Freightliner stepping away from cracked frame rail.

exactly, that's why welding alone is not a good repair.

 

I do not doubt this.

My heart sank more on this than on a blown engine.

There are things you just don't think you'll here. your mechanic saying you have a cracked frame is one of them.

I have been around trucks since 1990 in one form or another. None of us have seen something like this before on a road truck. A gravel truck, he's seen them from wallowed brackets/broken bolts/fasteners.

But not a thin spot in the frame rail.

 

Even if you are not over on miles or age the OEMs are pretty slippery on warrantee ! Driver abuse, normal wear bla bla bla.

A good frame shop can fix almost anything..

You can always glider that tuned motor ..........best of luck!

 

oh, trust me, a glider is a consideration right now for me.

 

they should put together a reality show of all of us going through our first year of truck ownership, it's just relentless isn't it ?

 

It's a learning experience.

I will not buy another truck with a thin frame again.

 

Usually there's a tag on the frame saying not to weld, I worked for a company that found a cracked frame they tried a channel inside it broke then they tried several channel's broke again. Then they discussed the issue with Fruehauf they suggested to put a 1" plate inside that messed up. So they bit the bullet ordered a new frame rail. My thinking is the truck frames are a spring in them self's the have to flex never saw a flexible weld. A new frame, better have a good drill and its going to be fun couple hour job Yeah right!

 

If he needs to go that route the new rail would be ordered by vin number and come prestamped . Still. Lot of work . But not days not hours running a drill!

 

New or used frame is really the way to go. Good luck and drive safely

 

Cant imagine the cost to replace a frame rail, plus the cost of the rail itself. That would make me sick, especially just having got the truck. I would be weighing my options, I dont think I would be welding that though. Something tells me that wont hold under a truck bouncing down the road.