Hello! Last year I bought a 94 f150 with a seized 5.0 for really cheap. I've been told by a lot of guys that the frames for ALL of these trucks (f150 - f350) are virtually the same minus some mounting points for leafs vs coils and the crumple zone.. I have the truck 100% disassembled down the the bare frame in preparation of my project. Currently the goal is to convert it to 4x4 with 05+ axles, and and I have my sights on a 24v common rail cummins. I want to go wheeling with this thing but also tow some very decent weight when I need to. I've been getting mixed feelings about the frame strength on the f150s however. Half of Google is telling me the thickness of the frame is the exact same, and the other half is saying it is .8 inches or so thicker. Am I wasting my time with this project? Do I now need to box the frame up? Does anyone have some legitimate measurements of their frame rails for reference that i could see? Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

 

Well, don't go with the half that says the F350 is .8" thicker
That would make the frame almost an inch thick = wrong
I agree the frames are thicker on the F350 by about 60 thousandths
Not at all sure though. Take a pair of calipers to the junkyard and verify
No project is a waste of time, you may just have to re group and re think the outcome

 

Just a thought...It wouldn't hurt to compare the rated towing capacity of a 94 F150 with whatever you'll be towing. Boxing and cross-bracing might be a good idea if these numbers are far enough apart. But if that's the case then a better frame is probably warranted anyway.

 

Well I did that today after work. I went to my buddy's dad's house after work and measured his f250. Frame rails are 1/4 inches thick compared to the f150's 3/16 inch thick frame rail. My buddy's dad used to build some pretty serious rock crawlers using 1 ton front and rear axles. He told me that he rock crawled and hauled some pretty serious weight on a 3/16 inch frame and that I had nothing to worry about. He told me to just use this frame for the build, but if I was still haunted by it, I should weld 1/4 inch steel to every major mounting point on the frame that has any stress on it and only reinforce the weak areas in the frame that are reported by others. Other than that, he said 3/16 inch frames are plenty enough and/or overkill for most applications. Should I take his word for it? Or should I fork out the extra money and look for a bare frame somewhere? I don't really have any means of hauling a bare frame considering I don't have a trailer with a winch on it.

 

I agree with your buddies dad, tow away and weld some steel plates on there if you feel the need

 

It is amazing to me how we ask questions, then question the answers. It depends on WHO you ask, more than WHAT you ask. F150's have been around for years, with most all adverts commenting and displaying the towing capacity. As mentioned erlier, if you know what you will be towing, compare it to the trucks weight capacity as stated and see if it doable. There is always a possibility of beefing up. That would be just as easy as bringing in another frame if you had one handy with means to bring it. Otherwise, go with what you got, and trust who you aksed the question to.