ok, if I'm so wrong, can someone PLEASE explain to me how the whole bed of the truck can shake when it is bolted solidly to the frame? The bed can't move unless the frame does.

The cab however is isolated from the frame on dampening rubber mounts that absorb the small movements of the frame, resulting in a comfortable ride for passengers. besides, the cab and bed are two separate pieces. when the frame twists a bit, they will move in different directions. This is why they are separate, otherwise the body panels would be kinked to he!!. They're pickup trucks, they do this.

If you put a hitch on, it is like adding a heavy duty crossmember to the back of the frame, which yes, could make it torsionally stiffer (less resistant to twist). However it is not 'bed shake' that it is fixing, as the bed itself does not shake. It is the term 'bed shake' that I have problems with.

Still think I'm wrong? sit in the bed and have someone drive your truck around the block then tell me you don't see the cab moving. It's all relative.

So once again, please tell me how something bolted solidly to a frame with no dampening can possibly shake around? Keep it in simple terms since I'm apparently not very bright...

 

Because

 

We all talked about this and the concensus was that the cab shakes, and its not the bed/opical illusion in the mirrors, etc... BUT I have noticed other peoples beds shaking on the road.

I am thinking that the bed is really shaking...

not a big deal though.

 

good answer!

 

Inbred, my truck came w/ the tow package, never had any bed shake before the lift at all. Now I'm embarassed as hell when going down the road and I hit just a little over 50, my bed I'd sware is trying to do Chubby Checker's "Twist". It's gotta PO some people either coming up on me or next to me when I get on the gas a little more to power thru it.

 

Its the sides of the bed flexing...go to your bed and push on the sides...theyre flimsy

 

inbred...perhaps your issue is one of semantics. 'Bed shake' is just the visible manifestation of a more complex issue of probable frame distortions. Any structural engineer, when examining the new forward position of the 04-05 shock mounts relative to the cantilevered length/weight aft of the mounts, would scratch his head in wonder. Yes, the shaking is of the frame/bed and it is certainly more visible further aft of the axle.

A simple test: put 3 glasses of water across the aft section of the bed (in my case, one on each corner of the hard tonneau and one in the center), do the same just aft of the rear cab window, and finally, place one glass on the center of the dash along with one in the console and drive slowly over your favorite road. This test will satisfy any curiosity. Next, chamois all the spilled water from the rear of the truck bed then drink the water from the intact water containers in the cab. Better yet, use water in the bed and beer in the cab. None of the latter will be spilled and can be thoroughly enjoyed.

 

yes, it is semantics. Guess I'm a weak person, but it gets quite annoying to me when almost every week someone posts that they think their bed is going to fall off when in fact it's the most solidly and rigidly mounted thing on their truck.

outboard rear shocks will cause the rear of the frame to twist when going over bumps instead of the whole rear end hopping straight off the ground. Equals softer ride, but also equals more frame twist. Also extra 6 inches or so of bed depth equals higher side rails that make an angular movement seem more pronounced. Also puts them more into your field of view in the mirrors.

 

I know it is an old ppost, but I had to respond!

Inbred, you aren't a weak person... just INBRED