Warning to everyone running SS Ladder bars - and most likely all others

[JR2]

Thanks Steve. Sorry to hear about all your transmission problems, hang in there.



John

 

[n7gxz]

Has anyone heard any status on the ladders bars?



Kevin

 

[CAROLINA CUMMINS]

Frame Weakness??

Hey Guys, is this frame weakness true for 1st Gen's too???

I sure hope not. I hope you guys get your problems fixed

Good Luck!









Thanks, Steve

 

[JR2]

How is that fix coming Steve?? I still want a set.....

 

[jerryrigg]

Frame Re-Enforcement

Your ladder-bar problem does not sound much different than problems associated with heavy snowplowing. Here is the fix I came up with and have applied to dozens of trucks.



Cut 4 (2 per side) pieces of 1/4" plate at least 24" long (inside & outside) to match the shape and sandwitch the frame. Drill out the plates to go over existing rivets/bolts to obtain a flush mount. Unfasten brake/fuel lines from frame, they will be refastened to the new plate-sandwitch. In the case of your ladder bars drill out the FRAME hole 3/8" larger that the bolts being used for the ladder bars, this gives 3/16" clearance between bolts and frame. Drill the plates to the bolt size. This moves the stress from the ladder bar bolts to the plates instead of the frame. The plates are fasten to the frame with at least 6 bolts (3 on top 3 on bottom 12" apart).



I'm not sure how your mounting the Ladder bars but you should get the general idea of transfering the stresses to plates vice frame.



Hope my 2 cents helps

-Matt

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I've been out of town for the last 10 days on a MUCH needed vacation. I haven't had a chance to finish the next part of the reinforcing but I did have a chance to pull the reinforcing plates and at this point (~4,000 miles) there is no cracking with just the plates. However, I am not going to be involved in the production of them any more. At this point I have lost money on them with ~18 sets sold and really don't have the time to deal with them. I'm going to try to put together a supplier list/parts list with details instructions so you guys can do them for yourselves if you wish. I tried hard to put out a quality product and far too many people were overly concerned with the cost of that product and I cut my margins way too small to make them profitable. At this point I have too many draws on my time to attempt to make it fly so I'll just put instructions out there along with parts sources for the hard to find parts for those that want them. I should have the extra bracing done sometime this month or early next month and I'll post the information then and will probably publish it in the magazine as well. I'll also publish the information on how to brace the existing setups out there for the guys that already bought them.

 

[JR2]

Steve say it isn't so... I had an order in with Enterprise when you cancled the production... so close. Any chance you can get enterprise to take over?? or maybe sell a set to someone like rancho or skyjacker or ????

I would even take a set of the orig style if you or enterprise has a set laying around??

 

[dezrat]

Steve

I was on the list at Enterprise for your ladder bars. I had hoped to get them soon as it has been a long wait. I take my dually on alot of soft roads out here in Nevada. The wheel hop has already broken a shock mount. I still think your system will really help me and if you change your mind I will take a set.

 

['956Wheel]

Steve,



Do yourself a favor and dye check all your repairs and the areas around them. This will save you a LOT of heartache in the future.



Mike

 

[jcbrown]

Frame Crack...

Single frame crack discovered on my setup. :--)



#ad




Now what to do?

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I would pull the mount plates and do the fixes I did above. You most likely have more than that one behind the mount. I pulled my mount plates a couple months ago and I still have no cracking.

 

[jcbrown]

Search and Repair...

Removed SS Ladder Bar mounts. Picture from Driver's Side.

 

[BLACKRAM]

I have the truck used to prototype the QC short bed, and have NO cracks.



This may have something to do with the fact that I do not drag race the truck or spin the wheels.

 

[rotohead]

I have a set of QC short bed for over three years and no cracks. Pull 24'TT and drive it hard when needed but no spinning either.

 

[jcbrown]

Repaired...

#ad




Sandwiched truck frame with two sections of 1/4" X 6. 5" X 11. 625" plate steel per side. Added 2 mounting bolt's. My technical welder didn't think welding was required. Something else will give :--) before the sandwiched truck frame/plate's will.



Oo.

 

[willyslover]

suggest before you bolt'er back together a gusset on the hanger on the front of the bracket for both driver side and passenger side hangers... would stop any flexing forward don't think it can flax back but maybe another look at that is do also



thanks for the heads up e-mail JC