The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Replacing frame cross member?

I'm planning on replacing the last cross member on my frame closest to the back. The cross member is rivited to the frame and also has extra plates welded on the sides with what appears to have sections of pipe also welded in to support the hinge rod for the dump bed. The welds on those extra plates look a little rough. My intentions are to remove the plates and sections of pipe and weld in new. I'd also like to replace the cross member as well. My question: Can I weld the cross member to the side rails of the frame instead of using rivits? The cross member sits back from the end of the frame about 9". Is there a reason the cross member isn't at the very end of the frame? I was thinking about also putting another cross member at the end to kinda box it in. To help with a visual on how it will look when it's done is there will be a "C" channel welded on the very end and another "C" channel welded in about 9" from the end. Will the dump bed hit the new cross member on the very end when it's raised? If it will hit, then I'll just "cap" the ends of the side rails instead of using a "C" channel.

What do ya think?

Thanks,

Yeap .

becuase it would be in the way of the stock bumper brackets.

Tim...This is a 2-ton truck, so it doesn't have a back bumper. I forgot to mention that part!

You can also use bolts. Rivets are nothing more than permanent bolts.

I use button head hex for that sort of fasten job. BTW I don't know how a dump bed fits on the frame but you might want to check out the assembly manual because to move the crossmember might create a minor problem installing the bed. I assume you will have to bolt some parts down back there and if the crossmember is in the way you may have to drill through and use longer bolts. That might be the least of the problems you will face.

Ever think of just relpacing that section of the frame with one from another truck that has not been abused. If your going to rebuild the hinge point for the dump it might be easier to start on a frame thats not all booggered up.