ideaR???

[ocbaud]

has anyone heard of or seen someone in a truck, any truck, connect there cab and bed together(not like a blazer) but through bolts to help with the frame flexxing under heavy turns?

i know a 2wd blazer will handle a lot better than a pickup, since the bed is connected.

[N2TRUX]

The only way I have seen it done with success is with down tubes on a roll cage. I can't imagine you getting enough strength to control body twist by bolting them together...

[C-10volvo]

Originally Posted by ocbaud

has anyone heard of or seen someone in a truck, any truck, connect there cab and bed together(not like a blazer) but through bolts to help with the frame flexxing under heavy turns?

i know a 2wd blazer will handle a lot better than a pickup, since the bed is connected.

if you really wanted to, you could box in the frame. a LOT of work though

[ocbaud]

what got me thinking was our state is starting a new advertising thing "buckle up in your pickup"

saying how much easier they are to roll over compared to a car. if i had time to box in the frame, i would have time to do a full off-the frame restoration which i would really love to do

[C-10volvo]

Originally Posted by ocbaud

what got me thinking was our state is starting a new advertising thing "buckle up in your pickup"

saying how much easier they are to roll over compared to a car. if i had time to box in the frame, i would have time to do a full off-the frame restoration which i would really love to do

DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT!!!! haha.

[LOHRTBT]

yes but look at the truck they are showing you lol.. a wheel gap havin 75 series tire usin Ford. lol of course it will roll easy. A lOwered truck is much harder to roll unless your being really crazy.

[N2TRUX]

Yeah, Dave is right. If that's all you are worried about, just lower it some more...

[Grim Reaper]

Originally Posted by ocbaud

what got me thinking was our state is starting a new advertising thing "buckle up in your pickup"

saying how much easier they are to roll over compared to a car. if i had time to box in the frame, i would have time to do a full off-the frame restoration which i would really love to do

SO MISGUIDED!

I hate that not safe junk and roll over junk. You adjust your driving to what you drive. An example I once read was they compaired a Vett to some SUV or Mini van. They took the number built and then how many rolled. They got a percentage of roll over accidents. Guess what. More vett end up on their lid then the other high CG vehicle when you look at it Builtvs rolled.

If this BS is alowed to continue we will have to wait to be insppected befor leaving for work everyt morning. This is how junk like Airbag and anti loc are not forced on you. I want neither so I no longer drive cars newer then 90.
end rant.

As for joining the body to bed. K5's tear the body up off road from flexing and they have a much shorter wheel base. If your wanting to make it more ridged then I would go a full roll cage tied to the frame. That would do the most to improve safety and rigidity and handling verses money spent then anything else you could possibly do. Add rear sway and 1 ton front sway all poly bushings in front end, Track bar on the rear and you can make it handle. Ride will suffer but it will handle.

[Grim Reaper]

Originally Posted by moonlight

My truck bed and cab are FACTORY connected! Sorry no pics. I'm having trouble posting pics to this site. They're too big!
I'll send you details and pics if you're interested. The truck is beyond stiff because of a few factory goodies!
I'm purposely vague about how the extra "connection" was done to see if anybody in this forum can come up with the correct "factory" answer. I will say that it's a '74.
Oh yeah, I love my truck! The next owner can have it when he pries it from my cold, dead fingers!
Mark

It's a K5 or a Burb

[NeCrOmAnCeR]

No, it was an El Camino

[1969 GMC]

ocbaud,
don't listen to the government! people roll SUV's and trucks more because they cannot drive correctly and refuse to believe that they are not driving a porsche.

there are literally thousands of 73-87 trucks out there at stock suspension height, and how many have you heard of that had severe problems (well, aside from the saddle tanks...)?

Also, you never have to modify a vehicle from stock setup to meet certain laws. Especially something like boxing in the frame. This applies to other things as well, such as shoulder belts (or hell, seatbelts) and airbags. I don't see too mamny people swapping airbags into their trucks just because the government leads you to believe that trucks are unsafe.

[ocbaud]

trust me guys, i'm not worried 1 bit about rolling my truck. i drive more carefull than that

i was just wondering if by connecting the cab and bed, it would improve handling.

i really want the truck to handle as well as possible(with the current susp. setup)

[apstguy]

Moonlight - is it the cabro or challet thing? Am I close? The big thing with a camper.

[1969 GMC]

the Chalet was based on a Blazer...I'd guess its a motorhome, since its based on a C30 chassis :p

EDIT: I would like to see pics of your truck, please email to athorich "at" kent.edu

...thanks

[apstguy]

Pics of my truck? Who are you talking to?

[1969 GMC]

sorry, I meant moonlight...I want to see this "thing" he's got...

[RockHQ]

There are a few important things that need to be given thought above others. First off, the frame is made out of mild steel C-profile bent into shape. Second, the crossmembers are made out of sheet metal cut and bent into the right size, and then riveted to the C-profile. The suspension relies on the same principle, hydraulic pressed mild steel sheet A-arms, brackets, spring hangers and so on. GM did it to keep cost down, but more importantly they wanted the frame to flex under load because it's more durable that way. The same applies to your cab&bed, it needs to be isolated from the frame with rubber bushings so the frame can flex, and the cab&bed can flex on their own. You can not make the frame too stiff, or it will break where the yield point of the material is exceeded. That doesn't mean you can't improve the design, but there must be some flex in the frame.