My stupid friend welded to the frame

[Turboman]

My friend just got an 04. 5 2500 Quadcab, and sense I knew his tendency towards southern technology, I says "don't weld or drill to the frame at all". He says " well it's all welded together, what's it matter"? So he welded his Gneck hitch to the frame . And then he did not even clean the weld and paint it either :--) . What is the likely chain of events here?

 

[GFritsch]

Sounds like this guy learns all his leasons the hard way.

 

[bombero]

TURBOMAN: I dont even want to think of what could happen if he really loads or uses the truck off road. Anyway I noticed that you have a Westach combo gauge. How do you like it? can you read it OK. I am thinking about putting one in a post mount on my 05. I comcerned about reading the small numbers without glasses

 

[Turboman]

The combo gauge is not hard to read. You learn where the needle should be.

 

[SRadke]

My formal education is in Metallurgy and I feel I can safely say if done correctly welding to these frames is not a big issue. The secret is to not create any stress risers, use the proper welding method with the proper amount of heat, and distribute loads. With that said I went to great lengths to make my running boards a 100% bolt on unit and I would not suggest welding to the frame. It is also a legal issure if something were to break and then there is the obvious warantee thing. Best of luck to your friend.



-Scott

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

The T. Rex race truck has welds all over the frame... ... . 10,000 miles of Baja and not cracks. Not even stress cracks. I would say that if you weld it the right way, like Scott said, that it would be fine. I would have no problem welding to the frame. My cage I am going to build will be tig welded straight to the frame.

Greg

 

[Sherman]

welding

Dodge has a bulletin that deals with welding to the frame for Reese plates to be mounted in the box.

 

[JHardwick]

This has come up a couple times in the last few weeks.



I'm sure I read somewhere that welding and drilling were acceptable under a few guidelines.



Not quoting, memory only .....



Welding is acceptable according to standard shop practice and to be covered with some rust inhibitor.



Drilling is acceptable as long as the edge of the hole is no closer than (3/16" or 5/16") to another hole or edge.



My plate is welded in for my goose ball. It was done by a local trailer sales outfit who is very reputable and has been in business for years. I sure hope they didn't put their arse on the line without checking into it first :{

 

[Turboman]

It will probably be OK, Ya know how that dumb luck works. But like I was saying it's a waste of a nice truck. We know when he gets a new one cause it's clean!!