Broken Frame

Reddog1 wrote:

Raften wrote:
Can't seem to get any pictures posted from my iPhone. Not smart enough. Going to have the repair made, fish plate, etc. May have to give up my TC in favor of pulling something.

No need to give up your TC. Get the repair done, and go camping.

Unfortunately, too many couch engineers posted the "sky is falling" on this thread. There is nothing about the frame break that is not everyday repair for those that have the experience. Notice I did not say education. Engineering is great, but caution should be made. It is tough to trump years of experience. We also need to keep in mind, engineering degrees are very specific. To my knowledge, there is no engineering degree that covers every subject. Worth noting, this also applies to PHDs. I have a substantial education, but I hesitate in posting on subjects I have very little experience or education. If I do, I do state it is only an opinion.

I think it was Will Rodgers that once sad,; "There is no one dumber than an educated man, when you take him away from the subject he was educated in."

This post is not directed toward anyone in-particular, and is not intended as a Flame. I do think it is worthy of thought. I enjoy various forums to increase my knowledge base. I really get disappointed by couch engineers or post made just to have something to say.

Wayne

You may be correct... but it is still a flame of course.

If one of us wrote it you would remove the post with an admonishment about flameing... and rightly so.

Is looking at all possible solutions or even all sides to the questions a bad thing?

I learn new things almost everyday... many of them right here. There is a lot of experience here, and a lot of educated people too.... many self educated. It would be a shame to want educated people to be embarressed because of it.

I think we need all of those very sharp people that have left the forum to return.... hardly a day goes by that we don't need the bigfootfords to guide our electronic projects... he has patiently taught me most of what I know and discuss on here... but he does it much better.

There are others that refuse to post...

My favorite old saying:

"Them that can does, them that can't teach!"

Thank you for moderating...

Sleepy... good night!

Don't sweat it!
I'm an engineer now, but before that I maintained a fleet of landscaping trucks in high school and those guys knew how to overload a truck! Had 2 different 1 tons that broke both rear frame rails, not at the same time. First time sent it to a shop to be fixed. The subsequent 3 rails I welded and plated my self mimicking the original repair. The repairs never failed. Those trucks kept getting beat on daily for years to come.

Reddog1 wrote:

Raften wrote:
Can't seem to get any pictures posted from my iPhone. Not smart enough. Going to have the repair made, fish plate, etc. May have to give up my TC in favor of pulling something.

No need to give up your TC. Get the repair done, and go camping.

Unfortunately, too many couch engineers posted the "sky is falling" on this thread. There is nothing about the frame break that is not everyday repair for those that have the experience. Notice I did not say education. Engineering is great, but caution should be made. It is tough to trump years of experience. We also need to keep in mind, engineering degrees are very specific. To my knowledge, there is no engineering degree that covers every subject. Worth noting, this also applies to PHDs. I have a substantial education, but I hesitate in posting on subjects I have very little experience or education. If I do, I do state it is only an opinion.

I think it was Will Rodgers that once sad,; "There is no one dumber than an educated man, when you take him away from the subject he was educated in."

This post is not directed toward anyone in-particular, and is not intended as a Flame. I do think it is worthy of thought. I enjoy various forums to increase my knowledge base. I really get disappointed by couch engineers or post made just to have something to say.

Wayne

Wow... welcome to forums for sure. Well said sir.

I always love the 'I have a cousin who knows someone'.. We all have opinion's...I've got lot's of them for sure.. but the trick is to speak of what you know, not what you think you know or want to know.

Just 'cause I have a savings account, it doesn't make me a banker... Love the quote!!!!!!!!

Raften wrote:
Can't seem to get any pictures posted from my iPhone. Not smart enough. Going to have the repair made, fish plate, etc. May have to give up my TC in favor of pulling something.

No need to give up your TC. Get the repair done, and go camping.

Unfortunately, too many couch engineers posted the "sky is falling" on this thread. There is nothing about the frame break that is not everyday repair for those that have the experience. Notice I did not say education. Engineering is great, but caution should be made. It is tough to trump years of experience. We also need to keep in mind, engineering degrees are very specific. To my knowledge, there is no engineering degree that covers every subject. Worth noting, this also applies to PHDs. I have a substantial education, but I hesitate in posting on subjects I have very little experience or education. If I do, I do state it is only an opinion.

I think it was Will Rodgers that once sad,; "There is no one dumber than an educated man, when you take him away from the subject he was educated in."

This post is not directed toward anyone in-particular, and is not intended as a Flame. I do think it is worthy of thought. I enjoy various forums to increase my knowledge base. I really get disappointed by couch engineers or post made just to have something to say.

Wayne

I don't think alignment is going to be a problem, The break is very clean and a straight edge will tell the tale. Getting it done tomorrow. Went to all the wheelers I know plus tow truck drivers and they all said use the shop that is doing it. Interestingly I found a number of tow guys that had experienced broken frames on Chevy trucks but no Dodge guys. The utility company got GM to replace 25 that had frame problems in the first year. Mid 90's GM.

Strength is only one question, what about alignment? Do these fabricators have jigs precise enough that it won't crab down the road after? My insurance totaled my truck after determining the frame was bent, so I gotta ask.

Raften wrote:
Can't seem to get any pictures posted from my iPhone. Not smart enough. Going to have the repair made, fish plate, etc. May have to give up my TC in favor of pulling something.

If its done well it should be as good as new , maybe stronger than new
As I mentioned before theres a splice on each frame rail at the front spring shackle mt , that only has rivets holding it together on that year Dodge , check that out on your truck , it may give you more confidence in your repaired trucks ability to continue hauling a camper, I bet your repair will be stronger than that splice

Can't seem to get any pictures posted from my iPhone. Not smart enough. Going to have the repair made, fish plate, etc. May have to give up my TC in favor of pulling something.

My brother has had a couple semi's break their frames over the years. The first one was repaired with patches on both frame rails to keep the frame the same. That seemed to hold up fine.

The second truck that did it he decided to just get a complete new frame rail. That was a fun fix. Every bolt was taken out and the frame rail replaced and all new bolts went back in. We did that in front of our shed in a couple long days.

Both were Peterbilts with around 500-600,000 miles on them at the time.

Raften , since you are bringing in to a welding shop also have them inspect the upper front spring perches . I don't know how many years it covered but for my 94 there was a recall and they were rewelded by the dealer , which would also imply that it's OK to weld on the frame .

FWIW , the body shop down the road had a 2nd gen dodge 3500 for a wrecker and the rear frame was all double plated , he said the dodges needed it for heavy duty use .

I did similar to my 94 after it developed a crack between the rear spring perches on one side and between the cab and spring on the other.

Not to discourage you , a GOOD welder can make it all better . Good luck .