My 42 1 1/2 ton has a grain bed on it that looks too big for my taste. I was wandering what the width of most of you guys trucks was? I also am having trouble finding the right mirrors for my truck. I'd like the ones that mount on the hinges and extend. Does anyone know where i can get them? Lastly, my truck had three cab clearance lights on it when I bought it. They were in bad shape and I am really undecided as to whether or not I'm even going to use clearance lights. I have some that are 8 inches long but they look too big for the truck. I read somewhere on here that beds of certain widths required cab clearance lights. My question is then, if I decrease the width of my bad, will I need to have clearance lights?.. Sorry to be long-winded but any help would be appreciated. Kenny
The grain beds on my '47 ,'48 and '53 are approx. 87" wide x 9ft. long . Not sure of the regs. about the cab lights . Replacement mirrors ( round or rectangular ) are available but I have not seen the arms and mounts in any catalogs so you may have to get them off someones old parts truck . Hope this helps a little . ED H
96 inches was standard width for truck beds. To be street legal, you need clearance lights if you are over 80 inches wide which you will be if you have dual wheels. The law reads that what you must have what was legal if it was built before Dec 25, 1968, Clearance lights were required at the time your vehicle was built. If you cannot prove what was built onto your vehicle, you will have to meet these requirements.
kwhit, I have a 47e art deco with an original grain bed still on it, but it is in the shop at the moment...I should be able to get you a measurement of mine in a day or two.
The mirror arms are not available to my knowledge, but I have seen a couple on ebay before, so just watch..or..ther is a wrecking yard in Mojave CA that lists things on ebay under the name 'california-desert-treasures'. They have big trucks of that era, and offer to list things if you request them. That might be an option. They are a little high priced IMO, but probably have them.
I think crenwelge is right about the clearence lights, but are you both talking about the same clearence lights? Maybe those are referred to as 'running lights'? My truck is a COE, with a WIDE grain box from Kansas originally, and there are 'clearence' lights on the bed (which I'm sure are required), but none on the cab top. I have seen far too many trucks of our era that do not have the lights on top of the cab to worry too much about that being strictly enforced if in fact they were required. Maybe it varied by state?
When I yield to Him, it's amazing how peaceful and enjoyable life is meant to be.
I'm guessing the lights on the bed would be more critical than the ones on the cab. Best check with your own state to be sure. One thing I am reasonably sure of--if you have them, they need to work.
On my 38 the bed was the same width as the outside edge of the running boards on the truck. Thought it looked fairly balanced about 7ft wide.Another measurement you may want to check is the width between your outside tires as you would want tires completely covered by body width. The hinge mounted mirror arms are available from Jim Carter but they are NOT the correct ones for big trucks. He does offer extentions but they are a bolt on folding extention look a little goofy. My 38 never had a passenger side mirror don't know when they started puting them on 38 litature doesn't show them. Some thing I had never paid any anttention to until one day I pulled out to pass, no window thru grain bed either. I looked at some of the 40's and fiftys era dodge including military they havea hinge mounted mirrors however the hinge mount is not shaped the same and may require longer and threaded hinge bolts to keep mirror arm tight.
Last edited by kb3csw; 12/09/20094:09 PM. Reason: thunk me a thought
Edit: I checked my trucks (I have several) and they are symmetric, so if you are interested in this one, and find another, they should be interchangeble L & R.
Last edited by Tomcoe; 12/17/20092:49 AM.
When I yield to Him, it's amazing how peaceful and enjoyable life is meant to be.
Side-marker(clearance) lights are required at 96".Cab clearance lights(running) are on top.If you took them off and patched the holes I don't think anyone would be the wiser. who's to say you if you had them to begin with.
