2014 1500 gas tank strap and frame rusted out

Farmingdales Finest · Aug 8, 2022

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?

Farmingdales Finest · Aug 8, 2022

Well my day just got better after seeing that there was a 300,000 vehicle recall my mechanic called Ram and they said my VIN is not part of the recall! :banghead:

indept · Aug 8, 2022

Farmingdales Finest said:
Well my day just got better after seeing that there was a 300,000 vehicle recall my mechanic called Ram and they said my VIN is not part of the recall!

Welcome to the club. Had the same issue with my former DD a 2000 Grand Cherokee. There was a recall to replace the electric radiator fan which the blades would crack and fly apart eating the radiator. Well that happened to my jeep. I checked & my Jeep VIN wasn't part of the recall. So cost of a new radiator, fan and shroud was all mine.

Farmingdales Finest · Aug 8, 2022

indept said:
Welcome to the club. Had the same issue with my former DD a 2000 Grand Cherokee. There was a recall to replace the electric radiator fan which the blades would crack and fly apart eating the radiator. Well that happened to my jeep. I checked & my Jeep VIN wasn't part of the recall. So cost of a new radiator, fan and shroud was all mine.

I would rather replace a fan and radiator vs. who knows what a frame costs to fix or replace. My mechanic just took it to a body shop a few doors down and going to have them call me after they look. Crossing my fingers that it won't be too much to fix because a new truck is not in the budget right now.

indept · Aug 8, 2022

The recall for your tank is welding on new brackets if I recall right. Hopefully that's what the body shop will do. If that's the case when you get it back spray some rustoleum rust reformer on it

Farmingdales Finest · Aug 9, 2022

indept said:
The recall for your tank is welding on new brackets if I recall right. Hopefully that's what the body shop will do. If that's the case when you get it back spray some rustoleum rust reformer on it

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.

Jeepwalker · Aug 9, 2022

That seems like a decent price for fab work. Managing a fuel tank that has fuel in it is a pain, w/o the right lift. Years ago I had to rebuilt both rear cab mounts on a Chevy pickup that pre-maturely rotted out (dirt hanging on them). Rest of the truck and frame were very clean ..and I do a fair amount of fab work. Still, it was a LOT of work.

Farmingdales Finest · Aug 9, 2022

Jeepwalker said:
That seems like a decent price for fab work. Managing a fuel tank that has fuel in it is a pain, w/o the right lift. Years ago I had to rebuilt both rear cab mounts on a Chevy pickup that pre-maturely rotted out (dirt hanging on them). Rest of the truck and frame were very clean ..and I do a fair amount of fab work. Still, it was a LOT of work.

The truck looks as good as an 8 year old non-garaged daily driver could which was what was so shocking when I was told about the frame.

Rlaf75 · Aug 9, 2022

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

DILLIGAF · Aug 9, 2022

650 is a rip off for 20$ of sheet metal...lol... Heck buy a used MiG welder and do it yourself. It will be cheaper and you end up with a welder instead of an absurd bill.

Stealer**** at it again. this is reason # 1501 why you never should set foot in one.

Farmingdales Finest · Aug 9, 2022

Rlaf75 said:
My 11 ram had a recall for the tank straps. I don't remember the recall number or whatever but you may want to look into it before you have someone replace them

I found that recall and it was for 2012 and earlier. I think it's BS since what is described in that recall is exactly what happened to me but they aren't covering it.

Farmingdales Finest · Aug 9, 2022

DILLIGAF said:
650 is a rip off for 20$ of sheet metal...lol... Heck buy a used MiG welder and do it yourself. It will be cheaper and you end up with a welder instead of an absurd bill.

Stealer**** at it again. this is reason # 1501 why you never should set foot in one.

This wasn't the dealer it was a local autobody shop. I only have on street parking so it's not feasible for me to get a welder and try and do it myself. I don't know the extent of the issue but what I've read is most frame repairs go 2k and up.

Jeepwalker · Aug 9, 2022

650 is a rip off for 20$ of sheet metal...lol... Heck buy a used MiG welder and do it yourself. It will be cheaper and you end up with a welder instead of an absurd bill.

Stealer**** at it again. this is reason # 1501 why you never should set foot in one.

I agree, one could do it cheaper, but if ya don't have the tools or time ...plus it's a fair amt of work. I've done similar repairs. Shop time ain't cheap these days, and there's always something that comes up on a job like that ya didn't expect ....lol.

Rlaf75 · Aug 9, 2022

Farmingdales Finest said:
I found that recall and it was for 2012 and earlier. I think it's BS since what is described in that recall is exactly what happened to me but they aren't covering it.

Yeah that sucks. Try an independent shop and get an estimate of repairs.

pacofortacos · Aug 10, 2022

$650 isn't bad, especially if they have to remove the tank to do the job and if they do a good job.

Expecting a person to buy a welder and do a good weld their first time out sounds good but it isn't realistic. I have seen experienced welders that in all honesty can't weld worth a crap.

Rlaf75 · Aug 10, 2022

pacofortacos said:
$650 isn't bad, especially if they have to remove the tank to do the job and if they do a good job.

Expecting a person to buy a welder and do a good weld their first time out sounds good but it isn't realistic. I have seen experienced welders that in all honesty can't weld worth a crap.

I know right! Especially near the gas tank too lol

DILLIGAF · Aug 10, 2022

pacofortacos said:
Expecting a person to buy a welder and do a good weld their first time out sounds good but it isn't realistic.

Thats how you learn. Grab life by the horns and do man ****! ... I Bought my first welder 20y ago and I never looked back.

Wild one · Aug 10, 2022

Farmingdales Finest said:
This wasn't the dealer it was a local autobody shop. I only have on street parking so it's not feasible for me to get a welder and try and do it myself. I don't know the extent of the issue but what I've read is most frame repairs go 2k and up.

Couldn't you buy the recall kit and install it yourself,or have a shop install it for you.The kits price looks pretty reasonable.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCRIT-18V160-2117.pdf

68418923AC - FCA Reinforce. Fuel tank strap | Myrtle Beach SC

Genuine FCA Part # 68418923AC (68418923AA, 68418923AB) - Reinforce. Fuel tank strap. Ships from Myrtle Beach SC

www.moparpartsinc.com

68418923AB

pacofortacos · Aug 10, 2022

DILLIGAF said:
Thats how you learn. Grab life by the horns and do man ****! ... I Bought my first welder 20y ago and I never looked back.

I know I can't stick weld for ****, can braze ok though. Have only ever tried a MIG once and never tried a TIG.
Thought about taking a welding class at the local community college as I could often use the skill to weld aluminum.
Instead bolts and nuts are my friend most of the time.

I was thinking if it is just rotted out where the tank attaches, I would just bolt a 1/4 piece of plate onto the frame, spray some rustproofing inside and out and call it a day!

Wild one · Aug 10, 2022

pacofortacos said:
I know I can't stick weld for ****, can braze ok though. Have only ever tried a MIG once and never tried a TIG.
Thought about taking a welding class at the local community college as I could often use the skill to weld aluminum.
Instead bolts and nuts are my friend most of the time.

I was thinking if it is just rotted out where the tank attaches, I would just bolt a 1/4 piece of plate onto the frame, spray some rustproofing inside and out and call it a day!

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.

2014 1500 gas tank strap and frame rusted out

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