Does anyone know if the frame has a strength rating or something on the 99-04 trucks ?

this might be dumb to ask but I don’t do body work and want to be sure ……

someone Tboned me and luckily they weren’t going too fast by the time they finally hit me

the sheet metal is only pushed in a hair over a inch at the deepest point with no buckle on the floor pan (took measurements)

I wanted to know if I buy one of those hydraulic pump kits if using the frame as a back stop with a wood block would **** my frame up while I straighten out the rocker panel the best I can ?

The pump only pushes one end of the attachment but you gotta think if it’s wedged between two things that’s still force being applied to both sides

I don’t want to bend my frame trying to fix it

 

If it were me, I'd do it. I would use a wood block against the frame that's long enough to distribute the pressure, and go for it. I'm sure that there is no rating for the amount of side load that you can put on a frame, but I'm also sure that the strength of the frame is much higher than the pressure needed to move sheet metal.

 

If you can press against an area where there is a crossmember connecting the 2 sides of the frame you should be ok, or put a length of 4x4 between the frame rails where you're pressing. Just go slow and keep hammering the sheet metal out as you apply pressure, don't just try jacking it all out at once. Don't press against any long unsupported sections of frame, these frame are designed to have strength in a front to rear and up/down direction, not so much side to side and it's alot easier to bend them than most people think. I used to straighten frames when i worked in a body shop, so i have some practical experience with it. You'd really be better off pushing off something like a tree, or using a come-a-long tied to a tree and pull it out. Even driving a large stake into the ground as an anchor and pressing off that can work. We used to just use a big slide hammer and some 3 and 5lb sledged to bang stuff like this out, it's just alot of work.

I'd also suggest getting an estimate to have a body shop just pull it out for you. It might be worth it, between not having to buy the hydraulic setup and not having to fight with it. Any decent shop should be able to turn it around in a day if they know you aren't looking for perfection.