Frame Rust

How old is this truck?

 

More background info needed. Is it yours? Did you just buy it, or looking to buy? If it's yours...why did you wait so long to address this issue???

 

Wow mines been in the salt for 13 years and doesn't look that bad.

I assume this isn't a crossmember?

 

I guess that's marginal for a truck that old. I've driven lots of trucks with rusty frames, and never had one break, not to say, it won't happen. I've taken 5th wheels off, only to find, half the frame thickness was gone. If you are going around a corner with a heavy load, and hear a snap, you'll know what it was. ( seen it happen)

 

Yeah. My 379 is 10 yrs old...it's a Southern truck...that said, I had the frame sanded/Rhino Lined 2 yrs ago. Prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

At a minimum you should knock all that scale off because it just holds water. Just the bare solid steel will last longer than being covered with scale.

Break out the chisel, needle scaler, pop a top and go to town.

 

I don't mean to alarm you, but that's right where they break, behind the cab ( or sleeper) Wait, I DID have a frame rail break on my '82 Western Star conv. behind the sleeper ( spring ride) We bolted an inside piece on the frame over the crack, and welded the crack. It lasted about a month, and it broke again, so I cut the back half of the truck off, and bolted a Peterbilt air leaf to the back.