- Location
- Andover, VT
Thx man.
Honestly the tube isnt dented anywhere. I think with proper tieins that thickness would be fine. The main problem is there are only tieins at the front and rear leaving the middle unsupported. And those tieins are 1-1/2 thin wall tubing. They just bent up till the tube hit something more substantial. Wall thickness of the rail was not the failure point imo it was the design. I personally wouldnt have any problem using 1/8” wall in a 2x6 configuration. Especially if it is being cut into the rockers and welded in with 4 or so proper frame tieins. It is substantially lighter.
At 64" per side, the .125 wall is about 16 lb lighter per side than .188 wall (6.46 lb/ft vs 9.42 lb/ft per Metals Depot). I could support an argument that the .125 wall is the efficient choice in that it is sufficiently robust and has a benefit of being lighter, but I'm not going to lose sleep over 32 lb. Hell, my toolbox is heavier than that.
I am surprised to see how many people only run 2 or even 3 supports. IMO distributing the load is the most important part of this mod, or any other structural mod on the body of these, like a bumper tie in or a cage.