The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts dually bed for my 42

has anyone ever made a dually bed for a 41-46 1 1/2 ton im throwing the idea around in my head heres a link to what im wanting to do http://www.chromewheel.com/PIX/oldtruck.htm

Check this out from the Jim Carter Working Truck Pages

http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/cgi/htmlos.exe/004016.2.240924710800021266

low54, I too, am interested in doing the same to my '42 short wheel base 1 1/2 ton. My biggest concern has been the fenders. I currently have a small flatbed on it, but a pickup bed would be awesome.
I am not planning on working on mine until next winter. Right now, my main concern is to finish a building that I am constructing in the back yard that will house my restoration.
I would be interested in any information that you obtain for fenders. Please keep me informed if you locate a source, and I will do the same for you.
By the way, those are good photos on that link you provided, that should be helpful when seeking a fabricator.

John

I, too, want a bed but similar to this one.
http://www.oldchevytrucks.com/cgi/htmlos.exe/00367.2.610639973100018119

I would be willing to go back to singles to get that look.

I was thinking a 9 foot bed kit and some stretched small truck fenders and some runningboard splicing.

Let's keep each other updated is someone has a good idea.

The dually pickup bed was actually a factory item from Chevy (Model 4104--Utility Express):

http://www.brads41-46chevys.com/id22.html

Unfortunately, there weren't many produced and since these were real work horses, they were used hard and not many have survived.

I was lucky enough to accidentally find a dually pickup and have done a lot of research on them. I've collected some literature and sales books that actually show the dually pickup. I also contacted Jim Carter but he said that his and mine are the only two he's heard of.

There is another member here, Bob Galet, in Pennsylvania, who found a bed off another truck and wants to make a 1939 dually, but the other truck had single fenders, so he's also looking for the duals.

Your best bet might be to do something like Shawn did and build your own. By the way, he's also posted his pickup on the Stovebolt site:

http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/maher_shawn_1946.html

Bob

4.3Toy:

You're right, the original bed is 9' long. The running boards are cab-length (like the cab-chassis models) with an additional section which flares out to meet the dually fenders. The 9' bed was used on both 1-ton and 1-1/2 ton pickups, but dual rear wheels were only available on the 1-1/2 tons. Like the front fenders, the wheel openings for 1-ton and 1-1/2 ton trucks are larger than the 1/2 and 3/4 ton little brothers.

This type of 9' bed was used from about 1934 to 46, using different running boards and fenders depending on year. (The 47-54 Advanced Design 9' bed is different). The dually rear fenders for 41-46 were first used in 37. Apparently Chevy didn't see fit to re-design them for such small production numbers.

By the way, Chevy also produced 1-1/2 ton dually panel trucks and canopy express trucks which used the same fenders. The panels are a little more plentiful than the pickups, but I have yet to see an actual canopy express, except in literature. Regardless, anything with the dually rear fenders is pretty rare. Shawn did a good job of making his rear fenders from a set of fronts.

Bob

i wonder what the cab to axle is on a long bed 47 -54 pickup ...just wandering if it was close enough that i could do some widening on the fenders and make it work

Hey Bob! How are you doing? How's that '46 coming along? I havent been doing anything to my '39 in a while because I bought a money pit '77 for a daily driver. It sucks gas, but it 4 wheels good!

Low 54:

You know, you might be onto something. 47-54 long beds are much more plentiful. But instead of widening 47-54 fenders, I would try to find some 37-46 fenders and widen those. Just weld the holes in the bed and position the new fenders where you need them. That would solve any cab to axle problems. Or, I really liked what Shawn did to modify a set of big truck front fenders.

I think part of the styling beauty of the art deco (and earlier) trucks is how the fenders gently roll up and over the tire and end up sloping down to a point like a boattail speedster. The 47-54 trucks kind of have an oblong, almost egg-shaped rear fender, which looks fine on the truck they were designed for, but really looks out of place on a pre-war designed truck. If you don't believe me, I've got pictures of how mine was rigged from a previous owner. Uggh.


Hey Bob G. Just keep on putzin' around with the '77 and at that rate, maybe I'll beat ya and get my 46 done first!!!

Bob