Flexy frame

[KaiserMan]

Not really a off orad question, but I figured you guys could answerit since one won't be flexing ones frame on the highway.

How bad to Jeep truck frames flex when wheeling? Specifically the swb frames. I want to mount a spare tire on the outside of my box (townside) and it will over lap the cab a little bit. Just saw some pix of Chevy K10's doing some real light wheeling, and their frames flexed like mad. Will Jeeps do the same thing? I'd hate to pop my tire off or cave in my cab.

Here is a pic of the k10 not doing much. I didn't realize chevy's flex that badly. That would snap my tire right off (if it where going in the other direction anyway).

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f192/DRAGOONRANCH/Chevy/ALTO%2024%20JUNE%2006/GETTINMYFLEXON.jpg

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Never get that kind of frame flex out of an FSJ. Frame is pretty rigid on these rigs

[KaiserMan]

Thats what I've always heard. But I had always thought the Cheby frames where pretty stiff as well, so I figured I'd ask.

Thanks.

[Elliott]

That Ch*vy frame pictured is just open c-channel front to rear, no boxing.;)

[scotty]

all true about chevy frames being all C channel and prolly flexing more than a jeep frame.

however,the pic above is not normal. i venture to guess that guys frame has some kind of issue :eek:

[KaiserMan]

I nabbed that pic from pirate, there where pics of another k10 step side doing the same thing. I thought it was abnormal untill I saw this (above) pic later on in the thread.

[scotty]

:eek:

ive wheeled with/seen lots of full size chevys in the woods,and ive seen frame flex,but ive never seen the box and cab that far off.

a good friend of mine used to wheel a shortbed chevy truck,his cab and bed never did that. unless the stepsides are somehow different...

[KaiserMan]

Here is the link so you can see the other truck. These pics gave me some terrible thoughts about my truck. I had forgotton GM's are just open channel front to back.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=518547

[jode]

My 76 wag had about 4" travel at the rear bumper, so FSJ frames are not immune to flex. I had some bad body mounts though (as a result of the frame flex).

[Brad W.]

now sling rockwells under it and stand it 2 ft higher... I've been in one flexing like that, it broke the frame, lol. And I thought my wag was too soft, lol.

I've never seen an FSJ flex like that, i'd imagine if you set the tire out and inch or two from the body, you'd be fine.

[jode]

Just to stoke the flames:

From here: http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=51247

....my wag when full flex has so much frame flex that I cannot open the tailgate...

[scotty]

Just to stoke the flames:

From here: http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=51247

i remember that thread :thumbsup:

[BRUTUS]

Just to stoke the flames:

From here: http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=51247

I had a feeling that was going to be thrown in sooner or later. After I posted all that stuff about frame flex... I started looking at my FSJ frame flex pictures and didn't see really any frame flex to speak of.

http://www.jasonhabrock.com/jeep/images/sevenmile12-060520.jpg

FSJ guy has some other pictures but I can't find the link to his pictures. Reference my avatar

[KaiserMan]

i remember that thread :thumbsup:

And I, on the other hand, completely forgot about it. That was a good one.

[KaiserMan]

This quote from Stuka makes me feel good.

I am posting way late here, but my J10 has basically no frame flex. I have flexed it as much as I could, and the bed always stayed lined up perfectly with the cab.

[jode]

I guess that merits mention that the J-frames are not the same as the wag frames. IIRC, my 73 J4000 frame rails were practically 6" deep or so. I bleev wag framerails are closer to 4" deep.

[KaiserMan]

Are they? I've never taken the time to compare that. I just know they are much wider out back.

[Dmntxn77]

I would say that there is something VERY WRONG with that Cheby...

Look at how the drivers side of the bed is sitting on the frame and the passenger side is not. If it were equally spaced, the relationship of the cab to the bed would be even worse... :eek:

WEIRD....

[Tad]

Are they? I've never taken the time to compare that. I just know they are much wider out back.
Yes, well as far as comparing my '70 Wag & '77 Chero to the '72 J2000 they are.
I'm not sure about the flexing, I do know off camber it's hard to get my doors open and almost impossible to shut them sometimes on the Wag, J might be stouter, or just have less cab mass to tweak.
I have fixed a fair amount of GM frames that have cracked, but most of those have been in the steering box area.

[shackwrrr]

i flexed my jeep up Its longbed the cab and bed didnt offset but the bed itself flexed with the frame I have a cap and its only held with 2 clamps so the cap was touchin at one end of the bed and it was 3 in off at the other. So i dont think it will be a prob the bed will just flex with it. By the way that chebby looks with the axle paralell with the frame at both ends I would think it is articulated in the middle Ive seen a 60s chebby that way it was bobbed behind the cab then braced up put a nice big pin In and did the same on the other end pinned them together and could set the rear end 90 deg off from the front (without a driveshaft of course)

[jode]

Dug this up from the archives of my Wag...you can't see it super-clear, but it is definitely there.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n150/joedola/Misc/33sRollin03.jpg

[scotty]

yes,i can see the rear bumper not being aligned on both sides :eek:

i used to get my unibody amc eagle tweaked up enuff that the tailgate wouldnt open. apples and oranges,i know,but there will be some degree of twist or flex to any frame,especially when body/bed/cab mounts start to go bad.

ever taken the house part of a mobile home off the frame? talk about flex! the house is a subsantial amt of the rigidness of the whole structure,so when the cab/bed start to rust and body mounts rot out,overall rigidity is lost. i think thats why you see the pics of older chevies with that extreme amount of flex. the guy with the red one in the thread even stated that some of his mounts were bad.

at any rate,when you want to subject something to extreme angles and articulation climbing over rocks,roots,or ruts having a multi point roll cage=no frame flex= good :thumbsup:

[KaiserMan]

Yeah, some definite frame flex going on there. I'll never (at least I say that now) flex my truck much, so hopefully I'll be able to leave my spare where I wan't to put it. Not like I can't just take it off if I want to do some good wheeling.