Crossmember: repair or replace?

Question

Wotcher all, just checking on something. And posting on-topic for a change too!

While trying to re-fit a towbar to the landy, I missed the spanner I was using to undo the nuts and the hammer went through the metal of the crossmember. I prodded around and have found a fair few rusted-through parts and have hacked out the worst of the dodgy metal.

Basically all the rusted metal appears to be skin rather than structural, there's lots of solid metal, the rusted stuff is in the gaps between heavy bits, e.g. one of them is the bit that covers up the end of one of the chassis rails, some of it is the metal around the part that the tailgate hinges bolt to.

So would people tend to patch the crossmember, or just replace the whole thing? It looks like a repair job to me but I thought I'd check in case I'm forgetting something.

Lee_D · Accepted Answer

Ian Rawlings uttered summat worrerz funny about:

If it's between the chassis rails I'd replace. Otherwise it's unlikely to do any harm. I guess it's between the chassis rails though ... either that or you need an eye test :-)

Lee D

Ian Rawlings · Answer

Well, it is, but it's all the thin bits with the thicker bits of metal looking fine. I think I'll take it to the local independent and see what they reckon. It's quite hard to gauge the damage via text ;-)

One reply so far... So much for this on-topic lark, I think I'll go back to waffling on about bunnies ;-)

Andrew Mawson · Answer

If you anticipate any heavy towing then replace the cross member,particularly if I'm behind you on a hill AWEM

Lizzy Taylor · Answer

You could try teaching the bunnies to weld.Lizzy

Lee_D · Answer

Lizzy Taylor  uttered summat worrerzfunny about:Surely welding with bunnies would be better... does it smell like chicken? .. not that I've welded with Chicken recently.Lee

Ian Rawlings · Answer

That sounds like a hare-brained scheme..Sorry, had to do it ;-)

Paul - xxx · Answer

Yes.Without seeing it there's only really you who can make that judgement. However, as has been said, if you're likely to be towing and especially anything heavy, then a complete cross-member can actually be easier to fit than 'repairing' bits piece-meal, provided the chassis ends are still good .... ;)

Ian Rawlings · Answer

The chassis is fine, and I've towed about 3 times in the last 7 years, but if I do use the landy for anything other than runs to the dump, it'll be the occasional tow or lugging wood for the fire around. I just don't have a use for it any more now it's been usurped so I'm hoping to not have to spend much loot on it.

My local dealer was Bickleighs in Yeovil but their phone's been disconnected so no idea if they're still around, I'll try and find someone closer than Poole.

Tom Woods · Answer

welding with bunnies would surely make some people hopping mad...

Lee_D · Answer

Tom Woods  uttered summat worrerz funnyabout:No one has mentioned Warren ....

Crossmember: repair or replace?

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