The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk So what's the difference???

What is the difference between a 3100 and a 3600 series truck? Just curious.

Thanks!

The 3100 is a half ton and the 3600 is 3/4 ton. Lots of differences in frames and suspensions.

frame, axles, springs, load capacity and lug patterns to name a few differences. You can see the frame differences in the shop manual.

Basically, the 3100 is the same as the 3600 from the cab-grille. The 3600 has a heavier front axle and different spindles. The 3600 is also longer and has a narrower frame in the rear along with a full float 8 lug axle.

One thing that was important then and maybe now is a true 8' x 4' bed on the 3600 model.

Some people who aren't really into this vintage say the 3100 is the short bed and the 3600 is the long bed. Although it may be true, it has more to do with tonnage.

The truth for ME is, when I want to pull 3 or 4 inch diameter trees out of the ground, I chain them up to my 3600 and they just come right out. But I don't even THINK about doing that with my 3100's.

The 1/2 ton (3100) is by far the most popular and desireable when it comes to marketability. When it comes to practical, more versatile, stronger, and more useful, the 3600 wins hands down.

I sold my 3600 because I ran out of trees to pull, and needed the smaller footprint of the 3100 for the garage, parade duty, desirability, and lighter makes the truck peppier, more maneuverable, and more fuel efficient. But that's just me.

On the other hand, someone is trying to sell me a barn find, very clean 3600 and I am really really thinking about it. LOL!

That depends on what year 3600. Up to mid 1957, the 3600 had a 7 1/2 foot bed, as did the '55-mid'57 3200, which is basically a 3600 with 3100 axles, wheels, and brake drums/shoes.

I know modern dimensional lumber fits perfect in mine.

Don't know whatcha got there Brad but my 1950, 3600 measures 50'
side to side and 87" tail gate to front end panel and my '54 is
the same width but 90" tail gate to inside of front end panel.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

the width might fit "modern dimensional lumber" because there's a space between boards, although finished lumber isn't the same as it's nominal label .... and never heard of a box that takes exactly 8' long planks, be either a bit less than 8' as Denny says, or the later long beds are a bit over 8' [98"]

Bill

yeah, what is with that 7'8" (or what ever it is) bed. So close, yet, not..... Aren't studs actually 93"? because when you build walls you have a 2x piece on top and bottom? Otherwise you would have to cut each stud off 3 inches so the 8' drywall will fit.. Whatever the case, it still has more room in the bed than the $40,000 dodge ram I rented. Although the interior was VERY nice in comparison, and my little kid liked the "moose" logo.

around here, those are called pre-cut studs, not 'dimensional lumber'
looking at the resto packs shows the Deco series 3600 to be 48.5" x 87" inside - the AD shows 50" x 87" - the TF series is 50" x 90" .... wonder when we stopped getting 'more for our money'

Bill

Take the lumber discussion to the greasy spoon please.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Deve.......I understand now that the 3600 is a heavier, beefier suspension, but unclear about the dimensions. Was the 3600 longer than the 3100 or could you get one the same overall length as a 3100?

a 3100 is always a short bed 1/2T, the 3600 3/4T was always a long bed - check the resto packs of the years you want to compare dimensions

Bill

Can't believe nobody asked if I had the tailgate up or down?

Spot,

What year Chevrolet truck are you referring to?

There was not really a short bed or long bed in Advance-Design 1/2 to through 1 ton trucks. There was one regular size bed for each series: 3104, 3604, and 3804.

If someone wants to call a 1947-55st 3104 a short bed, and a 1947-55st 3604 a long bed, then they ought to call the 1947-55st 3804 a longest bed pickup?

The internal bed dimensions were the same in all A-D years, except for a change in length from 87-90 inches in 1954 3/4 ton trucks (" . . . providing a better distribution of sizes in the [pickup] line").

New Design GMC trucks had a short bed (model 101) and a long bed (model 102) 1/2 ton truck.

Was talking about a '49. Just wondered if a 3100 & a 3600 could have both come in a short bed size with the 3600 being a heavier-duty model??

Longer box has 3 stake pockets instead of two per side.

Actually a precut stud is 92 5/8"

Actually you would have a double plate at the top = 3" +
92 5/8"= 95 5/8" + 1 1/2" for the sill plate = 97 1/8" -
1/2" ceiling plaster board = 96 5/8" giving you 5/8"
wiggle room for your 8' wall board installation.

DG