Welding brackets to frame?

wildmanben

wildmanben

Farmboy...
Joined
Aug 28, 2006
Messages
884
Would there be any hurt to welding traction bar brackets to the frame(besides not ever taking them off)? Or would heat cause stress points and weaken it. Just thinking of ideas besides drilling 4 3/4" holes in the frame.
 
i decided not to weld mine just because i wanted to be able to take it all off. But i knew several people that have them welded....no problems with theirs that i know of.
 
Yeah thats my biggest concern is if I want to take them off to change for any reason. But I suppose if I build them right I shouldnt ever have to.
 
there ya go. If you get it right the first time then you won't have to work about it. Also, my mounts for the axel go on the u-bolts so they can come off too
 
I do not recommend welding brackets to the frame. Axle tube is okay, frame, no go.


Frame rails are formed under water pressure, and extreme temperature change will cause major changes in strength, throughout that area. Not what you want (IF you have enough power to tweak a frame)
 
No 2nd gen frames aren't hydroformed. There are a bunch of welded parts from the factory on it even.
 
So its ok? I suppose nothing a torch cant fix if it needs to come off. Do I need to unhook the batteries or PCM before welding?
 
Anytime I weld on a vehicle I disconnect the battery/s and keep the ground as close as possible to the area you are welding. I personally don't like welding to the frame but my gooseneck as well as my friend's are welded in and neither of us have ever had a problem.
 
Mine are welded on. No issues to report.

Welding to the frame would be the least of my worries....You are going to be Sledpulling it right?:bang:hehe:
 
I have welded a buch of ladder bar brackets on the 2nd and 3rd gen trucks. Most of these trucks are 1200-1400 on torque. No issues, to date.
 
Factory TSB on frame rail sectioning the 2nd gens says to weld 1" at a time. But this is a factory joint. Grade 8 bolts wont go anywhere though.

I think the 3rd gens are hyroformed I think. Welding on them is a no-no.
 
Here is what I did. Been on there for a couple weeks now with no problems.
 

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Weld your brackets to the frame just stay on the boxed part. The frame tends to bend behind that
 
Decided to drill the frame, wasnt too hard, will get pics up soon. Now I can take them off if I need to adjust or remove anything.
 
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