Vehicle frame joint

A joint between a side rail and a cross member in a vehicle frame comprising:

• a side rail having a generally C-shaped cross section defined by a vertically extending side portion, upper and lower horizontally extending flange portions extending from said side portion, and upper and lower vertically extending lip portions extending respectively from said flange portions, said upper and lower lip portions being flared away from said side portion at said joint so as to extend horizontally with said upper and lower flange portions, respectively;
• a cross member including a horizontally extending upper end portion having a generally hat-shaped cross section defined by a horizontally extending top portion, a pair of vertically extending side portions extending from said top portion, and a pair of horizontally extending flange portions extending respectively from said side portions, wherein said top portion of said upper end portion of said cross member abuts said upper flange portion and said upper flared lip portion of said side rail in overlapping fashion, said cross member further including a horizontally extending lower end portion having a generally hat-shaped cross section defined by a horizontally extending top portion, a pair of vertically extending side portions extending from said top portion, and a pair of horizontally extending flange portions extending respectively from said side portions, wherein said flange portions of said lower end portion of said cross member abut said lower flange portion and said lower flared lip portion of said side rail in overlapping fashion;
• means for securing said top portion of said upper end portion of said cross member to said upper flange portion and said upper flared lip portion of said side rail;
• and
• means for securing said flange portions of said lower end portion of said cross member to said lower flange portion and said lower flared lip portion of said side rail.