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Dually Suspension \  Frame rail thickness

Frame rail thickness

Dually Suspension Dually Tech
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replies 15
following 7
 
bagged dually   +1y
I'm about to go pick up all the steel for my stock floor body drop, and was wondering what thickness of 2x4 I need to get. I don't really ever tow anything and I've decided to swap in a 5.3L so there isn't going to be a huge amount of strain on the frame rails. Can I get away with using 1/8" or 3/16" or should I just fork out the extra cash now and get 1/4"?? Any advice would be awesome guys.
leedogg   +1y
Personally- I plan to use 1/4" wall thickness...just based off of pure paranoia(is that spelled right?). All I haul now is my Trans Am with an open trailer. Though I do hope to have an enclosed car hauler one day.
n2l   +1y
it depends how you doing it. if you overlaping the 2x4 to your existing frame i would do 3/16 (wich im doing right now) im doing it for weight porpuses. to me just the fact of been square tubbing its already stong i plan to do some towing every now and then and im doing a 3/4 frame. but this is just me. in my opinion. i would do 1/4 if i was doing new rails with out over lapping.
bagged dually   +1y
I'm just laying it inside of what's left of the existing frame after I cut it.
sparkys-crewcab   +1y
i used 1/4 inch steel 2x4 on my truck. i figure overkill is the best way to go...
bagged dually   +1y
Probably not a bad point
bk2life   +1y
my 1984 i used 3x3 .250 wall.

2x4 is to tall
bagged dually   +1y
After reading through a few builds it looks like 2x4 will be alright for what I'm doing. I'll be running a 4.75" Z. With the 2x4 and no pinch it should lay rocker after I hack the pinch off. I've got my fingers crossed anyway.
bk2life   +1y



why cross your fingers? get the 3x3 and have the extra inch to spare. if i had 2x4 under mine i dont think it would lay out in certain areas.

3x3 is a bigger box, stronger and looks alot nicer for your bridge, 2x4 is skinny wimpy looking.
bagged dually   +1y
Well I think you've about got me convinced on 3x3 after reading through your build again. With 3x3, a 4.75" Z and no pinch I should have no issues laying out rocker it looks like.