welding to frame

[JBHale]

I've read all the old forums on this subject , but no real answers. I'm going to be installing a gooseneck hitch in my truck in the next 2-3 weeks . The hitch in my 92 was welded to the frame but never got the chance to haul anything heavier than 10,000 on it ,and now I have a 2001 and am wondering if anyone has any suggestions or facts on how heavy I can tow with weld to frame. I was going to go with a Drop'n lock hitch, but Bombing has put strain on finances.

 

[Dkevdog]

I've had all my Fifth wheel hitches welded in all three trucks I've had. I have towed fairly heavy with each and every one of them. The welder who performed my work told my that the hitch would fail before the weld would. That being said, I think it largely depends on who did the welding and the quality of both their work and the filler metals used in the weld. You will have a hard time getting any 'real guarantees' on wieght capability because nobody (speaking with regard to manufacturer) wants to have the liability.



I think that so long as you don't exceed the rating for the hitch system, you should be fine up to that wieght.



Kev

 

[JBHale]

Thanks for your reply, makes it a little easier on the nerves.

 

[merryman]

When I took delivery of my brand new 1984 Ford F-250 with 6. 9 diesel (what else was available??), I promtly put my welding skills to work and welded the fiver brackets to the frame-----after all I had taken "metal shop" in high school in the 1952-1953 school year ;>).

Three months later we hooked on to the 27' fiver and did an Alaska tour. We drove the truck for 126K miles and the hitch did fine.

When I took delivery of my new 1993 CTD, I promptly welded the fiver brackets on and we towed a 30' wide body fiver, regularly for 125K miles----it too was doing fine, but after subscribing to TDR in 1996 or 97, I learned that welding to a frame was not widely approved of and should be done only by a certified welder;f I sweated it a little the rest of the time towing with that truck.



When I took delivery of my '01 CTD, all the fun was gone; I was afraid to weld on it, and went to the trouble to drill those miserable holes!! :>(



Vaughn

 

[jimk]

Originally posted by JBHale

I've read all the old forums on this subject , but no real answers. I'm going to be installing a gooseneck hitch in my truck in the next 2-3 weeks . The hitch in my 92 was welded to the frame but never got the chance to haul anything heavier than 10,000 on it ,and now I have a 2001 and am wondering if anyone has any suggestions or facts on how heavy I can tow with weld to frame. I was going to go with a Drop'n lock hitch, but Bombing has put strain on finances.

I would use 7018 rod dc. I have been welding for a power plant among other things for 17 years. Boiler work is not like welding gates or grills. If you have to put a root use 6010 or 7010. Fill and cap with 7018. NO down hill welding, use plenty of amps not cold. I like to run the rod where it is about to fall off from heat at the end of the weld. NO undercutting or thrash. When I was in high school I worked for a company that built goose neck trailers and that is what I did some times is install hitches.

When I went to a teck school in Dallas, I worked at a shop at night that repaired truck and trailers. That is where I was learned how to weld on trailer frames.

lol jimk

 

[JBHale]

So to put it short you would trust a welded hitch? I'm going to be overloading her , if it will fit on the trailer she'll go. .

 

[Extreme1]

Welding will be fine if, as mentioned above, the weld quality and material is right. One thing, DO NOT weld across the frame flanges (perpendicular to fore-aft). That will creat a stress concentration in the wrong place.

 

[Dkevdog]

Welding is a perfectly acceptable form of attaching a hitch to the truck. Drawtite (Reese), and BW both include welding instructions with their setups. I guess the part of having it installed by a certified welder comes out of limiting their liability should you attempt to do it yourself. It also brings someone accountable for failure should it occur as a result of a poor weld Job. The shop where my hitch was installed does nothing but weld hitches, he's also been in business for 30 years. I would assume that means he's doing something right .



Kev