Welding on tailgate of pickup ?

[Cranky]

Have always heard you should disconnect the battery and other stuff but what about welding on something that's sitting on the tailgate and not welding on the vehicle itself?? Vehicle in question is my 95 Dakota Yard Cart.....

 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Always heard it ... always did it. better safe than sorry....... but if there no metal on metal.. I don't think you'd hurt anythiing

 

[JB400]

I'd throw down a thick rubber mat to insulate the truck from your project. Better safe than sorry. Or keep a set of saw horses in the truck to use instead

 

[Budnicks]

good practice to not weld on the truck
unless it's isolated from the chassis & battery
or disconnect the battery

they have been known to back-feed &
the battery "could blow up" or ruin your battery
&/or the computer &/or various electronics devises etc.

if you have dual batteries, like in most diesel PU/rigs
one needs to disconnected or you need 2 isolators

they make an anti-zap (trademark name)
battery protector welding isolator
several companies make them,
from like $50-$100 depending on quality
average cost is like $70-$85 for a 12vt unit
if you weld on cars/trucks a lot (it's well worth it)
& don't want to disconnect the battery every time

 

[steve from staten island]

I have the exact anti-zap protecter Budnicks posted. We use them when welding on the big rigs which mostly all have computerized systems. As stated its better to be safe then sorry. But what id add is always put the ground cable as close to were your wedding as possible.

 

[Photon440]

Although I'd often heard about disconnecting the battery, the truth is that while using the welder at work (mounted in the back of the truck) we never worried about such things. Whether welding something off the truck, or clamped in the vice mounted on the deck, welding didn't cause any problems.

One time when I was stuck in that truck with a dead battery, with the ignition key turned on I put the welder's ground clamp onto the truck frame, and the positive electrode right to the starter solenoid (Ford diesel truck). The starter spun over with great enthusiasm and we were on our way. I figured that at the setting I had on the welder I was putting about 200 amps at 20 volts into the starter.

 

[dadsbee]

I wouldn't be worried about your battery, it's the diodes in your alternator that it's gonna fry if it takes anything out. That said, I've welded car parts back into place, as well as dozer and backhoe components and never fried an alternator or battery.

 

[Cranky]

Although I'd often heard about disconnecting the battery, the truth is that while using the welder at work (mounted in the back of the truck) we never worried about such things. Whether welding something off the truck, or clamped in the vice mounted on the deck, welding didn't cause any problems.

One time when I was stuck in that truck with a dead battery, with the ignition key turned on I put the welder's ground clamp onto the truck frame, and the positive electrode right to the starter solenoid (Ford diesel truck). The starter spun over with great enthusiasm and we were on our way. I figured that at the setting I had on the welder I was putting about 200 amps at 20 volts into the starter.

Oh man, never ever thought of doing that!! And "with great enthusiasm" That's great LOL

 

[Cranky]

Thanks for the replies!! Don't think I can hurt this old thing much more. It's been on it's last leg for at least 8 years now lol

 

[747mopar]

All I've every done is make sure to ground directly to whatever I'm welding, never had an issue. I think most problems come from allowing the current to pass through multiple components before it reaches the weld area. Do the same at work too.

 

[metaldad]

same with the machines at werk. (chillers)
always hit the disconnect, and, where ever possible, remove power supply connection