The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1948 3600 wheelbase?

Hi everyone, I just baught a 1948 3600 chevy thriftmaster, and I need to trailer it home from PA to Ontario. I am trying to rent a trailer from U-Haul but they say their trailers can only take a vehicle with a wheelbase of 79 inches or less. I dont know the trucks wheelbase. Is his going to be a problem for me?
Thanks so much for the help!

I sure hope they meant track width. Even a Willys Jeep has an 80" wheelbase.

yes, im sorry they did mean track width.

\here are the specifications for the trailer.

Must not weigh in excess of 4,000 lbs.
Must have a maximum outside-to-outside tire width of 79.25"
Note: outside tire width over 75" must use late-model U-Haul Auto Transport (identifiable by silver galvanized color).
Must have a maximum wheelbase (distance from front axle to rear axle, usually posted on the driver's side door jamb) of 133 inches.
Low-hanging equipment on the vehicle being towed such as spoilers, air dams, ground effects, etc., may be damaged by contact with the Auto Transport during loading and unloading. Make sure there is enough clearance for these items.

thanks again

Tom Bartlett

My '48 Chev Truck Restoration Guide says the wheelbase is 125 1/2 inches (it's a bad photocopy but I think that's right). The rear tire to tire width at centers is about 62 inches. I can't find the 800 number for the free restroation guide but it's really valuable.

Gecko,I recently pulled my 49 Chevy on a tow dolly from Gulfport, Ms to Portland, Or. No problems, U-Haul doesn't have a trailer long enough to haul that truck, that I know of, you may have to rent a tow dolly, provided you have some good tires onthe truck. How far are you going? Good Luck!

Thanks guys!
well, I managed to find a u-haul that will rent a trailer to me, the guy says the trailer will work. as I mentioned earlier, the u-haul will carry a truck with a wheel base up to 133 inches. can anyone confirm for sure that the '48 3600 thriftmaster is 125 1/2 inches? or even point me in the right direction.
I'm hauling it from Pittsburgh PA to Guelph Ontario (about 340 miles).
I don't think the tires on the truck could take being dragged, but I have not seen the truck myself.

maybe i should have included the pictures, you guys might be able to tell me if these tires look good enough to tow on.

http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/5/8/72227558.htm

thanks again guys

Gecko, Last year I hauled a '46 3/4 ton Chevy from Philly, PA to Ft Myers, Fl (1275 miles) on a U haul trailer. It had a 127.5" wheelbase. You wont have any trouble. Looks like a neat project!

BTW, 1948 3600 has a wheel base of 125.25 inches according to "Chevy Truck ID numbers 1946-1972"

alright guys, thanks very much!
I'm heading down to pick it up on monday, and I guess i'm just nervous. I'm sure everything will go fine.
thanks again fella's!

Gecko,
Thats a nice truck. I have never seen a pickup with the slide tail gate for grain. Does it have a dumping bed? I will bet it used to have side boards. Cool!
Ralph

Oldtmy 48
Thanks for the complement!
It's my first truck, and I'm very much looking forward to fixing it up and enjoying it!
My grandfather was a mechanic in his younger years, and this is right up his ally, so it should be a lot of fun for the two of us (he doesn't know i baught it yet).
It does not have a dumping bed, and I didn't know that the tail gate was for grain, but it sure makes sence.

gecko: you should have no problem. i brought my 52 one ton down from killington vt to long island a year and ahalf ago on a u haul flat bed car trlr. the deck of the trlr is 12 ft from bulkhead to end of bed. just keep the speed down under 50 mph and it wont push you around and fishtail. i had to remove the valve stems and flatten the 2 front tires then comealong the truck fowardto lockitin and down.the rear ofthe bedand bumper will overhang but not as far asmy 1 ton and you can red flag itfor safety

Gecko,
I learned to drive in 2 ton grain trucks unloading the combines and then driving them to the elevator to be unloaded. I was 10-11 years old and had to go through town to get to the elevators. Anyway, the dump type trucks were dumped into a small grate that augered the grain into the elevator. The trucks that did not have a dump hoist were driven onto a hoist that actually lifted the front of the truck high enough to let the grain slide out the side gate. I have seen 1 tons set up this way, but yours is the first 3/4 ton I have seen. Probably a homemade farmer job. Have a great time.
Ralph

thanks Ralph, im sure i will have great time.
great story too!