welding on the truck

[KParsons]

i will be doing some welding on my new bed. other than battery cable,s off . anything else?thanks . kp

 

[WUnderwood]

you will get a bunch of opinions on this one, but yes, I think that disconnecting the batteries will be just fine

 

[jelag]

We just put a new bed on an 04, and we didn't disconnect a thing... . we also did it to our 01 3500 and a 99..... We just make sure that the ground to the welder is connected to a good location that has been cleaned and try and not push the current through any grounding straps or fasteners if we can help it...

 

[Triton]

just don't slip and hit the frame. It's so thin you'll blow a hole right into it

 

[KParsons]

thanks for the info. i will be welding on the cross member and yes it is very thin. i like the older c-chanel frame better. i have been a welder since 79,mig tic, plasma,etc. i will send some pic,s as i build it. i still can not send pic,s yet. kp

 

[JHardwick]

just don't slip and hit the frame. It's so thin you'll blow a hole right into it

My goose hitch is welded in old style Has been for 270,000 miles

 

[2broke2smoke]

may be a modern welders "old wives tale" but everyone around here always drapes a chain over the frame between where your welding and the pcm ...



"supposed" to prevent harm to the computer ... i have no idea if it's true but everyone around this neck of the woods does it so that's what i've always done

 

[TKeeler]

i will be doing some welding on my new bed. other than battery cable,s off . anything else?thanks . kp

If you got any computers onboard you better disconnect them entirely. Are there any vehicles mfg. nowadays that don't have some kind of computer controlling the engine or automatic transmission? I have been involved with the manufacturing of million $ plus motorhomes for over 30 years and it is common practice to disconnect the ECU's for the engines and transmission before welding. All it takes is a poor ground somewhere and you just fried the computer. It's better to be safe than sorry. Can you get away without doing it... probably most of the time. But it only takes that one time... believe me I have seen it happen and it isn't cheap to repair.

 

[JHardwick]

may be a modern welders "old wives tale" but everyone around here always drapes a chain over the frame between where your welding and the pcm ...



"supposed" to prevent harm to the computer ... i have no idea if it's true but everyone around this neck of the woods does it so that's what i've always done

Seems to me that if both ends of the chain were touching the ground, it would do it's job?

 

[Triton]

My goose hitch is welded in old style Has been for 270,000 miles

did mean anything about a old style of welding. The 07 frame which is different than older models is very thin and shouldn't be welded on is what I was talking about :-laf Wasn't real sure what year truck he had.

 

[GWJCTD]

Disco batteries for sure. I weld on trucks all day long. dodge,ford,chevy etc Putting in goose and 5thers etc

 

[LEPage]

I'd have to say if you can't weld on metal this heavy without blowing a hole, you really shouldn't be trying to weld anything, not to mention hitches.

 

[JHardwick]

did mean anything about a old style of welding. The 07 frame which is different than older models is very thin and shouldn't be welded on is what I was talking about :-laf Wasn't real sure what year truck he had.

Mine is an '03, is it different than the '07? It's the new hydroformed box frame. I'm going to assume since he's in the 3rd gen forum, he has the same frame as we do.

 

[jsdan]

No differance in 03 to 07 frame. Only disconnecting battery will not protect ECM. Only way to truly isolate the ECM is to disconnect them by unplugging each ECM harness.

 

[GHarman]

Ditto TKeeler, Also!!, Attach the ground as close to your weld as practical. GregH

 

[wcjp]

My Premier Power Welder on the Jeep recommends connecting Ground no further than 18". The least amount of electrical resistance is not necessarily a straight line.

 

[GHarman]

My Premier Power Welder on the Jeep recommends connecting Ground no further than 18". The least amount of electrical resistance is not necessarily a straight line.

Amen, Brother. Oo. It could be through your wiring harness!!!! All you need is an exposed electrical connector, some accumulated moisture or a holiday in your wiring insulation and PRESTO, instant fried wiring harness. :{ Better safe than "I told you so". GregH