Rear frame questions

[davey25]

So when I stripped the jeep the very rear crossmember( the one that the rear of the gas tank skid plate and bumper bolts to)was not welded to the frame just bolted with L brackets ..2 L brackets on either side of frame with bolts running through frame holding them on..some spacers inside frame so frame does not crush..then on the other side of the L the bolts go through the homemade heavy steel crossmember ,the swing out tire carrier bracket and then the bumper...the biggest issue I had with this was if you just want to take the bumper off everything comes off cause it's all sandwiched together..my plan was to weld the crossmember to the frame..then use the L brackets again..the at least things can come of individually...only issue is to weld it on it needs to get a bit closer to the front of the jeep..then all my skid plate holes are off...
I'm just looking for ideas here..ohh and is the skid plate gas tank set up suppose to be a lot more to the passenger side?..any help appreciated thanks

 

[davey25]

I guess no help here..so I welded the rear crossmember on as far back as possible..slotted the front holes on the skid plate more..re installed the tank and now my gas tank straps are running into the forward crossmember..need about another 1/4 inch so rear holes line up..removeD tank again and hammered straps tighter to tank to give more clearance..well see how things go tomorrow

 

[Purple77CJ7]

Yes the gas tank is offset to one side so the original exhaust can exit past the tank. I ended up welding a piece of 1/4" plate across the back of the rear crossmember to strengthen it. I drilled out only the holes I needed to bolt everything back up. PO had pulled something and bent it. I welded in some new L brackets to tie everything back into the frame. I stitch welded the two together. I also took some 1 1/2" strap and tied from the top of the plate across the top of the frame rail and across the bottom and remounted the rear spring hangers. I almost lost the rear bumper/ tire carrier with the thin original crossmember.