HiCountry tow mounts: welding pros, take a look..

RMC_xj · 03-01-2010, 08:29 AM

Finally got my HiCountry D ring mounts this morning. Pulled them out of the box and...

One of my buddies seems to think that the welds are ****, and poorly done. I have no experience with welding, so I'm at a bit of a loss.

Thoughts?

justanotherjpr · 03-01-2010, 08:40 AM

Wow. It looks like it would work, but I would be ashamed to send that out if I was a professional fabricator. Call Hi Country and see if they'll send you a new set - express, with a label for you to return those to them.

TDHofstetter · 03-01-2010, 08:49 AM

That really is a pretty poor job. They were made in... ?

**rustywrangler** · 03-01-2010, 09:06 AM

WOW, those welds look like **** is exactly what comes to mind.

How much more work would it have been to weld a few more inches and clean up the spatter, let alone the fact that the actual welds are poor.

I doubt all of those would pass a stress test personally but it probably will "work" for what it was designed to do.

**COLOUXJ** · 03-01-2010, 09:13 AM

maybe it was a new guy working for them, but if that was the case wouldnt someone be watching him to make sure he did a good job?

**rustywrangler** · 03-01-2010, 10:48 AM

Thinking about it more, I would send those back if you can. If not, find someone with a welder. Are those 3/16" plate???

Curt41 · 03-01-2010, 11:17 AM

Yeah those welds are terrible. That would be like a grade C weld when I was learning to weld in FFA back in high school. You could at least find someone with a welder and put a whole seam on there.

RMC_xj · 03-01-2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDHofstetter

That really is a pretty poor job. They were made in... ?

They're HiCountry Offroad, out of Tennessee.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curt41

Yeah those welds are terrible. That would be like a grade C weld when I was learning to weld in FFA back in high school. You could at least find someone with a welder and put a whole seam on there.

Yeah, the same buddy from school who thought they were pretty ****ty offered to weld them up. Now I just need to decide if we go to his place outside of Toronto, or if I cough up the money, and pay for access to the welders up on base.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustywrangler

Are those 3/16" plate???

You have a good eye. Yeah, it's 3/16".

**rustywrangler** · 03-01-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMC_xj

You have a good eye. Yeah, it's 3/16".

Good, at least its not 1/8" lol.

What I would do, if it were me, would be to clean that all up with a grinder then weld between the welds that exist.

For looks. I would grind off those old ones after and cap off with new welds.

**SuperWade2** · 03-01-2010, 11:44 AM

Yah, mine weren't awesomely welded either... not quite as many boogers as your, but...

hxcjohnny · 03-01-2010, 11:49 AM

they would work, im sure, but they still look kinda homemade to me. it wouldnt have taken hardly any extra time to just run the bead the rest of the way

RMC_xj · 03-01-2010, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rustywrangler

Good, at least its not 1/8" lol.

What I would do, if it were me, would be to clean that all up with a grinder then weld between the welds that exist.

For looks. I would grind off those old ones after and cap off with new welds.

Good call. Welding is WAY outside my arcs of fire, what would you suggest? Mig/Tig ??

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperWade2

Yah, mine weren't awesomely welded either... not quite as many boogers as your, but...

Was it easy to get the power steering bolts off? I'm thinking I might have some difficulties with it..

**SuperWade2** · 03-01-2010, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RMC_xj

Was it easy to get the power steering bolts off? I'm thinking I might have some difficulties with it..

Getting them out wasn't a real problem (this is on my 89 Comanche, not a ton of rust issues), back in was a total pain in the butt... the kit I got came with a new inside frame bracket that fits between the steering box and the frame. Getting the holes in the bracket lined up to the bolt holes in the frame and the steering box (all while having the drag link connected) wasn't a lot of fun.

FletchXJ · 03-01-2010, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperWade2

Yah, mine weren't awesomely welded either... not quite as many boogers as your, but...

Mine look like that too. I figured they would work for what they were. They were only about $50 ($63 after shipping).

mikeypmcg · 03-01-2010, 03:04 PM

if you are taking off any rusty parts try out the home brew penetrating oil, 50/50 mix of ATF and acetone, i mix it up in a small jar (a very small amount) and apply it with a small artists brush (you dont want to get it on paint) let it sit a few minutes. does amazing things to rusty bolts.

03-01-2010, 09:06 AM	#4
rustywrangler Got my eye on you..... Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 18,657 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	WOW, those welds look like ** is exactly what comes to mind. How much more work would it have been to weld a few more inches and clean up the spatter, let alone the fact that the actual welds are poor. I doubt all of those would pass a stress test personally but it probably will "work" for what it was designed to do. __________________ http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...k_banner-1.gif Congenital Heart Disease is a reality for me, BOTH of my children have it. Please read up and become aware for future generations** Lydia Ann-Acquired 08/05/05 Open Heart surgery 08/10/05 Jacob Patrick-Acquired 01/17/08 Open Heart surgery 02/15/08

03-01-2010, 10:48 AM	#6
rustywrangler Got my eye on you..... Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 18,657 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Thinking about it more, I would send those back if you can. If not, find someone with a welder. Are those 3/16" plate??? __________________ http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...k_banner-1.gif Congenital Heart Disease is a reality for me, BOTH of my children have it. Please read up and become aware for future generations Lydia Ann-Acquired 08/05/05 Open Heart surgery 08/10/05 Jacob Patrick-Acquired 01/17/08 Open Heart surgery 02/15/08

03-01-2010, 08:49 AM	#3
TDHofstetter Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bradford, Vermont Posts: 364 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	That really is a pretty poor job. They were made in... ?