Hi radioisotope

My second 454-30 w/179 inch wheel base, is rated at 8500 lbs. dry curb weight with no bed, just cab, chassis and drive-chain.

I had to remove the outside rear duals to load on a heavy duty car trailer. The weight of the truck and car trailer was just over 10,000 lbs. on the scales. The rear duals are a couple of inches under 96 inches (8 feet) in width. If I remember rightly 92 inches outside to outside.

Your truck should have a 161 wheel base (center of front axle to center of rear axle) and a chassis/cab/drive-train unladen weight of about 8,000 lbs. then add any bed or other equipment.

A heavy duty backhoe trailer with surge brakes should do the trick. You will need at least a one ton truck to pull it.

I made the mistake of using a 3/4 ton pickup, could only drive between 25 to 30 MPH, over that and it would start to fish-tail all over the road. And 5 MPH down-hill

I was luckier with my first 1952 GMC 454, I drove it home. Got a one day moving permit to move it home, from my local DMV.

Be patient and drive slow, enjoy you new toy and what you have to look forward too.


Dance like no one is watching,
Sing like no one is listening,
Love like you've never been hurt.

1948 GMC FC101 1/2t Pickup w/270 and SM420
1948 GMC FC253 1t Factory 80"x9' Flatbed Dually
1948 Chevy COE 2 Ton 8'x15' Flatbed
1950 GMC 354-24 2 Ton 8'X12' Flatbed w/Dump Hoist
1953 GMC 454-30 3 Ton 8'x14' Flatbed w/Dump Hoist
1953 GMC 454-30 3 Ton Cab and Chassis
1942 Clarkator 6 MILL-44 Heavy Aircraft Tug
1942 Ford (9N) Moto Tug with 1/2 yard Loader
1947 Oliver OC3 HG-42 Tract-Crawler Bull Dozier w/6' Blade