i recently welded a goosneck into my truck and have always heard good things about them as long as you did them right, i used a peice of 2" thick steel plate and a 30,000# ball, i laid 3 good passes along both sides and i thought it turned out good! I then talked to my buddy about it and he asked if i had heated the metal before i welded it in the truck as he said it would burn in better, i then asked my good friend who is a awesome welder and he said he would think 3 good passes would get it hot enough and he thinks it would be just as god as a installed hitch, please give me your opinions, before i go latchin' to a trailer!

Thanks Chad

 

as a welder i would have pre heated and used hot 7018 rod.

 

Pre heating is not to get a "good burn" it is to draw the moisture out of the metal.

 

I could single pass MIG it

 

I'm not a big fan of welding anything to ANY frame. Frame rails are usually something other than A36 mild steel and most likely heat treated or tempered to some degree, in one form or fashion. Usually these steels require some type of pre and/or post heating, but I have seen it done more times than I care to remember. Sometimes it holds just fine, other times I'm seeing it because the welds have torn and needs repair, in which case I weld tabs to the plate then bolt it to the frame rail. More often than not, it isn't the actual welds that have failed but the frame material that has torn.

chaikwa.

 

Honestly I'm not a big fan of having something sticking out of the bed of the truck ALL the time. I love my B&W, its a bolt in but its rated at 30,000 out of the box!

 

I wouldn't weld to the frame either. Where did you weld? To the sides or top?

 

I've welded several in with no problems. I usually make a root pass and go right back over it with a second pass. Normal gross is 25,000 with big loads grossing 34,000.

 

some frame rails shouldnt be welded on but those that are weldable if it is done right by the numbers the it wil be fine and just like any thing that you bet your life on it should be inspected regularly as well as the bolt ons.

 

i wouldnt even worry about the weld, hook the trailer and haul that thing like no other.

 

Thanks for the reply's, i actualy cut the steel a 1\4" short on each side that way i had plenty of frame to weld to, i measured, made a couple nice tacks, measured again and made a real good pass on each side then went back over them two more times apeice. I thought for sure that would be good enough and i am going to inspect it pretty regular, i appreciate your guys concern and suggestions. Well i hope it will be okay, as i really don't feel like taking the 70lb peice back out along with grinding the welds back off, i think i will go with it and inspect it every so often!

Thanks guys
Chad

 

Tell us what rod you used to weld it on with.

 

This is just me, but I would go through the pain of drilling and run a few bolts through it too. I know that may sound extreme but I just have horrible thoughts that run through my mind thinking of fatigued welds due to frame flexing.

Did you happen to cover any holes in the frame that other hitch manufacturers use? If so drill through at that point and put the bolts in there.

Like I said this is just what I would do.

 

] ] ddddddddduh

 

moisture out of the metal..hmmmm