Gooseneck plate to frame... Stick or Mig?

[wmgeorge]

My guess is the plates are bolted on because they are put on by dealers who don't employ skilled help, skilled as welders anyway. A lot less liability when you just drill and bolt on with factory supplied parts.

I've seen some pretty [email protected] stick welds, at least I thought so anyway. They have been holding just fine for many years.

[J hall]

While I would not have used 1" for this, and I wonder about the experience of the OP,

I have owned four pickups with plates welded to the frame, and never had a crack or any other sign of fatigue. These pickups were in and out of ditches, hauled heavy loads grossing up to 30,000 lbs, etc. you get the picture.

That being said, my new pickup has a bolted in plate due to lack of room and lots of electronics.

[sledsports]

There is a reason that all the kits bolt on. Let me know when your frame breaks in half.

^^^exactly what he said^^^

[elvis]

There is a reason that all the kits bolt on. Let me know when your frame breaks in half.

[fencemaker]

Disregard my above post, I reread the first post and understand now.

How many passes with what rod and amperage? Did you take off the bed to do the topside? Pictures?

[fencemaker]

Could you describe exactly what you have? A gooseneck "plate" is a 2' by just wider than the frame 3/8 or thicker piece of plate steel with a buildup and 2 5/16 ball in the center that bolts through the sheet metal bed into the frame. I'm assuming by your speech you didn't weld that to the sheet metal. Did you weld a piece of channel on between the frame or something similar?

Disregard the above, I reread the first post and understand now.

How many passes? What rod and heat? Did you take off the bed to weld topside? Pictures?

[joulian]

Unfortunately its going to break. Not if... When.

I don't know..... I have had a 98 Dodge ram 3/4 ton with a plate welded in now for 10 yrs and its actually a 6 inch wide plate ( the new one 8" ) it hasn't shown any signs of breakage. I pull 10,000 lbs plus everytime I hook a gooseneck to it.

[snowbird]

Unfortunately its going to break. Not if... When.

+1 add bolts! sleep better!

[sledsports]

Unfortunately its going to break. Not if... When.

[joulian]

I guess the 1" would be what A36 and the frame something better t190? maybe? anybody know?

[joulian]

I got it. I loaded up dump trailer and 5 cubic yards of top soil and went around the block braking and accelerating. Its ok

Thanks for the input guys. I was intending on sticking it but someone I know mentioned mig and I started questioning myself... anyway..

The rods were actually burning into the 1" plate faster than the frame.
Its on a Dodge 3/4 ton

Sound like u have no idea what he doing . Just pay and have the gooseneck plate installed by professional.

[eecervantes83]

Sound like u have no idea what he doing . Just pay and have the gooseneck plate installed by professional.

[Sandy]

Normally some preheat would be part of the plan for one inch. Especially when there is such a disparity in thicknesses. Seems like any amp setting high enough to get good depth of fusion on one inch would be likely to turn the relatively thin frame material to crispy bacon like material.

[bigtow30t]

Every gooseneck or 5th wheel hitches I've seen are all bolted on. Now if you do weld it on, I would still put a couple of bolts as a mechanical safety

[fencemaker]

Bolting it would be a better bet