The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts How wide is your flatbed?

I am still working on putting together my 48 2 ton with the Detroit Diesel.
I now have my newer Dana 70HD with disk brakes installed in the rear. I also have my 22.5" wheels installed. I was measuring the width over the rear tires and get about 7 feet wide, or 84" if you prefer. I think that is the width I will have my new bed made to, so it just barely covers the tires.

My question is what is the normal overall width of a flatbed on an AD 1.5 or 2 ton?

Thanks,

Grigg

I want to hear the answer to this one. I have wondered about this for a long time.

My 40 ton and a half was seven feet wide. I was told that seven foot beds worked better for farm work in the fields, don't know if it's true or not.

The specs book for 1954 trucks says that the 1 ton, 1.5 ton, and 2 ton overall bed (platform) width measures 91.56". That's just a little over 7.5', so you guys weren't too far off.

When I first got into the truck body business back in the 60's a common dump body was 6'6" ID (78") width so that made the OD 87-90" depending on the maker. The military bodies we built were 90" so somewhere near that should be correct for a 50's era body but bare in mind that the normal tire then was an 8:25x20 so perhaps 87-88" is better.

My grain bed made by an outfitter is 7.5' wide X 12' long,
Scott

On my red '42, I have a 7 foot wide bed. I haven't secured it yet, but it looks pretty cool to me, as it just covers the back wheels. It came off of a 1970 one ton.
My other two trucks that have flatbeds, I believe are right at 8 foot.

John

I have a GM 1946 dealer built flatbed that is exactly 8 feet wide. Keep in mind however that your rearend setup sounds like it is several inches narrower than stock. I think I measured about 90 inches with tire on mine if I remember right. The 8 foot bed gives me about a 3 inch overhang on each side which looks very nice considering tire size and everything. Also consider how high off the rear wheels your bed will be. If it sits close to the tires it will look better narrower. As it moves up off the tire, IMO you need a little more overhang to get the same look.

Looks like if I make mine 7' it will be a tad narrower than normal. That is fine with me, I was just curious as to how would it will be.
I would like to keep my truck as narrow as possible. A new f250 single rear wheels is also 7' overall on the pickup bed, so my truck with duals will be the same width as a new single wheeled truck.

There's plenty of period pictures of stake bodies in the J.C. catalogue, perhaps you could scale them out.

1934 through 1936 high cab stake racks were 81&1/2 in wide, 1936 low cab through 1938 stake rack was increased to 86 & 1/2 wide. Width was increased in the 39 to 47 early trucks to approximately 87 in.

Since we're on the subject of flatbeds, has anyone replaced the original all metal flatbed frame with wood? My flatbed is all metal frame with 1/4" plate on top. When I get to that point, I'd like to replace it with all wood frame and top. Curious if anyone's done that and if it affected the hydraulic lift? Also, how did the wood frame connect to the truck frame where it hinges for the frame?

Hello mummdogg,

If you are going to use your truck, I think you would be better off to build a steel frame. If it is for only show, use wood.
My '59 (it's wood) has a cracked main support rail from using the hoist. It looks like it will be a major ordeal to replace.
Just my opinion.

John

OK, the curiosity got to me, so I broke out the tape measure and flashlight.

Red '42 83.5" wide by 95" long

Green '42 93.5 wide by 13'6" long

'59 Viking 93.5" wide by 12'6" long.

All 1 1/2 tons.

John

My 1949 4100 has an original grain dump bed that measures 84" o.d. wide. I put newer style mirrors on both sides, so I can actually see behind me, and they just barely peek around the width of the bed. I'm thinking of narrowing the bed for better visability, since it's grain hauling days are long gone.

The flatbed on my '47 is also about 94" wide. You can see how it looks relative to the wheels by clicking on the link in my signature.

I have just removed my original flat bed with grain box. Its 90" wide, I am going to rebuild and replace it with a bed that is 84" wide, equal to the out to out tire dimension.