These two pictures are of where the hitch mounts to the frame, looks to me like it got overloaded, probably during recovery. I use the hitch for a bike rack that is capable of taking at least my weight, but this damage definitely sketches me out, especially if I end up needing to use the hitch for recovery.




The other spot that looks bad is rot on the shock mount on the front axle. Both sides look like this but this one is a little worse.

 

I would start looking for another rig, but that is just me.

 

scary.....That rear part is cracked and buckled. I had a 73 Camaro that had the same problem in the same area, I hit a small pot hole and the rear shackle came through the trunk floor!

 

This is the east coast, everything has rust, this thing is actually fairly clean apart from a few spots..

Manimal, that's pretty scary! The frame damage is due to the hitch, it looks like the tongue was overloaded such that the back of the hitch mount (the side facing the front of the vehicle) deformed the frame.

What I'd ideally like to do is reinforce the damaged area.

 

Still not safe no matter what coast you're on.

 

Keep looking under it for more rust,I wouldn't drive it unless i had to tell that frame rail gets fixed.

 

won't be able to fix it without a welder, that's for sure

 

Definitely needs welding, the shock/spring perches I think I should just be able to weld material on. The frame rails I'm not sure about, may take it to a fabricator to see what they think.

It does look bad I know, but I've been driving it since april like this, including wheeling it a few times on some reasonably tough trails. Not sure how long it was like this while the PO had it, but I know I didn't do that damage to the frame. The areas of the tube where the shackles mount are prettymuch completely intact but it obviously needs to be addressed.

Now I just need to deal with getting 220v/50a out to the garage so I can finally get my welder hooked up..

 

Some people reinforce that exact area when building bumpers by attaching square tubing and slide it through the rear. I would look into that if I was you.