welding to factory crossmember

[Bray D]

I guess this falls under an extreme suspension question? anyways I'm going to build a traction bar for my leaf sprung rearend. it will be a single slip and twist style "ladder" bar if you will. a factory crossmember lies where I had planned to build and install my own crossmember, which is where the bracket will be located for the bar to mount to. it would make my life a lot easier if I could just weld the bracket to the factory crossmember rather than removing it and building my own (the framerails are cluttered with fuel/electrical/brake lines). would the factory member be strong enough to take the forces of a traction bar?

 

[CopyKat]

Depends how long the bar is. The longer the bar the less force into the bracket/crossmember. But design the bar accordingly or you'll bend it.