I have to ask about your frame in your first picture. Why did you cut the channel and weld it on the end of the cross member? Wouldn't it have been just as strong or even stronger if you would have just extended it all the way to the frame rail. I would have knotched it to fit the frame rail to give it more surface to weld the joint. It feels good to ask this question. I have been holding it back since the first day I started following your thread.