bambam0417

Hey guys need some help/advice. To start off I know the topic says frame rail repair and that a cherokee is a unibody so the entire body is the frame. I just don't know what the rails under a unibody are called. Anyways I saw a crack on the bottom of the rail, on the passenger side in between the stock gas tank skid and the bump stop for the rear axle. The crack was maybe 6 to 8" long. I started poking around at it and now there is a decent size hole. I am going to remove the fuel tank, cut out the bad metal, and weld in new. But I have 2 questions.
First: I did some searching about metal thickness for the rails. Some one on here said the rails are 16ga steel. Is this correct?
Second: I've been tossing around the idea of buying a small travel trailer for camping and this would be the tow vehicle. Should I plate the side/bottom of the rail thats damaged after I fix the rotted out part? Just to make sure its strong enough Or will the 16ga fix be strong enough?

bambam0417

Anybody have frame rail rot before? I could use the help trying to fix mine.

bighouts5591

I would fix it and then buy the HD offroad unibody stiffeners to keep it strong. Remember that where the crack is isn't that far from your leaf mounts and you need that area strong.

bighouts5591

http://hdoffroadengineering.myshopif...ame-stiffeners

bambam0417

Thanks guys! The only frame stiffeners I seen before these stopped at the front leaf spring eye but I dont go off road that much so I had no need to look into them either. I will probably just take measurments and make my own out of 1/8" steel. Do you suggest putting a stiffener on the inside and out side of the rail (I will have the fuel tank out for this repair) or is just the outside good enough.