thickness for sqauretube notch

whats the min thickness for a square tube notch for a dually..

That's a pretty vague question, but I would say a vague answer would be 1/4" thick.

Edited: 5/26/2009 1:07:00 PM by iLLblazer

Alot of it depends on where your bags are going, where your link bars are mounting and where your gas tank would be going.  For example If all your suspension mounts to points in front of the notch, and your fuel cell is at the front of the bed, and your bags are on the bars off the frame before the notch, then all the notch is doing is supporting the back half of your box and you could get away with thinner material. If your fuel cell is behind the notch, then you have added weight to account for. If your bags are over axle, then thats another factor to consider. Also you never mentioned the material you plan to use. 2x3 2x4  etc? The majority of the strength will be in the vertical section. So if you have a 2x4 notch, its going to be stronger than a 2x3 notch of the same thickness. I would just use 2x4 3/16 if you have no suspension mounting on or behind the notch If you are running over axle bags, or a 6 link style setup, go 2 x 4 1/4 inch In both cases its always a good idea to fish plate your joints.

I am using 2x3 3/16 wall on my fullsize, but I am going to put fishplates on ALL joints and box in the frame about a foot in front of and behind the notch.

Well said Joel...

I don't see any need for 1/4" wall.

---------------------------------------------Originally posted by BioMaxWell said Joel...---------------------------------------------joel is the shit!

---------------------------------------------Originally posted by BioMaxWell said Joel...--------------------------------------------- caught me bored at work lol

well i ask cause i have a 20ft stick of some 2x4 that is i think 1/8 thick and thougth about using it for my notch but its a dually and im iffy about this thin stuff...i may just order the 8 peice step notch for it ...or might but just anuff square tube to do a notch

Dually frames are thicker than 1/8. However from factory, the frame behind the axle is seeing alot of load because the rear leaf spring mount is there. If ALL of your suspension mounts and bag mounts are going to be in front of the notch it will probably be OK.