The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun Rims and Rearends

While looking at trucks for sale lately, I've seen some sweet 1 tons. 2 that I am considering have dual wheels on the rear but the front rims are regular single wheel type rims (whatever you would call them) My question is are the rear ends the same width weather the truck has duals or a single rear rim? I'd like to put a single wheel on the back to save money on tires and I also would like to put a long pickup box on it.
Thanks in advance for any answers and solutions you may have.
Jim

Jim! I was wondering this exact question this evening! I located a good 9 foot box out in the trees. At the time I didn't consider this question. I could go measure it and compare the rears but I don't want to drive the 40 miles and then hike through the 3 feet of snow to do so. Sorry fella. If our good stovebolters don't already know the answer I'll let you know in May.
Help, fellow stovebolters!

Jim, not sure what year truck you are referring to. If you check the Tech section of the site you will find a Truck Specification file or link. Then you will be able to see the specs for the truck you are considering for.

I checked for my 59 one ton, and the rear axle seems to be the same specs, whether dual or single wheel. Hope that helps.

I was referring to all AD trucks and particularly a 53 and a 55 I saw for sale. I looked at the specs and still have this question, apparently I was not able to glean this bit of info from that.

Jim

In 1953, the dual rear wheels were attached to the same axle but a different set of springs were installed (1-ton models that had the dual rear wheel option).

Jim, I'll go for a drive Saturday if the answer hasn't been found and I'll compare the two. Mine originally (as far as I know) had a deck with duals and my bed donor was a longbox single axle. Who knows, maybe I'll find something else hiding along the ole dirt back roads.

Jim
There is a difference in the front hubs single vs duel. At least on my 46 1 ton,and the rear hub flange placement on the hub. This has to do with front to rear tracking,But bearings are the same. This is talked about on the Pirate 4x4 forum. Look under HO72. There's a bunch about it.
They also talk about wheel mount to wheel mount diff in some of the newer stuff.

Jim,
I got a measurement of 59 3/4"(as close as I could get as both are in snow right now with tires on) on both rear ends of those trucks. Hopefully this helps but possibly some more research is needed. I'll dig some more as well and see if I find a different answer. Let me know what you find too!

For the AD's at least, the measurements listed for the 3803 (C&C) rear tread widths (center of tires) is 61 3/4 for single rear and 54 1/4 for dual rear (inners). If that helps (from the data book).

I own several of the one ton trucks and have swapped center sections etc. The Rear ends all appear to be same width with 5:17 to one rear ratio. Cab and chassis had dual wheels on rear and different front hub that carried the dual wheel up front. 9 Foot Pick Up bed trucks had single wheels front and rear.
I have 1949 one ton with Cummins Turbo Diesel and swapped the rear end out of the 90 Dodge truck into the original Chevrolet chassis. It now has 3:07 to 1 rear ratio. This rear is from a 90 Dodge dually and is wider than the cab and chassis trucks, but I run dual wheels front and rear after swapping the front hubs. This leaves a longer portion of the axle sticking out but as long as you don't try to bend it with your shins its fine just ugly!

I suppose the trucks that I was looking at must have either had the front hubs changed or originally had pickup boxes were replaced with flatbeds. A truck that is 60-68 years old may have been reconfigured one or more times.
Thanks for all the Info.

My 3800 DRW sits on the same axle as a single rear wheel. The front wheels have a spacer that bolts to the front hub to push the wheel out and allow for the use of the same dual type wheels as in the back and maintain track.

Basically besides the possible difference in springs that John mentioned, Single Rear to Dual Rear would need 6 dual type wheels and the front hub spacers. Dual rear to Single rear would be the elimination of the front hub spacers and 4 appropriate wheels.