Boxing Frame?

JerrodGlover

JerrodGlover

Pulling God
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
2,122
A few of us have been debating if its a good idea to box the back half of a truck or not. On the positives you have a stiffer truck with the back half boxed. The down fall of doing it is the weight you put into the truck. Whats everyones experience?
 
How much weight do you really think you'd add Jerrod. Even if you went thicker than stock frame thickness on your reinforcements you wouldnt add alot. Give me an idea what thickness, frame channel height and total length you roughly think you will need and I'll get a weight on it tomorrow.
 
Just buy a GM frame!!!! Just playing with you Jerrod. I think I would do it if they are flexing that bad
 
I was told boxing them in will make them crack, The channel lets it flex IMO.
Brandon
 
I'm not that familiar with the Dodge frame. It was easier to plate the outside of the frame on my Ford than have to strip the frame and bed to box. Boxing may be a better option on a dedicated puller.
 
i thought only the ford old body styles were c-channel. i am in the process of boxing mine in. my vid from zainesville last year convinced me. i am using 3/16 steel flat stock and welding it 1/4 inch or so into the c-channel.
 
We were debating about doing it on the GM frames too with Jerrod. Is it better to let it flex back there or keep it all as solid as possible?
 
I am going to be boxing my frame in. I believe it is better to have it more rigid. You have a tremendous amount of torque and weight on the chassis, so I think anything you can add will make it better. I have also seen where windshields cracked because of the twist and torque on the chassis.
 
joeservo said:
i thought only the ford old body styles were c-channel. i am in the process of boxing mine in. my vid from zainesville last year convinced me. i am using 3/16 steel flat stock and welding it 1/4 inch or so into the c-channel.
Click to expand...

The front half of the frame is boxed, while the rear half is C-Channel, at least on my 94-99 trucks here. I think the same applies to 00-02 trucks as well.
 
Yes the back half is c-channel. Built Ford tough only means it will flex more before it bends.:hehe: I have a vid from two years ago that shows how bad they do flex. Everyone thought I was full of it till they saw it. I don't know why but the long beds don't have as much of a problem. It must distribute the torque over a longer area.
 
I would box it in. Rigid is better. You want your frame to act as a lever to try and lift the front of the truck up. If your frame flexes you lose that force which is also pushing down on the rear wheels. If you are worried about weight take a hole saw and knock a few holes in the steel you use to box it in.
 
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