Hot take: That cracked frame on my '97 F-150 wasn't a total loss

Everyone in the forums told me to scrap it when I found a hairline crack near the rear leaf spring mount. I spent about 6 weekends learning to weld with a $120 Harbor Freight flux core unit instead. Ended up reinforcing the whole section with 3/16 steel plate and it's been solid for 8 months now. Sure, a professional would've done it cleaner, but the truck still hauls firewood every weekend. Anyone else ever fixed something 'unfixable' just to prove the internet wrong?

2 comments

2 Comments

faithb781mo ago

Lol "wasn't a total loss" is definitely one way to put it. I mean hey, if a $120 welder and a bunch of plate steel keeps your truck on the road, sounds like a win to me. The internet loves telling people to just junk stuff and buy new, but they ain't the ones paying for a replacement truck. As long as it ain't actively trying to kill you, a little backyard fab work counts as a fix in my book. Props for proving the haters wrong with firewood duty.

michael51929d ago

Ha, yeah no kidding. A buddy of mine once kept his old F-150 running for three extra years with nothing but angle grinder sparks and prayer. The frame was so rusted out he just bolted a chunk of railroad tie under the bed. Looked ridiculous, but it hauled firewood just fine. @faithb78 nailed it - the internet loves telling you to scrap something before they've even seen what a welder and some scrap steel can do.