Welding to the frame?

[pimtool]

What do you guys think of welding sliders directly to the frame? There would be three 4" square mounting plates per side. The reason I ask, If I were to drill holes for mounting this I wold need to pull the gas tank . The truck has spent the last 18yrs in the NY salt, which means every bolt, and fuel line is rusted to hell. If I touch one thing, everything needs to be replaced. I dont want to go through that until I absolutely have to.
I also posted here because way more people would read this. Thanks.

 

[Destroyer000]

honestly i would bolt to the frame.. its nothing to pull your bed an get to your tank an drop your tank.. even then its risky to weld to the frame with the tank right their... best bet is to drill holes for a bracket.. best option.. thats just my 2 cents..

 

[metalmacguyver]

its up to you but IMHO, bolt it.

 

[kunar]

honestly i would bolt to the frame.. its nothing to pull your bed an get to your tank an drop your tank.. even then its risky to weld to the frame with the tank right their... best bet is to drill holes for a bracket.. best option.. thats just my 2 cents..

why do you need to pull your bed to drop your tank? usually you pull the bed so you dont have to drop the tank to get to a pump or sender. anyways, i agree. if you dont have enough room to drill and bolt because of the gas tank, its way too close to weld next to it.

 

[srteach]

If you weld to the frame, you will destroy most of the flexibility that is designed into the frame.

Bolt it.

 

[michowski]

Weld the ends to a bracket and then bolt it. Thats what I would do.

 

[Dishtowel]

If you weld to the frame, you will destroy most of the flexibility that is designed into the frame.

Bolt it.

And bolting a 'rigid' slider assembly to it wont affect it's flexibility?????? (this is me politely disagreeing)

I'm assuming you'll be welding to the outside of the frame, with the gas tank within the frame rails, yes? Then I wouldn't be to worried, but it is YOUR butt on the line. I plan on making bolt on ones eventually. Bolt on, so that when they get damaged I can take them off and bend them back straight.
I think I will build them, tac' them onto the frame so then wont move, then drill everything so the bolt holes are lined up 100%.

Also, since it's likely to get brought up, it is A-OK to weld to the frame on automotive stuff of the ranger/B2 vintage, and older. Disconnect your battery and make sure you have a good ground and your good to go. On newer vehicles I would unplug the comp as well.
The "dont weld to the frame" myth came from heat treated heavy truck (semi) frames.

PS: make sure your bolts are the right length, I bolted a shaped piece of plywood down in the back of my B2 and I used a bolt that was too long and it ended up rubbing thought my gas tank, leaving a 1" dia. hole!! oops!

 

[351ranger]

Weld it. I've done it before and I'm doing it on my b2. You won't have any problems with the gas tank being to close. If you are worried about that just put a piece of sheetmetal in between the frame and tank.

 

[danger88ranger]

theres a guy on here, his name is bray d, he made sliders for his ranger and i think he bolted them to his body mounts.

 

[Destroyer000]

ive always found it easier to unbolt the bed 6 bolts an you can easily remove the tank with out getting crud an what not in your eyes.. if you decide to pull the tank...

 

[rockinranger]

why not weld.Quicker, more secure, just weld as long as your skills are up to par

 

[pimtool]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess I will have to think about which way to go. The easy way (weld). Or the more work, but be able to remove if I needed to way (Bolt).

 

[Branger2B]

just weld it man, ive welded ALL the brakets to my frame when i did my sas. haventy had a problem yet. way easier, just make sure whoever did it is a good welder. with a grinder and a welde and sxoem skill you coulkd remove it if you have to (a little more of a pain than unbolting it) but then all you have to do is weld it back on afterward.

 

[bentwillowcustoms]

i wouldnt even consider bolting it, waste of time and......bolts! my sliders and even my bumpers are welded to the frame.

 

[Thumper113]

Tack weld a length of coat hanger to the nut & washer that would go in between the tank & frame rail. You can feed it in between there to get the bolt started. Cut off the excess coat hanger that hangs down...........very, very, simple, & works like a charm.