Truck Bodies

[kah68]

Does anyone know of truck bodies, ( flat beds with 5th wheel hitches ) creating warranty problems with with D. C. ? ( hydo formed frame issuse). I have heard numerous debates on this and would like to know if anyone has first hand experiance installing a body on a 3500 3G and any troubles they might have encountered with dealers or D. C. Good news is also welcome, i'd like to hear some sucess stories if there are any and vendors who offer these products. Please only people with facts, opinions or educated guesses won't really help me.



Thanks in advance



Kirk Holden

 

[Alan Reagan]

I emailed DC about this last week and got a pretty much non response. They said to talk to the dealer. I have seen two flatbeds on 3500s at the dealer where I purchased my truck.



According to the email from DC, the flatbeds should be installed by an approved vendor. I'm not sure what that means and how the vendors get approval from DC.



I imagine what the situation is, is that there is an approved method of installation. Possibly the dealer has that information and can provide it to the owner prior to installation.

 

[LFalconer]

I spoke to a authorized upfitter in VA last week. DC is not allowing any bed off / custom body applications or installs on current generation frames. Per this contact, who was in Indy 2 weeks ago and met with DC, there is a new frame coming out on the 3500 ++ ChassisCab in 2006.



Current frames, if attached to incorrectly, are cracking due to the pickup bed being a stress / strength member as well. Quad Cab Long Bed is worse, due to length and torsional vibration/stress. My service writer at dealer validated same issue, but didn't have a date on the new frame, or trucks with this new frame.



The other longer term issue [IMHO] is that these thin frames with very few drain holes, will collect road grit, salt, water, and start rusting at the bottom of the box once this portion is comprimised, along with the stresses a HD truck encounters - I personally see in 5-7 years a number of 3rd Gens with frame cracks,breaks and potential fatal accidents. Recall the 80's series of CJ's and Scramblers [Jeep] at 7-10 years of age, a good number had rusty frames on the bottom of the box frame setup. But the vehicle was light enough / payload was limited that the issue wasn't major.



Luke