Welding perches

[Frankenchevy]

anyone ever weld the factory perches on their frame? Would there be ill effects?

I’m not talking crossmembers from rail to rail. I’d assume that would concentrate stress through the weld. I’m talking shackle mounts and shock perches.

 

[shiftpro]

I did in the 80's... but that was then. There wasn't DOT roadblocks looking for reasons to pull vehicles off the road. SO nowadays... in BC, IF a DOT checkpoint officer looks under a truck at the frame and saw any welding on the frame it could become a problem. Most of the time they are too lazy and everything is up front and you treat them like they are God they probably will never bend down and look underneath.

I welded perches and shock mounts to 2wd, 4wd, and semi truck trailers used for hauling drilling rigs... and they were always ripping s
things apart and it just needed to be glued together to get on with things. Lots of broken frames rolled away solid after I went at it.
7018 rods, using air hammer to peen each pass to relieve stress. The welding draws carbon from the hard frame material into the weld and then it cracks, so that's the reason for peening the welds down. Donky Hung can verify this technique.

So the short answer is... it works.

 

[bucket]

Why not just put bolts in the holes that are already there?

Attaching them by the meat of the flange (bolt holes) is a stronger connection than by the edges of the flange.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Bolts are more than sufficient, no need to weld.

 

[Frankenchevy]

good point

 

[Derrick]

I have only welded on 1 trailer it is a smaller car trailer, I used 7018 and that trailer has been used to pull a 2006 2500. point is if dot won't mess with you and you are a competent welder go for it and 7018 is the best rod for the job.