Loose rear or handling flakey? check the removable rear cross member for cracks. Re-enforce and weld as necessary. It is a weak design. Ed/caribou had exchange ones. (1)
Reinforce the rear crossmember. These commonly rust from the inside and crack causing a drifting sensation at speed, uneven tire wear and the transmission popping out of gear. Begin by treating the inside with a rust inhibitor, then fill the inside with household foam insulation which when dry will add strength and prevent water from getting inside. Lastly, weld 1 ½ inch metal strips to the front and back. (2)
Stress failure of the engine cross member by Tony Lloyd -- This is a well known fault which affects the crossmember behind the engine. A crack develops in an area around where the gearbox mounting sits and quickly propagates until the crossmember drops down. The first some people know is when gears become difficult to select due to the gear selector upright becoming misaligned.
Correct rectification of this defect can be quite difficult, as I have seen many repairs quickly fail particularly when the crack has simply been welded up. Even plating the affected area can introduce "stress raisers" where the plates are welded on, causing further cracking. If you have a repaired crossmember inspect it regularly for signs of cracks.
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