and then the frame cracked again in a different spot. The rear axle was making noises so he traded it in.. it drove into the stealership folded up and they still gave him $1000 for it..