Hrddrvs

I was wrecked into and I am wondering what you all think the chances are that the frame is bent.When I look at the frame itself it looks straight but you never know with such damage.Is there a way to check the frame without taking it to a shop?Maybe with measuring?The axle is broken at the wheel and seems that it took all the impact.I found a bed($300)and I found a rear end($100)but I want to check the frame before I spend any money.Sorry about the picture quality I took it at dusk.I will try to get better ones tomorrow.Thanks in advance for any help.

fillsrunner4

Ide say measure it and get some other peoples measurements to go by. It could bend fairly easily. Its 1/8" wall. Could turn it into a sick buggy with a tubed back section Sorry about the accident that does suck

Targetnut

you can get dimensions from the FSM, You'll need a tool to do the measurements. I think they call it a tram guage. you can make one of these with out much difficulty.

Hrddrvs

Does anyone have the measurement so I can compare and how do I measure,criss cross or ?

fillsrunner4

Looks like a glorified tape measurer

I just use my eye

fillsrunner4

I dont think youll need to do crisscross measurements you just need the rear portion and a few other diagonal measurements to compare to

Hrddrvs

Thanks so far for the info. and I welcome any advice.I will be taking the bed off in a few days.That will be new to me but should'nt be too difficult.After that I should get a real good look at it's condition.

fillsrunner4

Hopefully your all good. Keep us posted on how it turns out. Good luck

Hrddrvs

I just put a new bed on and I think it's bent about a half inch.The bed gap between the cab and bed is 1" on one side and 1 1/2" on the other.I tried and tried to get the gap even but the bolts wont allow it.Can I still drive it no problem?I will try again tomorrow to get it even.I'm thinking maybe I can file the bolt holes on the bed.The gap is really not that noticible.Anyway,what do you all think?

scuba

Id say drive it till the wheels fall off and be thankful its not the front thats bent..

strykersd

lol Let's just hope the wheels aren't falling off any time soon...

scuba

Keep the wheel bearings good and the lug nuts tight and I'd say he can keep that problem from happenin

Elton

one of the wheels fell off already

Hrddrvs

I replaced the axle and leaf springs.Everything is nice and tight.

Lumpy

It won't be the first truck to go down the road sideways...

Chutchman

Could be that your new bed is just tweaked a little. I bet if you took it into an alignment shop now that your have your wheels back on they could tell you for sure on your frame. I would say just keep your tires rotated. You might burn tires up a little faster than you did. But hey is a 15 year old truck right?

wheatus

with that gap your frame is most likely bent. you just dropped $400 bucks in parts why not have the frame pulled as well? for another couple hundred you could probably have it fixed. every body shop i have ever worked at has given free estimates, find a local shop and see what they say. it is technically called a tram guage but i prefer the slang term monkey-on-a-stick.

drew303

sure some of the bed mounts arent a lil tweaked. The 4 towers up front could of bent some... seems plausible to me. From the damage in the pictures seems likely the two on that pass side could of gotten tweaked

wheatus

it looks like it took a direct hit in the wheel, its more than just bed mounts.

Hrddrvs

It did take the hit directly to the wheels.I drives perfectly straight as far as I can see.I will take it to a shop for a look as long as it's a free estimate.If they say it's around $200-$300 that sounds fair.