I have 4 of the 8 factory ‘crossmembers’.

I cut out the transmission crossmember, the second ‘transmission’ crossmember (the one the gas tank mounts to), the panhard crossmember, and the spare tire crossmember.

Plan is to use the ‘cargo area’ of the frame (from the round welded in crossmember) back for an extended F250 tank and rear mont winch.

I have a 3/8” crossmember for my transmission that lifts the transmission ~1.5” (for a flat belly).

Now; since I’m planning on running front and rear mount winches; how much detriment would I be doing by playing the OUTSIDE of the frame rails with 1/8” plate?

How much loss of frame flex is ‘too much’; or would it be better to have as little as possible?


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I do all plating inside the frame wells. As you can really coat the inside of the frame.

Did you keep the pipe in the back intact?

If so slide a pipe in it and weld it into place.

That frame is going to flex quite a bit with all those crossmembers missing.

I would super stiffin it up by running that 1/8 plate on both rails inner and outer] Maybe slight overkill. I know that will reduce the frame flexing as you removed several crossmembers.

Plus if you are pulling on winches from front and back. The extra steel isn't going to hurt especially off roading when you can snap things off the frame. The inner steel gives you more material to weld too.

I did both rails in my 5 speed as I an putting hitches in both front and rear.



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I could be misinformed, but I've been under the impression there's no such thing as a frame being too stiff

All steel has to have the ability to flex even if it's ever so slightly. If it can't flex it would stress fracture. A vehicle frame you don't want flexing too much or your get stress crackes along the flex points.

By eliminating around half of the crossmembers. The frame rails would flex more then if those crossmember were still there.

With almost 3 /4 of the frame not having any crossmembers. The back section would flex alot more then normal thus probably Crack in places of the greatest stress points.

Very good idea to plate the frame with 1/8 plate to reduce movement.

I would just plate the inside of both frame sides. The inner and outer of both frame wells as if body mounts etc. snap off they can get welded back on. As more material to work with and the frame is alot stiffer.



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