3500 frame problem???

[KCJackson]

By the way, it was listed on Arifleet's production listing about 2 weeks ago that the 3500 DRW with Box Off was a new "TBD" option for the end of MY05. They tend to be pretty accurate, so that would seem to confirm the new 3500 frame.



My 05 was built Feb 2, so I guess I have the "old" frame.

 

[Lorenz]

And no there isn't a new frame for the Mega Cab. its a long box quad cab frame with a bigger cab and a short box.



Stop the rummers please

 

[EEdmondson]

Stop the rummers please

We can't drink rum???

 

[BILLUA]

Dave, Fact is when the owners manual state "Slide in campers not recommended"



That is not a chicken little rumor. It is an intelligent consumer trying to find out information and to determine whether or not the vehicle will meet the intended purpose for said consumer...



Bill

 

[hERKY130]

I have to have my rum... gotta love the comic relief LMAO!!! :-laf

 

[JHardwick]

Bill, (abdiver) On another angle: In my professional life, I am a airline pilot. 20 years of flying aircraft has gotten me pretty familiar with limits, restrictions and recommendations... Now, if I want to be literal, the wording "Not recommended" is not a true restriction. It is an advisory statement, not a limit. A limit or restriction must include the word "prohibited" or "Not authorized" or "Not Certified".

This has been and always will be my position on the welding/drilling issue. DC does not want just anybody with a welder in the garage to start burning rod on this thing.



Somebody here recently mentioned (and I've heard this before) something about "this heat treated frame". It may have been normalized or stress relieved after the forming and welding, but it wasn't heat treated. Heat treat usually refers to a hardening process. The only way to harden a low carbon or mild steel structure would be to carburize it resulting in a surface hardening. Talk about stress fractures and cracking????

 

[JHardwick]

I have to have my rum... gotta love the comic relief LMAO!!! :-laf

Crown Royal for me

 

[JHardwick]

I don't have a slide in, but I do tow from the bed and the reciever. I tow pretty heavy and spend alot of time in primitive campgrounds (with the horses) or in pastures (feeding the horses). My GN plate is welded in and I have no evidence of frame fractures.



edited ... ..... my piont was uneven ground while loaded ... ... ... remember, no rear sway bar on the '03

 

[BILLUA]

S Lorenzn: "you guys know the ford guys on the other forum are linking this to thier site and laughing right"



Funny, I never saw a Ford guy laughing when I blew by him pulling my 22 foot trailer at 80 mph up the I 15 Climb in to Nevada



Cheers, Bill

 

[Lorenz]

S Lorenzn: "you guys know the ford guys on the other forum are linking this to thier site and laughing right"



Funny, I never saw a Ford guy laughing when I blew by him pulling my 22 foot trailer at 80 mph up the I 15 Climb in to Nevada



Cheers, Bill

Ford guys can't laugh at facts, its about fiction over there. Thats why theyll get a kick out of this thread.



Im starting another one.



Who's heard about the broken aluminum lug nut problem Dodge is dealing with when turning left?



No TSB as of yet? Star is working on it... Dealer told me its not a problem and gave me a couple spares studs to ease my worries...

 

[JHardwick]

oh btw, I do have a wet/dry (called wet or dry? LOL) penetrant inspection kit handy if anybody would like their frames checked

 

[QWaller]

Just because someone is laughing does'nt mean that the subject can't be discussed. It may or may not be a real issue. Seems odd to me that as we are in the same country with the same laws, why is it only Dodge that recommends against slide in campers. And by the way, it is not just plow prepped trucks with the info sheet in the glove box that advise against slide in campers. I could not care less about what Ford guys think. I would however, like to hear what DC thinks on this. This will not happen, They will remain silent on this subject and hope that it blows over/be forgotten. As I said before, this is a big subject for a lot of people because a lot of people actually use their trucks as trucks. Say it aint so.

 

[DPelletier]

Dave, Fact is when the owners manual state "Slide in campers not recommended"



That is not a chicken little rumor. It is an intelligent consumer trying to find out information and to determine whether or not the vehicle will meet the intended purpose for said consumer...



Bill

Bill,

I'm not sure if you meant me or not (thread is moving pretty fast!), but in any case, just to clarify:



- I have no problem with you guys (especially the ones about to buy a new truck) checking out the source of this information and determining its effect (if any) on your upcoming purchase. That's smart and makes sense. I'm not trying to rake anyone over the coals here. All I'm saying is that I believe the "recommendation" is a pathetic attempt by DC to avoid a portion of thier Corporate Liability and that I'll believe that 3rd Gen trucks have a frame cracking problem when someone can post pics of a statistically significant number of trucks with cracked frames (One would be a good start). To date nobody can do that.



I also understand the metalurgy involved regarding repetative stresses, etc. etc. BUT I have yet to see DC (or any manufacturer) preemptively deal with a problem before it has been known to exist on a statistically significant basis. That's why I believe this is a liability issue and not likely a frame issue.



I would suggest that those of you about to purchase a new truck for the purpose of hauling a slide-in camper or are considering mounting a utility bed continue to seek answers to this question. I doubt very much that you will get any definative answers, but your questions may show some Dealers that they ought to be pressuring DC to change the "recommendation" or the design in order to avoid losing market share.



As somebody who already owns two 3rd gens and isn't looking to buy another one in the next few months, I'll simply follow the thread out of interest and continue to load my camper on my truck with no worries about damaging my frame.



Cheers,

Dave

 

[LFalconer]

No Rumors [Or Rummers either ;-) ]

Folks,



Further discussion this evening with a Dodge dealer service writer verified that indeed, there has been an issue with frame cracking on utility body equipped Dodge 2500 / 3500 HD Frames. I asked him if he had seen any issues with the normal, pickup box equipped trucks - he indicated no. However he did go on to explain that the issue was with the continuous loading of the truck over time, and that seemed to be the culprit, however I can imagine that installation issues may truly be the root cause as well. [I am dealing with the vibe issue in parallel, and have gotten to know my dealer guys pretty well, and too their credit - they have been great]/



If you look at the Dodge bodybuilders manual [frame schematic section] you will find the 04/05 frames are the same on these trucks.



The newly released frame info is from Shade Equipment in Winchester VA, who are authorized upfitters for Dodge. The gentleman I spoke to at length was at the show in Indiana a couple weeks ago, and he had a meeting with DC on this issue. Ergo the info on the newly released frame. I don't know when this production option will be available, neither did my contact at the dealer.



I am trying to determine if there may, or may not be an issue with a normal pickup in the future. I too haul and tow heavy at times, over rough unpaved roads and pastures. I have no interest in finding out in 5-10 years that metal fatigue has caused the frame to crack, potentially rendering the vehicle useless for awhile, and requiring a fix at some unknown expense...



So, trying to avoid rumors, rummers and drunks in general :-0 I think it would be a benefit to get to the bottom of this information. I have a meeting scheduled in 2 weeks with a zone rep / factory tech rep on the vibe issue, and I will pursue this issue as well.



Thanks, Luke :--)

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

My . 02 since I have an 04 DRW 4x4 with a flatbed. Call it a synopsis



First I was glad to see flatbeds were not on the "bodybuilder" pdf.



I would ditto the comments the comments about the difference between "not recommended" versus "prohibited". Also, 03 and 04 DRW did not have snow plow package option so a snow plow package and camper was not a possibilty. Snow plows were not recommended for CTD DRWs.



If you are going to mount an afterbody or camper mounts, etc. follow the TSB on welding or bolting and no problemo.



I have never seen a thread documenting a fame problem. Appears to definately be a case of CYA and liability. If it was a problem, I'm confident you would see it on TDR.



No difference between a SRW and DRW frame.



Lastly, a frame busting is a life threatening situation. If there was a serious problem, and not a CYA-liability, e. g. this coffee is hot!, I would think DC would be proactive in letting folks know before they lose the farm with law suits. Case in point, ball-joints on the Durangos and Dakotas create a life threatening situation, and thus, a recall.



In summary, I will be happy and drive it like I stole it and if something breaks my widow can sue DC :-laf

 

[BILLUA]

Dave, I was replying to DPAt at post #68. Sorry I didn't make that clear!



Cheers, Bill

 

[abdiver]

I don't believe this frame issue has to do with snow plows. I would imagine that DC does have recommendations regarding use of plow and their truck. I spoke to 3 body installers today but I am not placing their info here as no one I spoke had any real facts they just didn't preferred Dodge.



Time will tell the answer to this question, unless DC steps up with a statement, doubtful.



Apparently they are or have introduced a new frame for their Cab and Chassis sales. Why would they do this if there was no problem?



My only urgency to buy a Dodge now was because Dodge to make a better truck, is now installing a different 6spd transmission as I am sure you all are aware, and I wanted the proven NV5600.



At this time I don't know if I will go ahead with a purchase of a Dodge this week or wait. I have lost a lot of time trying to get to the facts. It is to bad DC does not have a hotline where someone could go for a straight answer. The only phone # I am aware of, have in the past only given me inaccurate information. I assume the other manufactures are the same or worse.



TDR is a good resource, I think there is no stupid questions asked, if someone is really trying to answer a question even if the posters answer is incorrect he or she are only trying to be helpful and someone will step up and answer it correctly.

This thread would not be as long as it has become if some could refrain from filling it with comedic answers.



Thanks Bill T

 

[abdiver]

LFalconer, Thanks for the good information will be eager to hear your report after the meeting. Good luck



Bill T

 

[abdiver]

I just came across this, regarding Dodge Box removal



http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2005sbbgl/docs/dr/pbr.pdf

 

[TheodoreMoon]

The language in the manuals and elsewhere has everything to do with corporate liability and likely nothing to do with any real structural problems. There are over 20,000 TDR members and many of them own 3rd gen trucks. These trucks have been in use since 2003 and some have been on the road for a couple of years. I can't recall hearing of even ONE frame problem in all that time and I firmly believe that if there was such an issue, it would be discussed on this site LONG before DC ever reacted to the alleged problem.

Cheers,

Dave

Subscribed to this user's group after finding my wife's dream truck, 2005 3500 QC DRW 4x4 LB with the BH package. It's coming soon and we're tickled pink. This thread caught my eye though.



Remembering that absence of proof is NOT proof of absence, I'd just say I'm not really worried about all the FUD and I was planning on getting the extended warranty ANYWAY. :-laf