2014 1500 gas tank strap and frame rusted out

[BadHemi2014]

Thought about taking a welding class at the local community college

Do it! I'm going back to school and introductory welding is an elective. I'm 47 and never touched a welder but always wanted to learn so I jumped on it. We learned stick, mig, and tig. My welds are pretty... as in pretty ugly lol. But really once you learn the basics the rest is just practice. If you have the chance to learn go for it.

p.s. in my opinion no shame in having this done either

 

[pacofortacos]

If you can point and pull a trigger,you can mig weld,lol.Might not be pretty the first couple of times,but it doesn't take long to pick up even rudimentary mig welding skills.

Well that doesn't make me feel any better about my first attempt. hahaha

I tried it on a gasless setup - it wasn't a pretty ending.

 

[Wild one]

Well that doesn't make me feel any better about my first attempt. hahaha

I tried it on a gasless setup - it wasn't a pretty ending.

Gasless mig is tougher to learn on,lol.

 

[pacofortacos]

Do it! I'm going back to school and introductory welding is an elective. I'm 47 and never touched a welder but always wanted to learn so I jumped on it. We learned stick, mig, and tig. My welds are pretty... as in pretty ugly lol. But really once you learn the basics the rest is just practice. If you have the chance to learn go for it.

p.s. in my opinion no shame in having this done either

I think learning what material, size wire, feed rate, power setting, etc. would be a big help too.

 

[Wild one]

I think learning what material, size wire, feed rate, power setting, etc. would be a big help too.

Aluminium is also alot harder to weld,especially if your eyes are a bit weak.It's a fine line between having a puddle and it dropping out and you have a hole,lol.

 

[GTyankee]

I would buy the kit, if it will fit your truck

Then drop the tank & figure out just what you need to do

If it needs welding, either call a mobile welder or have your truck towed to a welder

mean while check your tank for clean up, etc.

A member on here has a 2017 with the same issue
check below on this site, under Similar Issues

 

[Jeepwalker]

It all depends on how DIY the OP is and how long he can have his truck down. I would say, if the OP hasn't considered fixing it, and doesn't own a welder, then he's probably doesn't have the DIY mindset (for metalworking). Maybe they have other DIY interests instead. Most of my neighbors, good builders, landscapers, whatever ...but I wouldn't want to own a truck they did any fab work on.

Metalworking ...the place to begin with metal fabrication for a guy who's never touched a welder isn't his truck's rusted gas tank frame. And depending on what the rust damage looks like, it could take a lot longer than one at first thinks (esp for a non-experienced guy).

Besides a welder, the OP would need a number of other tools to do a 'good' quality job. When I get into a real fab job ....sometimes I look around at the beavy of air and electric tools, grinders, torch, pliers/vise grips, different hammers, you name it. All the tools a bodyshop would use in the normal course of a day. A welder just gets you the stitching tool. To do a good job that won't rust out again in 3 years, a fabricator needs other tools too. The repair job could take a beginner all day to do and could be really discouraging on a hot mosquito day. I say ...just pay the $650 and be done with it.

Most of my neighbors and people I know aren't DIY people beyond changing their lawn mower blades (which they don't even sharpen) .lol. And there's nothing wrong with that. Their Fantasy Football knowledge is far greater than mine

 

[Big Blue Hemi]

I have a letter somewhere that states that the gas tank strap warranty was extended to 12 years from purchase but that not all Vin’s qualify. I suggest mentioning that to the Ram dealer.

 

[PoMansRam]

I just spoke to the body shop and they said they can weld a sleeve on it to patch it for $650! I was dreading the worst. This was even less than what I thought the best case scenario was going to be.

Assuming this includes the labor of dropping the tank, prep work, etc, they may be billing based on 3-4hrs of labor. Do you know what this shop chargers per hour of labor? I've heard of some shops charging as much as $250/hr these days.

Hopefully they'll clean and paint the areas that are only exposed with the tank down while they're in there.

I'd be sure to fluid film or woolwax your truck at a minimum from now on. There's better products like Noxudal, but it's expensive.

 

[Atcer2018]

I know right! Especially near the gas tank too lol

And a plastic gas tank at that!

 

[Robert J]

It wasn't a safety recall, at least in my case for my 2013 Sport, but a warranty extension.

 

[Marshall]

I have a 14 , and seem to remember a recall, they looked and everything fine, we have no oceans and very little winter salt in this area, and I wash it often with pressure washer. and it is always in the garage

 

[crazykid1994]

Gasless mig is tougher to learn on,lol.

Hey now. Lol. I believe you are referring to Flux core… the harbor freight special is my friend. Dc flux core welder for all my home projects. May not be the prettiest but it definitely gets the job done. Best part is it’s super adjustable on this one for material thickness and wire speed. Plus it accepts .30 and .35 wire which makes it even more versatile for spot welding thin metal.

 

[GTyankee]

My thinking about dropping the fuel tank themselves & then taking the truck to the welder, or having the Mobile welder come to him is :

There is no sense to pay a welder to drop the tank
If the tank is already dropped, you just saved 30 minutes of Labor Charged.

I have seen mechanics charged different prices to work on a vehicle
1 price for a normally clean engine compartment, a higher charge if the engine compartment has not been wiped down in years.

 

[farout75]

Last week I dropped something and it rolled under my truck and I noticed what looked like the front gas tank strap had broken.

I call my mechanic since it's no longer under warranty and made an appointment for today and just got a call that the front strap and the area of my frame that it attaches too has rusted out! Definitely not the call I expected and now regretting for not trading the truck in last summer when the truck was worth $22k.

I found out after hanging up there was a recall and I have a vague recollection of my dealer saying my truck wasn't affected. It seems I was!

Has anyone experienced something similar and did Ram take care of it?

It should be covered under the extended coverage that RAM sent out on the gas tank straps. I got a letter saying it was covered for a longer time. Call the hot line at 1-800 992 1997 and see what they say.

 

[Wild one]

Hey now. Lol. I believe you are referring to Flux core… the harbor freight special is my friend. Dc flux core welder for all my home projects. May not be the prettiest but it definitely gets the job done. Best part is it’s super adjustable on this one for material thickness and wire speed. Plus it accepts .30 and .35 wire which makes it even more versatile for spot welding thin metal.

I like this little guy,as i've owned one for 20 years,and it's done pretty well everything i've ever needed for my home based needs.By no stretch is it the best,but for my needs it works okay.I have it set up on gas though,you can buy an aluminium spool gun for it,but the spool gun is worth more then the welder,lol.

MIG-PAK® 140

The MIG-PAK®140 wire feeder welder requires 120 volt input power and can be used for gasless flux cored welding or gas shielded MIG welding.

www.lincolnelectric.com

 

[Marshall]

Now that extended werrenty sounds right
I don’t really think laying on your back under a truck is the best place to learn to weld, have done lots of it with a stick welder.
I am sure you will have to drop the tank.

 

[crazykid1994]

I like this little guy,as i've owned one for 20 years,and it's done pretty well everything i've ever needed for my home based needs.By no stretch is it the best,but for my needs it works okay.I have it set up on gas though,you can buy an aluminium spool gun for it,but the spool gun is worth more then the welder,lol.

MIG-PAK® 140

The MIG-PAK®140 wire feeder welder requires 120 volt input power and can be used for gasless flux cored welding or gas shielded MIG welding.

www.lincolnelectric.com

My next big learning project is going to be aluminum. Plan on making a full belly pan with an integrated drive shaft loop out of aluminum.

 

[demonram]

My 11 ram had a recall for the tank straps. I dont remember the recall number or whatever but you may want to look into it before you have someone replace them

Yeah, same here. I still have the notice, but I've crawled under the truck on many occassions and there is no rust anywhere around the straps or the frame. Makes me wonder how they determined the model year and VIN's, as this seems to cover multiple years. Mine is a 2011.

 

[Jeepwalker]

There's a pocket up there which can hold mud/water/salt, etc. Depending the region where a guy lives and what's sitting in that pocket, will affect how quick (or not) it's going to rust. Mine seems good on my truck as well.