Okay so I can say it's thin, but I can't say whether or not it's a lot thinner than any other tubular frame. A friend of mine tried drilling a hole in the bottom of his Outlander to mount the plow plate and said the drill went through way too easily. I realize that's not an objective opinion, but it's his opinion not unlike any editor's opinion you read about in a magazine. I for one think the thickness is only part of the problem though. I think the design allows for an extraordinary amount of stress to be placed where mine bent. If you look at the pics again, you'll notice it's directly behind where the lower a arm joint is. Let's face it the the part to give is going to be the weakest area, in my case that part behind where the a arm joint is, is weaker than the a arm itself. I'm fairly confident that had I bumped the tree dead centered, the frame would have been fine, at least at the speed I hit it at, because then the entire length of the frame would have absorbed the energy and not just the area behind where the a arm joint is. Even if they made it heavier, I think it would still be weaker there than any other part of the frame though nonetheless.

 

I've followed this thread, (until it lapsed into a finger pointing yelling match) and have the following to say.

To fix the frame issue-if you have one-you will need the following:

1. A cutting torch
2. 3 pieces of 2 inch square metal tubing, cut to the length of the frame.
3. A grinder.
4. A hefty hammer
5. Some grease or similar lubricant.
6.A six inch piece of 2x4

Jack the quad off its wheels. Support as needed.
Take the cutting torch and cut off the rear frame cover -don't destroy it-you will be putting it back.
Place the three pieces of square tubing side by side and tack weld them together. Tack across the width, high, middle, and low.
Allow to cool completely.
Flip over and repeat.
Take the grinder and grind the welds smooth.
Sprinkle with lube as desired.
Take the hammer and placing the 2x4 over the end of the tubing, pound the tubing into the space between the frame spars.
Tack the rear frame cover back on with the torch.
Paint black if desired.

This will strengthen the frame.

I read this trick on Nyroc ATV Web site on their Can Am forum last year. I know it works for Outies.

Now, try to stop arguing.

 

I would do that to mine if i had the ability to weld aluminum at home.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: 08Renegade500

I would do that to mine if i had the ability to weld aluminum at home.</end quote></div>

Here's a link to the mod instructions with pictures. You don't use aluminum, you use steel.

http://www.nyrocatv.com/forum....iewtopic=12280&show=1


You're Welcome

Hefty

 

Awesome mod hefty!!!!

I don't know if i could get it past the couple of small dents that were present in my frame b4 i installed skids.

I am going to try it though - couldn't cost much and could save me a fortune if i can get it in there.

ty from all the can am owners!!

 

You can also use a board, probably treated. Not sure if I would do that though. The frame is not really sealed so it will get wet in there. Same goes for the steel. If you use it, you better paint it or grease and oil it up, maybe use undercoating or something along those lines.

This would of never gotten to where it did if the attitude wasn't there. If you really wanted help or to discuss a potential frame issue, you certainly should not of posted the same boycott crap on at least 4 different forums that I have seen, probably more. That is partly why you got the backlash you did. A better route would of been to ask others if they had the problem, take note, and if there were sufficient numbers, then do a petition or something along those lines as has been done before on here. But it's kinda too late for that now.

Good luck and hope it doesn't happen again to you or anybody else no matter the reason.

 

I'm not so sure if those reinforcements would slide all the way up to where mine buckled, I'm not saying it won't, but they would have to go all the way up to where that a arm joint is and I'm not too sure the bottom spar is straight all the way up to where mine gave. It would definitely fix worrying about the bottom buckling from dents and landing on big rocks no doubt.

 

If you have acces to a torch, heat the spar as someone beats the steel tubing, or wood beam, into the spar from the rear. Haven't done it myself but have read threads where that was successful. Good luck.

 

This is what we are doing to reinforce our quads.
http://aurorawheelers.com/view_topic.php?id=5788


2007 CAN-AM 800XT
2500 warn winch

2007 Grizzly 450SE
25" ITP Mudlites
ITP Delta steel wheels
HMF Penland Exhaust
TPI air box valve
HMF jet kit
FPS Clutch kit(best up grade so far)
Gorrila 3000pro winch
BEI A-Arm guards

1991 Honda TRX300FW
stock for now

 

Here is what I find funny about Bombardier Can Am owners. Everyone that buys one has an ego bent to hell and back. You defend them tooth and nail when the only good unit they have ever made is the ds650. I've rode a while myself and remember back when you beat the crap out of a Warrior or a 400 crashed it or whatever. Maybe flip it over and worse case bend a steering tube back straight. Those days are over. Your talking huge amounts of power highly integrated drive trains and all this time they want to make everything lighter and cheaper. I own a Bombardier product and it was a very bad purchase. My biggest complaints about them is their very bad attitudes and exhorbitant prices. The biggest insult is the fact that other B owners who don't ride off their own properties start talking like they are the best thing ever made. You want something indestructable go buy a Yamaha Warrior 350. Now called a Rapter 350 I think. Next time spend some time researching your purchase instead of the ad hype that Can Am wants you to hear. I LOVE rotax motors but I do not like anything else about Can Am especially their attitudes. They say they want to be the BMW of atv's but I think they are more like the 'bucket of plastic soldiers' of the toy world. Me and my riding buddies have lovingly come up with a term for any Bombardier/Can Am issues. When my quad breaks down while riding, we call it a 'Can Am time out'.