2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission found the cause - not happy

[Leon R]

I have had this annoying sheet metal clicking noise coming from the right front corner of the box. Thought it had something to do with my aluminum diamond plate running boards however after getting into the box and pulling up my heavy rubber matt and carpeting i found both front corners of the box floor with hairline cracks running parallel to the end of the box. Obviously the box floor has been flexing and caused the stress cracks. Anybody else had this problem?? I have had the truck since new and have never abused the box. Will repairing the cracks be good enough or is there an underlying cause that needs to be addressed??

 

[Big E]

A friend of mine had the same problem with his '94. He carries a 9. 5 foot slide in camper. He had the cracks TIG welded. He was using bed mounted tie downs, and now uses frame mounted. So far the fix is holding up.

 

[Sticks]

This is a hereditary Dodge condition, just like Chevy will split the sides from the top down at the nose of the bed.



Your crack is right at the weak point of the Dodge PU box design.



All you can do is either try to weld it back together and reinforce it, or try to track down a new bed.

 

[hensign]

Bed cracks

My truck has been trough the mill. It had the typical cracks up at the front of the bed Plus cracks at the rear (old owner never ran a tail gate). I also planed to tow gooseneck trailers so I figures I would reinforce it all around. Welded cracks up at front and gusseted/plated bed walls at rear. Then it happened. While making a sharp turn about a month later I heard a LOUD bang. Truck continued to drive ok so I continued home. I found that the rear crossmember under the bed had cracked and now the right rear of the bed was disconnected. Moral of the story... ... . These beds are made to twist, If you reinforce them to the point they cant, expect them to fail at the next weakest link.

Hadley

 

[JNailor]

My 94's bed cracked too, about a year and a half ago. It bummed me out at the time, but I watch them and they haven't gotten any bigger so I just let them click.

 

[Leon R]

Thanks guys, I spent part of the day today at my buddies welding/machine shop and we tiged the cracks and made some 18 guage reinforcing to cover the cracked area and up the front of the box. spot welded it in place. so will see how it holds up. I suspect maybe some of my backroad fishing trips has caused too much flexing however that shouldn't happen. Just have to clean it up and paint it now.