4-Link the Rear

[MagicMtnDan]

I don't think anyone's complaining about bending their frame while towing. Are they? Certainly not in this thread.

I haven't seen that complaint (frame bending while towing) anywhere

 

[The Tank]

I haven't seen that complaint (frame bending while towing) anywhere

You kind of missed my point but that is unimportant. I think its safe to say Brian has logged the most amount of miles with Deavers and he as far as he's posted he doesn't have any damage.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

I didn't ask the question so I didn't miss your point. I responded to BradyH20's post

 

[bradyh20]

You kind of missed my point but that is unimportant. I think its safe to say Brian has logged the most amount of miles with Deavers and he as far as he's posted he doesn't have any damage.

Yeah, the issue isn't the Deavers. Deavers are great.

The issue is that if you DO bottom out (and how easy that is will change with different spring and damping rates), the bump stop is mounted to the frame where it's not fully boxed.

Towing stresses are different from this transient stress, so your point about towing, while interesting-ish, was not exactly on-target. (IMO)

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Yeah, the issue isn't the Deavers. Deavers are great.

The issue is that if you DO bottom out (and how easy that is will change with different spring and damping rates), the bump stop is mounted to the frame where it's not fully boxed.

Towing stresses are different from this transient stress, so your point about towing, while interesting-ish, was not exactly on-target. (IMO)

So, if you can tell us, what's going on with your Raptor? You getting it fixed or going forward with the 4-link project?

 

[bradyh20]

So, if you can tell us, what's going on with your Raptor? You getting it fixed or going forward with the 4-link project?

Well, I could only come up with 12K to put into it right now, and most the quotes I'm getting to 4-link her are 18k and up. I just can't justify spending more until I get through the wedding and the honeymoon. So, I'm going to try to have it straightened. If that works out, the plan is to put some coin into new wheels/tires, a tow strap (ha ha), and customize the bed.

I want to get the bed setup with two Thule bike racks:

Amazon.com: Thule Insta-Gator Truck Mount: Sports & Outdoors

and two chalks for my dirtbikes, basically just a U-shaped piece of steel bolted to the front of the bed to hold the wheel in place.

Depending on how much is left over, a power upgrade might be the next step. Maybe a supercharger...

That said, I've asked South Bay Ford to give me an offer on it as a trade-in... =D Who knows what I'm doing. I love changing my mind every other week...

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Have you looked at strengthening your frame after you get it straightened? (I'm talking about a serious frame support work not the $100 "solution").

Trading in a Raptor with a bent frame can't be good

Have you talked to your dealership about doing it under warranty? After all it is a design flaw

 

[The Tank]

So the idiot on the other forum that says the frame has a "design flaw" has made reference to the Ford videos that dropped right before Ford officially announced the Raptor. I just watched the long 4 min one and shows the Raptor suspension mule jumping a few times at around 80 MPH it also shows a few seconds at 100 MPH and doesn't leave the ground.

 

[GRT4DRT]

So the idiot on the other forum that says the frame has a "design flaw" has made reference to the Ford videos that dropped right before Ford officially announced the Raptor. I just watched the long 4 min one and shows the Raptor suspension mule jumping a few times at around 80 MPH it also shows a few seconds at 100 MPH and doesn't leave the ground.

What's your beef with Ford getting involved to evaluate the frame's current design?

BRADYH20: Where did you have you frame "event" occur?

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Ford won't "evaluate" a proven design with hundreds of thousands (millions?) of miles on it without being forced to by the government and/or lawyers and they're not involved at this time.

Statistically and financially speaking (considering all companies are in business to make a profit) it's HIGHLY unlikely Ford will "evaluate" their F-150 frame design which would, if word got out, open Pandora's box to the swarming ambulance chasers err lawyers (sorry, no offense intended to dogs that chase ambulances ).

Obviously, the frame isn't intended to hold up to "abuse" that comes from a 6,000+ pound truck being jumped (OK, "leaving the ground") at high rates of speed (higher than slow speeds) on rough terrain OFF ROAD.

I believe the frame design is less than ideal for high speed offroading in a 6,000 lb. pickup but Ford produces this truck using a STOCK F-150 pickup frame. We're lucky they make/sell this truck and with lots of complaints on forums accusing Ford of having a "flawed frame design" the Raptor could die an early death. And then the few (by comparison) people who are really into off roading will build their own trucks which is what "serious off roaders" do anyway.

IIRC, BradyH20 was offroading in the desert