Trucks and trailers

"I would like to have something in the 32 to 36 foot range....."

While 30+ feet is a lot of trailer, weight is more relevant than the length and flat ground vs mountains/elevation makes a difference also. Have fun shopping.

I would look at the specs for the year of the 3/4 ton drivetrain you used. Use the rating for that drivetrain and maybe stay 10 to 15% below it with the TT you choose just for added safety and less wear and tear on your turck.

I think the older GM trucks turned into crew cabs look great.

Have fun with it.

romore wrote:
Can you post some pictures? That sounds like a neat project.

May take me a bit, but as soon as I get time I will be happy to post some pics.....Thanks...

Oh... the frame has also been boxed front to rear.... more strength and less flex....... we built the truck with this in mind.

Fatmanz Kustomz

Thanks, it is a second series 55 with complete suspension upgrate from a later model 3/4 ton truck. Engine is a 455 olds and th200 4r which has been built to stand the added pressure of the big block olds and towing. frame was added from another 55 chassis I bought just for that purpose, it has been plated at all four joints and double welded. Also added air helpers in the rear so it could pull a little more weight, already has the electric brake system installed and a weight dist. hitch too. I would like to have something in the 32 to 36 foot range.....

Can you post some pictures? That sounds like a neat project.

I "need" to see a picture of this truck. Assuming that you put a small block Chevy V-8 in it, I'll guess that you may be good to pull an 8,000# trailer with no issues. The frames on the trucks back then aren't as strong as they are today, so you need to be a little concerned about that. An 8,000# trailer would have 800# to 1,000# of tongue weight. As long as your truck will handle that weight, it should be fine. It sounds like you put modern axles under it, so it may do just fine, depending of course on what you actually did to it. A trailer properly set up with electric brakes should help the towing situation.

You are going to have to make that decision based on what you did to it. We have no idea what engine, transmission, rear end, springs or brakes you put on it. We have no idea how you stretched the frame, or the quality of the work and engineering. Trailers have brakes so you need to install a quality brake controller and a properly engineered hitch receiver. You could use guidelines from modern vehicles that have similar components to what you put in it. As a WAG, you are probably going to be OK up to around 8K lbs on a trailer, maybe a little more on a fifth-wheel. So many variables... Sounds way cool, though! Is it a first series or second series - model changed mid-1955.

Brian