Looks good. I never thought that off roading could damage my truck like that. Of course I haven’t done anything serious as of yet. Great video. I need to catch up. My next project is fender flares.
Cool, video guys. I have a 2016 chevy colorado and I was wondering about a way to stiffen up the frame as well. I do a lot of off-roading and yes the bed of my truck has tapped the back of the cab of the track a few times.
I remember watching the press release of this generation of Colorado and they were claiming a fully box frame stronger than the c channel Tacoma. So I am surprised this truck flexes. I would have like to see the same test with the Tacoma.
Yeah, we'll see. This is not an issue I'm experiencing. I don't carry much weight. I do a fair amount of towing but not off-road. I've mostly seen people (like Nate from Dirt Lifestyle) only need to modify or reinforce the frame when they start doing extensive suspension modifications... axle swaps and such.
I am I reading it correctly that welding the stiffener braces in reduced the total flex by 0.06"? I would have expected much more than 1/16" difference. Is the frame flex forward of that area too?
The guys did a good job on the testing. Frames have flex but it's possible a better flex test would have been pulling the hitch down to simulate tongue weight. Since we see failure at that hole the plates allow for the frame to flex as it was designed to do and yet strengthen the failure point. The vast amount of people who have installed these notice a significant reduction in the bed bouncing around and contacting the cab.
Good idea on the tongue weight test. We'll definitely keep everyone updated if more frame touching occurs or doesn't. Since it's now been reinforced and the cab is already dented in, I believe it's fair to say it would take a significant hit to make the bed touch the cab again.
@@JasonExplainsThings the goal was to reduce the possibility of damage or at least increase the strength near the failure point. That said, frames bend and flex so I'm not surprised the test only showed a ~10% strength increase. The metal thickness of the frame at that crumple zone is now ~50% thicker. I also incorporated the crumple zone into the plate so that in the event of a significant rear end accident it should still crumple there.
I put the AEV transmission skid on . I would still be having nightmares about those carrage head bolts if i hadn't made the executive decision to throw them in the bush and install hex head bolts . Makes you wonder about the designer 🤔
I was looking at a 4x4 Colorado that was already semi-built that seemed to be on the cheaper side. But then noticed the CarFax said past frame damage and passed on it. I suspect the issue was the one you are trying to prevent with this mod.
First I wanted to thank you guys for all of the bison videos. I’ve been looking at getting these plates welded on, however I was reading heat from welding can weaken the frame, was this something you were concerned with?
From our research it shouldn’t damage the frame provided it’s done properly and you don’t burn all the way through the steel. We were careful to first tack it in place and then work around the plate and allowing it to cool a few times. But yeah we are not pros as we freely admit.
@@JasonExplainsThings I’ve come to a similar conclusion from what I’ve been able to find online. Seriously though, I really do appreciate all your videos, I actually did S tech switches, Baja designs lights on my truck front + rear and your video helped a ton.
@@BadlandIndustries Yeah, I was thinking that. I don't think cutting a bit from the looped part of the bracket will diminish any strength from the bracket once it's welded on.
@@JasonExplainsThings I’ve heard on old trick for keeping soft top windows clean is rub bananas on it. Could be a fun video to try different methods. thanks for the responses!
I ordered the frame stiffeners and after watching the entire video I realized they won’t work with the 589 shock relocation kit that I already have welded I place…..
Essentially cut the loop where you can't weld. Ideally you would install these plates before the shock relocation but there's no reason you can't install the plates after the fact.
Thats crazy that those trucks would roll off the factory floor with that massive flaw. I mean thats normal for a chevy to do that after the normal chevy rust kicks in and the frame folds in on itself. Might as well bite the bullet and do a w150 frame swap. Wouldnt have diff glitter issues and have a frame that would last 10 lifetimes
Oh snap! In all fairness this only presents itself after some pretty extreme off-roading. Although some of the broken frame photos I found were also from towing heavy. The truck is rated up to 7000 lbs. Maybe it shouldn’t be? 🤷🏻♂️
@@JasonExplainsThings 3rd gen tuchs are rated at 7700 and they moved the crumple zone back behind the bump pad like I suggested in my installation video
@@JasonExplainsThings I think alot of trucks now are over rated on their towing cap and thats seen by the sheer amount of diffs being shredded recently. I know a guy at work who brags about how "heavy" he tows with his 4 banger diesel and i would pay for a full diff service to see the inside of it and the bearings. I dont think he actually tows heavy and hes full of shit but no way should those frames flex and bend like that. I dont know about you but the roads around here can be bad enough that off roading can happen on the road very easily.
@@BadlandIndustries Awesome. Yeah the new truck really did a good job fixing all the common issues. Seems like maybe a few more are popping up related to electronics.
Wait. Is this a legitimate 4x4 vehicle designed for off-road then the back beds separate? Then when you go to fix it and weld it, it voids the warranty? Y’all help me understand. You fix a defect in a vehicle designed to go off road and then the company that designed that vehicle tells you that the warranty no longer valid? I don’t understand.
People call it a defect but it isn't. It is an intentional design for occupant protection in a rear end crash allowing the frame to aborb the impact. It is not a problem if towing heavy, high payload, OR off-roading. But combine these things and creates a potential. If you have a heavy payload or are towing, and going off-road, then stiffening the frame may be a consideration.
Chris. You knew this one was coming. 😉 Yeah I love my 4Runner and Tacoma. I appreciate the Colorado too. And I’m glad Chevy fixed many of the big issues with the new gen.
