Bent Frames - Big Thing or isolated?

[ShadowsPapa]

so are you saying that those of us who own 2020 models are susceptible to bending our frames?

No, just the bump stop bracket (as pictured above)

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[Dakarra]

As the O.P. for this thread, I'm liking the change of direction and tone in the last few days. So, although I'd bowed out, I'll join with ShadowsPapa and rejoin the thread.

My JT is a 2021 Willys 3.6L, produced in March 2021. It does NOT have the reinforcing bracket, and the bend/buckle location is on the in-board side of the frame, just about on center from where the bracket would be, if I had one. From a production standpoint, that is about exactly 1 year into the Covid shutdowns, and not quite 1/2 way through the whole supply-chain mess that effected practically every company in every industry.

So back to ShadowsPapa's earlier question: Why some models and not others? So is it really a supply-chain issue caused by Covid? Did the "forget to install a few" at the factory, or did they knowingly ship some without the bracket because the dealers needed the inventory? And most importantly, do the JTs that have had the failure have the bracket, or not?

In addition to the evolving discussion around driving habits, jumping vs not jumping, and the relative size of the trailer and tongue weight - I will add (admit) that I have an RSI Smartcap on mine, which adds about 275 lbs, I run 35" KO2s, and although the weight of the tires on the ground doesn't really effect this equation, the weight of the spare underneath adds about 30-ish pounds, my aftermarket steel bumper is probably 40 pounds heavier than the OEM's. My JT is not lifted, but I did put stronger (not longer) Fox shocks on, as well as airbags to help with the load.

And for my long-hauls I probably had 250 pounds in the bed, more or less. So my public-school arithmetic adds all that up to about 595 pounds extra weight, and about 310 pounds tongue weight. I'm not qualified to do the geometry to figure how much that Smartcap adds to the weight at the very back, but it isn't zero - so something north of 700-800 pounds extra was coming down on that shock and spring every time I hit a bump (and sometimes all the way to the bump stop).

So is the lack of that wee tiny bracket really the difference here?

 

[piroman683]

So is the lack of that wee tiny bracket really the difference here?

only if you are constantly smashing down on it in an excessively forceful way. A bump here or there will be fine

 

[JT1]

As the O.P. for this thread, I'm liking the change of direction and tone in the last few days. So, although I'd bowed out, I'll join with ShadowsPapa and rejoin the thread.

My JT is a 2021 Willys 3.6L, produced in March 2021. It does NOT have the reinforcing bracket, and the bend/buckle location is on the in-board side of the frame, just about on center from where the bracket would be, if I had one. From a production standpoint, that is about exactly 1 year into the Covid shutdowns, and not quite 1/2 way through the whole supply-chain mess that effected practically every company in every industry.

So back to ShadowsPapa's earlier question: Why some models and not others? So is it really a supply-chain issue caused by Covid? Did the "forget to install a few" at the factory, or did they knowingly ship some without the bracket because the dealers needed the inventory? And most importantly, do the JTs that have had the failure have the bracket, or not?

In addition to the evolving discussion around driving habits, jumping vs not jumping, and the relative size of the trailer and tongue weight - I will add (admit) that I have an RSI Smartcap on mine, which adds about 275 lbs, I run 35" KO2s, and although the weight of the tires on the ground doesn't really effect this equation, the weight of the spare underneath adds about 30-ish pounds, my aftermarket steel bumper is probably 40 pounds heavier than the OEM's. My JT is not lifted, but I did put stronger (not longer) Fox shocks on, as well as airbags to help with the load.

And for my long-hauls I probably had 250 pounds in the bed, more or less. So my public-school arithmetic adds all that up to about 595 pounds extra weight, and about 310 pounds tongue weight. I'm not qualified to do the geometry to figure how much that Smartcap adds to the weight at the very back, but it isn't zero - so something north of 700-800 pounds extra was coming down on that shock and spring every time I hit a bump (and sometimes all the way to the bump stop).

So is the lack of that wee tiny bracket really the difference here?

Strange. I have a 2021 Willys 3.6 also. Mine was delivered 1/27/2021, so I'm guessing it was made at the very end of December or the first week of January, and it has the reinforcement bracket.

 

[MPMB]

I checked mine, just for funsies. JTR built 10/20. Has the plate. Both sides, even! Amazing.

 

[Rusty PW]

My '22 JTRD has those brackets.

This is what the Colorado guys are doing to their frames. The video shows them how they are testing flex too.

 

[nick617]

Are these frames that bad? If so selling it

 

[Rusty PW]

Are these frames that bad? If so selling it

Think you can count on one hand the number of reported bent frames.

 

[DanW]

I've not heard of a single one in real life. Just on the web.

I can't help but think TrailRecon is selling things. His videos are pretty much commercials nowadays. I still like them, but he's got skin in everything he says you need to buy.

His videography is outstanding, though. But I'm getting tired of videos from places that are a 30+ hour drive from me. I'd love to see him head East sometime.

 

[Minty JL]

Over loading and abuse are the root cause dot period. If you need to haul and tow that much shit and needs to handle ridiculous abuse you have two options 1) buy another truck with the appropriate capacities 2) build your rig to handle your needs. It's all rather straight forward

 

[n0arp]

Over loading and abuse are the root cause dot period. If you need to haul and tow that much shit and needs to handle ridiculous abuse you have two options 1) buy another truck with the appropriate capacities 2) build your rig to handle your needs. It's all rather straight forward

Yep, we're at or over GVWR so I'm building mine up accordingly. Just ordered the Shift Autowerx brackets and a rear truss as a precaution, possibly going with a D60 rear in the year. Front axle is already trussed and running RCVs.

It's all pay to play with this stuff, and at least the JT has a massive aftermarket to pull from.

 

[biodiesel]

I'm wanting to buy a small camper trailer for our 2023 Gladiator EcoDiesel. I sure hope the frame will be able to handle lots of towing miles with heavy loads. My goal is to keep the trailer under 5,000 lbs loaded and stay within the tongue weight specification. I would think that a good weight distribution hitch would help significantly.

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