Welders would not put my sliders on!

As I said before, I don't think I will be doing anything that is going to damage them.

 

LOL Pick up only!

 

no prob! my boss is up in red lake right now, i'll get him to stop in on his way by!!!

 

Ha ha. I take it back.

 

damn!

 

how could cutting them off possibly warp the frame?

 

yeah, im not buying it either.

 

Maybe they could weld on some brackets to make it a bolt on. That way they wouldnt have to do anything to the actual truck!

 

When you weld or use a torch on a frame the metal exapands and contracts but never goes back to the same as it was. This creates weak spots in the metal as well as making the frame unsquare. When anything is welded it does this to the metal. Most certified welders will not weld on a vehicle frame due to this distortion occuring. The best way to attach things to the frame is drill holes and use nuts and bolts.

 

Thats cool! I guess I am just used to dealing with those other trucks out there!! Learn something new every day!!

 

that sucks...but you cant really give them too much shizz for trying to cover there owwn asses...and yours!

 

Most of you guys on here are on the right track as far as welding on the frame goes... Distortion and warpage aren't the issues here. The problem is weakening of the frame due to improper weld technique and weld placement. Even the amount of weld and the direction that it was welded on the truck frame could cause problems. Then you have to think about the material that the frame is made of... Anybody know what grade of steel our frames are made of as well as the heat treatment they have gone through to give them the strength and ductility they have? Then the issues of what welding process and what type of electrode were used to perform the welding? Pre/post weld heat treatment? The list of unknowns and variables goes on and on and on...

I am not saying that it is necessarily a bad idea to weld to your frames (hundreds have done it here with no ill effects), but one shouldn't blame a welding shop for not wanting to take a chance on someones vehicle that doesn't have all the information needed to complete the job properly.

I have been a welder for 15 years and have been teaching welding and metallurgy at a college level for the past 3 years. I have also done some welding on truck frames for tractor trailers but always under an engineered welding procedure. I would have probably refused the work myself. In fact I am in the market for sliders and they will be bolt on ones.

With that said, the amount of stress and potential for ruining your frame by welding on a set of sliders would probably minimal if at all, and may not cause any damage whatsoever but it is hard to know for sure without proper testing, not just hearing "well I did mine myself with my $40.00 arc welder at home and I'm still fine". There is always a chance that the process could cause issues in the long run and I'm not willing to bet the life of my family or the value of my truck to chance it. Maybe I'm just being paranoid...

I think it comes down to a personal choice and if you are comfortable with the decision to weld them onto your frame or not. If you are, all I could recommend is that you use reputable shop with a qualified welder that knows something about what you are asking of him or her.

 

good post

 

x2

 

Thanks guys...and nice work Relentless...good luck with the business!