Frame plating

[PA Weldor]

I'm plating the frame of a F250 Ford Super Duty and will be installing a 'Sneeker' repo wheel lift on Monday. I normally remove all items from the frame rails and cut 1/4" plate for this job. Customer provided 3/8" plate, and I had to cut 5 pieces for each side. The 3/8" is too thick and would have required I move the spring pads on the axles. Considerable rust had to be dealt with at this used to be (and still is) a plow truck. Former owner carried salt in bed. I plasma cut all the plates and welded them to each section by MIG. I profiled the plates to match the profile on the spring hanger brackets. I recently rebuilt the Sneeker so he should have a good to go repo rig by next week.
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[PA Weldor]

Found out the Sneeker Wheel Lift I was installing hasn't been mfg since '94. Modified it to the updated version to clear the fuel tank.

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[Daniel]

Looks like your weak spot is going to be right at the spring pad, which is where you want it to be the stronger. Where are you going to get this inspected before commercial use?

[kevin]

nice work, i got sprayed by a skunk in harrisburg while hitch,n back to n.h. years ago, i will never forget harrisburgh pa

[PA Weldor]

Looks like your weak spot is going to be right at the spring pad, which is where you want it to be the stronger. Where are you going to get this inspected before commercial use?

Actually the spring pad areas are generally pretty strong. We've never had one fail in this area. The spring mounts on the frame are pretty stout stuff, and act as the frame were plated in this area. If the plate customer provided was 1/4" then I would have removed all objects on the frame rail and installed the plate, then reinstalled the items. I've done repairs on other's work, and you wouldn't believe the lousy plating installation. A tack here and there.

Doesn't have to be inspected. Even if it did, it will pass.

[Sberry]

I might have tossed th 3/8 to the side and used 1/4

[PA Weldor]

I might have tossed th 3/8 to the side and used 1/4

Customer supplied the 3/8 and wanted it installed...

[Daniel]

Sometimes the customer is not always right and need to be put i the right direction.
I didn't know frame mod on a towing didn't need to be engineered.
We cant even make a lifting eye without being engineered at our work place.
I guess public road safety is not a concern in your area.

[1930case]

Thousands of wheel lifts, wrecker masts, winches, accessories and beds have been mounted and their parent vehicles modified successfully without engineering approvals. It's not an aircraft or a pressure vessel.

Light-duty wheel lifts aren't particularly hard on a truck. That install has Timbren load boosters which take a lot of load off the spring perches.

(The other classic mod is overload leaf springs which stay in light contact with modified contact points (usually a piece of square tubing tacked to the tab to bridge the gap) so that any squat immediately engages the overload. That can be used with or without Timbrens.)

Looks good.

[Daniel]

It's not an aircraft or pressure vessel but still carry around a car or a pick up truck on public road. The DOT here are pretty picky on frame mods of commercial vehicule.
Different area different rules.