William Davidson Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 I was just told that the double frame on my '86 DM688S is rusted too bad to pass inspection. The truck is a log truck so the middle of the frame near the loader has been oiled by leaks from the loader and looks like new but the area from just in front of the axles to behind the axles is spread by rust pretty badly. I'm figuring that my best bet is to look for another truck to put my loader and bunks on however there are plenty of shorter trucks like dump trucks but not many as long as is needed for a log truck. I know that trucks are stretched and shortened all the time so the know how and frame material is out there, but is it practical to either replace the frame from the middle to the rear or graft in the rear half of another truck? The truck is shabby but the drivetrain and suspension etc seems pretty solid. Thanks for any advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackdog2 Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 Cant be that bad ? Quote Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatcity Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 roll off truck should be longer Quote Success is only a stones throw away.................................................................for a Palestinian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david wild Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 Runs good and no other problems ?? fix the frame, don't listen to the poo hoo that it can't be done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladislav Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 Contact PG Adams in VT for a quote on new rail sections. Since it's a double frame you cut outer rails shorter than inner ones. Than you weld new sections to the inners and another pair to the outers having overlap. Also check out this. Looks like not too far away from your place. 1 Quote Никогда не бывает слишком много грузовиков! leversole 11.2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACKS Posted September 29, 2019 Share Posted September 29, 2019 Show us some pictures.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Davidson Posted September 30, 2019 Author Share Posted September 30, 2019 5 hours ago, blackdog2 said: Cant be that bad ? I can't imagine that the frame would ever break but the inspection station said that the DMV is cracking down on things like frame spread. I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow. I am exploring options at this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 (edited) My 1980 DM686SX has two 3/8th inch rails. Rust jacking is a awful. Last 8 feet of the top rail: outer rail is cracked along the transition from sidewall to flange; inner rail top flange is just rust cancer. Nothing substantial left. And our trucks don't go out much in winter. If yours hasn't cracked yet you might be able to save it. Pull one side of the frame out at a time, separate the rails clean and paint, then reinstall and then do the other side. It's a chore but the trucks not going anywhere anyways. Cost is roughly $1,000 in new bolts, plus one or two possibly cracked crossmembers, plus sandblasting and paint + your time. Edited September 30, 2019 by JoeH 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 Cutting and splicing PG Adams rails is not a bad idea, but it will also require separating the rails to get your welds right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Davidson Posted September 30, 2019 Author Share Posted September 30, 2019 Here's a picture. That's a nickel where the frame has been spread by rust so it's pretty bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 one of the worse I have ever seen! terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ws721 Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 That's pretty common for up here in northern N.E. If you like the truck have the frame fixed. Be cheaper than updateing. There are shops around that will fix repair or replace. Quote Remember if it's got a hood it's no good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 Its bad, but like ws721 said if it's a good truck and you like it it's probably cheaper to fix than to replace. Question is whether or not fixing it is worth it to you. Some people dig out the rust by beating on the rails and vibrating them to shake the rust out, but that doesn't get the rust out at the bend in the flange. If you take it apart you may find holes in one rail or the other, or paper thin rails. All that rust came from your rails, so they're thinner than they were when they left the factory. Thinner & weaker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACKS Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 There's actually three rails in that picture,the frame that the trunnion stand bolts to is there,it looks like hell but if it's not cracked yet and u cleaned it up and painted the chit out of it and stoped further rust it might last a good while,the top/outside rail has plenty of meat left on it or it just might be a good time to upgrade to a newer truck if you don't trust it.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Davidson Posted September 30, 2019 Author Share Posted September 30, 2019 15 minutes ago, MACKS said: There's actually three rails in that picture,the frame that the trunnion stand bolts to is there,it looks like hell but if it's not cracked yet and u cleaned it up and painted the chit out of it and stoped further rust it might last a good while,the top/outside rail has plenty of meat left on it or it just might be a good time to upgrade to a newer truck if you don't trust it.. No, right where the nickel is is only a double frame. Before I bought it there was a plate 6-8' long put on the outside of each frame rail that is the bolt heads you see. The end of the trunnion stand can just be seen in the bottom right of the photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACKS Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 That's a rusty truck,every thing is rusted,all the fittings brake cans ect,I would upgrade to a newer truck and right off the bat paint the hell out of the rails and follow up at least once a year,u must work in some harsh environment...good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeH Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 Apart from the rails everything else just looks like standard surface rust. Macks was thinking it had what we call an Eagle at the trunnion. It's basically a 3rd rail that goes inside the frame at the trunnion, and acts like a gusset to keep everything square. My DM686SX has it, because it has the 55k springs. But yours is an S, with the 44k cameback, which doesn't need the Eagle. (Called an Eagle because of the taper) you can see the rear of the eagle on my DM in this picture. As well as what's going to happen to your frame any day now from the rust. Only reason yours is not cracked yet is there's no stress on it from weight sitting on it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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