Twisted body on M1009

[cucvrus]

During the Rausch Creek fiasco this weekend I had some fuel issues with my M1009. After a new injection pump, lift pump and fuel filter. It turns out the fuel line was rubbed thru at the fuel pump. Any way that is repeat information that I posted in another thread. I got towed back to camp behind a 5 ton tractor and it was an interesting ride while I was on the leash. I locked my brakes several times. That never fazed the 5 ton tractor. He never knew I was back there. He towed me up hill , down hill, thru mud and over rocks. One time It bottomed out hard on the class 3 receiver. When we got back to camp. The rear glass would not roll down with out asisstance. Also the gate was bound in the latch. I did manage to get the gate down and reclosed. It seems that the body on the right rear has sunk. I don't see it on the frame but the rear threshold is arched in the middle. I did hear a lot of grexing in the super struture when we were wheeling on the steep rocky inclines. I was wondering if any one else ever had the same issue. it seems that the rear crossmember my be weakened. I am going to jack it back into square and add a few HD crossmembers under the rear body to frame area. I do recall seeing civilian K5 Blazer bodies bouncing around on the frame when they get very rusty. I did get the gate closed again and the window cranked up. So it must not be that bad. I will post a few pictures of the damage when I get around to it. I just spent the whole day doing engine work and changing a lot of expensive things for a $2.00 piece of 3/8" rubber hose. Oh well. It runs stronger now.

 

[Drock]

Could just be the rubber body mounts aren't , well, as rubbery as they used to be. And just got ah little clocked and staid there. Check those mounts while your under there. Mite be ah good time to replace them yah know.

 

[cucvrus]

They have been replaced and I do not see any rubbers that are out of place. I will need to pressure wash the under carriage.

 

[cucvrus]

I do think the body is twisted from some of the rock piles we went over. It was wild. I have no regrets. It is my toy and I will have to fix it again. I did hear the roof stressing on one of the hills we were climbing. It made an oil can sound. But I can see no damage that jumps out at me. I will keep you updated. I am still going to check the rear cross-member. That is the weak link in the chain at this point in time.

 

[Mg84648]

I do think the body is twisted from some of the rock piles we went over. It was wild. I have no regrets. It is my toy and I will have to fix it again. I did hear the roof stressing on one of the hills we were climbing. It made an oil can sound. But I can see no damage that jumps out at me. I will keep you updated. I am still going to check the rear cross-member. That is the weak link in the chain at this point in time.

I saw those pics on another thread, man that looked like good times. Pretty good turn out too!
Hope you can get your oh-nine back in the fight quickly. BTW Cucvrus, check your PM box.

 

[Drock]

Yeah that's ah lot of flex if the roof is twisting. Agree, check or just weld up some of those cross members if you can. Also I've heard of guy's boxing in the frame from the front suspension back to past the back of the cab on the pickup trucks. I'm sure something like that would take ah bunch of flex out of the frame.

 

[dougco1]

I do think the body is twisted from some of the rock piles we went over. It was wild. I have no regrets. It is my toy and I will have to fix it again. I did hear the roof stressing on one of the hills we were climbing. It made an oil can sound. But I can see no damage that jumps out at me. I will keep you updated. I am still going to check the rear cross-member. That is the weak link in the chain at this point in time.

Rick,
If you run it back to Rausch Creek and go back down the same trail in the opposite direction then your body should twist back to its original shape; No?

 

[cucvrus]

I wish it was that easy. But I have no worries. I just have another project that needs completed. The gate and window are closed at this time. I don't use it as a daily driver. So I just park it. Today my son was using it to set fence in the pasture. He said it works fine. So if it works fine let it be. I see a big double gusset in the rear gate opening and a heavier rear cross member. That will give it some strength. We are looking at a scrap blazer body today for some dimensions. I will just have the Line-X spotted in where we put the gussets. Bolts and channel are the way to go. Thanks for the humor. It goes a long way.

 

[fitz]

I do recall seeing civilian K5 Blazer bodies bouncing around on the frame when they get very rusty.

I've also seen it on the M1009's.

 

[cucvrus]

The M1009 twisted body is repaired and back in shape again. Rust was not the issue. I did not think rust was the issue from the get go. I put the truck up on frame machine and hung the gauges on the rear frame and it was fine. We hooked a jack to the right rear and tied the frame down and jacked the right rear quarter up a bit. Hit and pulled on the threshold inside and it went back in square. We adjusted the rear gate hinges and latches and everything worked better then before the Raucsh Creek expedition. We are all good again. The M1009 is ready for another wheeling expedition. I will be adding a few gussets to the rear area. I think the class 3 add on receiver bottomed out hard on a rock and caused the damage. I was inside the M1009 when I was being towed by the 5 ton. It hit hard. I had the spare tire and a chain bag and tow strap on the right corner inside. I will consider relocating them to the center of the rear floor area. Or add steel channel to the rear area. I will be looking into it. Any ideas?After the repairs we flexed it and rechecked the gate closure. Perfect fit.