HandySmurf
12-17-2011, 10:52 PM
I had my truck out today romping through a housing construction sight my friend was clearing for the contractor, and the terrain was hardly perfect, but not the worse stuff I have ever put the truck through. I was crawling along in 1st gear/4lo on the wooded edge of the clearing, almost back to the paved road leading out, when the truck grabbed a dozer rut and got thrown sideways pretty hard. I dumped the clutch and wailed the brakes quickly as the truck came to rest, and as it did I heard a loud crunching noise, and the passenger side rear corner of the truck seemed to "give out" is if I had just gotten a flat back there. I had everything I would need to change a flat in the dirt so I really wasn't worried I'd be stuck, but when I climbed out and checked the tire it was perfectly fine. I was curious about what that noise was, so before I tried driving away and put the truck back on the road I looked underneath...
I regret being so cautious now
Now, I have known the rusty frame in my daily truck is on borrowed time as it is, and I have already patched it a few times just to keep the truck solid and useable, but all the rust is definitely starting to take it's toll now on the truck. I had snapped off and crushed what was left of the spring perch on that rear corner, and although I drove the truck home with no problem, this is definitely something that is going to have to be fixed quickly to keep using the truck safely. My plans for the spring and summer of 2012 have been established now, because now it is imperative that I finish rebuilding the other frame I have and just swap bodies for now. I'll finish the show body whenever and drop that one on the frame later on. I hate living in the northeast.
Le sigh...
driver's side
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/mikemcmlxix/P1010025_08-1.jpg
passenger side
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/mikemcmlxix/P1010024_09.jpg
I regret being so cautious now
Now, I have known the rusty frame in my daily truck is on borrowed time as it is, and I have already patched it a few times just to keep the truck solid and useable, but all the rust is definitely starting to take it's toll now on the truck. I had snapped off and crushed what was left of the spring perch on that rear corner, and although I drove the truck home with no problem, this is definitely something that is going to have to be fixed quickly to keep using the truck safely. My plans for the spring and summer of 2012 have been established now, because now it is imperative that I finish rebuilding the other frame I have and just swap bodies for now. I'll finish the show body whenever and drop that one on the frame later on. I hate living in the northeast.
Le sigh...
driver's side
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/mikemcmlxix/P1010025_08-1.jpg
passenger side
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/mikemcmlxix/P1010024_09.jpg