An Old Pickup For A True Daily Driver ...

I'm considering selling my OT pickup (Nissan) and buying an old truck to drive daily. I've got a good lead on a 41 Ford – I'd feel pretty bad about driving it in the snow and salt, but I think I could get over it . I've mostly been looking for a 51 or 52 F1 just because I really like 'em. Whatever I get, I'd set it up with a small modern V8 and auto overdrive, possible rear or gear swap, dual master w/ disc/drum brakes, heat and AC. That's about it, no lowering, fancy paint, wheels, etc.

Question – Do you think the frame on the 41 would be suitable for occasionally towing a car trailer and car that would weigh maybe 5,000 pounds? I know they're the same as 35 to 40 car frames and that concerns me a little. That and the transverse springs.

It seems like for light duty towing, the F1 may be the better choice. What do you think?

 

Seems like you know the answer already.

 

Those frames are boxed and there is a pretty substantial x member in there so I'd think you'd be ok there. I would change out the springs for maybe a parallel leaf out back and run some new springs so there is no pitting and such on them. But I can't see why you would run into trouble especially if you have a new power plant up front.

 

What you need to do is buy Yankee Mike's '32 BB Dumper and change out the engine, trans and rear end. I want one of these so damn bad!

 

Mine is my daily driver. Don't think I would tow a car and trailer with it though. All your components will have to be strong enough.

 

I think as long as you have are comfortable with the choices you have made in terms of "beefing it up" for towing you would be good to go...especially with JJ's suggestions listed above

 

frame??? I'd be more concerned with the brakes and suspension. stopping is usually a part of towing.

 

He was thinking of doing a disk brake swap 49ratfink. Would that be sufficient with maybe a dual res M/C?

 

It was all I could do with a half-ton Suburban with a 350 to pull a car trailer with a '57 Dodge on it full of parts. I could get it to go, hills were a little iffy, but the big deal was that thing was heavy enough that when I had a light drop in front of me even as I went slow kind of expecting it, it still pushed me about 10 feet with all 4 wheels locked up.

I'd say skip the F1 and get at least an F2 3/4 ton to pull with -

 

I've got a '59 Apache that I've been using using as a daily driver.

Just today I wired it for trailer lights in preparation of towing my '34 to the Relix Riot this weekend. My truck has a Camaro clip with good discs and a dual master cylinder. A 9" with drums out back. Powertrain is a 350 FI truck engine with a 700r4 trans.

I'm thinking it should tow OK but am a little worried about the lowered suspension.

Time will tell...

 

Rusty new yorker said it. if you want to tow get a truck made for towing. car disc brakes on the front will not be enough.

I've never towed any car on a trailer with less than a 3/4 ton truck.

 

I tow a car a few times a year and have towed all over Gods country with a 1/2 ton truck. Never any problems. Trailer brakes are a must and you just don't drive like an idiot. Hell, I've towed a car with a v-6 powered s-10!!!!

That said, if I were to do more than occasional towing, or a lot of mountain driving, I would pop for a 3/4 ton - no question.

IMHO, An older truck with modern drivetrain and brakes, if built right, should be able to tow a meduim-sized car on occasion just fine.

 

I towed a 4 dr 1954 BelAir the other day with my 99 4x4 Yukon, no trailer brakes. Lets just say the factory brakes are adequate for the truck by itself but with a trailer and a car it was a little scary.

If you plan to tow it may be a good idea to invest in some REALLY good brakes. My system is in top order, all rebuilt within the last year.

Good luck and I have been having similar thoughts but with an AD Chevy truck (but keep the 6).

 

This guy pulls a trailer and car to the HAMB drags.

 

A brake upgrade would be part of the plan. And the 5 on 5-1/2 disc brake kits I've found use F-100/F-150 brake parts. So they're engineered for a half ton truck that weighs considerably more than an F-1.

Some quick internet research tells me that an F1 weighs somewhere between 3,100 and 3,300 pounds and a 1970s F-100 or 150 weighs 1,000 pounds more approximately. So the brakes off the later truck should work very well on the lighter F1.

 

I've been looking at a tow package for my '38 and I'm not convinced that I can get a decent arrangement attached to the stock frame. It might work better if the gas tank wasn't between the differential and the back of the frame and I had something other than parallel leaf back there. I'd be a little concerned about the weight being towed. The '38 isn't that heavy and it might let the tail wag the dog in an emergency situation.

 

I have seen this pickup around town for the last 7 years:



I think it's all stock though. (I just wanted an excuse to post the pic, haha.)

 

I've had several early trucks as dailies, a a rodded 28 Ford, a 'clipped' 350/700r equipped 40 Ford pickup, a bone stock 6 cylinder/3 speed '53 F100 and 53 Chevy. I drive a '55 Chevy pickup as my daily now and USE it as it was intended. Still running the straight axle but upgraded to power disc brakes and later (67-72) GM power steering box. Receiver hitch on the back. I think you'd be a lot better off with the F1, heavier frame, suspension, longer wheelbase, etc etc. There's a lot more room in the cab as well - plenty of room for 3.

Whichever you choose upgraded brakes are smart, and I'd think trailer brakes are almost a must. Nothing like driving an oldie every day. The only down side (to me anyways) is that it's almost impossible to stop for gas etc without having to have a conversation about it.

 

hey nosurf, its a 41 ......is it still for sale ?
"and the bowtie rolls on"

 

It's a '39, and no it's not for sale.

 

Just get the '41 truck and drive it for a daily and make friends with someone with something that can tow. For the few times you're going to need to two it doesn't really make sense to sacrifice the idea of driving an early V8 ford truck every day!

 

is you buy a 50 something ford pickup set it on a 200 or up ford truck frame i just do it with my 55 ford pickup.thanks

 

Man, I have never owned a 3/4 ton. I pull the Fly and an all steel 18' dovetail behind my 2002 F150 all day long. I pulled a 56 BelAir wagon from Memphis and recently my 57 Ford Wagon 6 1/2 hours from North of KC.

Personally, I don't like the rough ride of a 3/4 ton, it's like riding in a covered wagon.

As long as you have trailer brakes, you're good. Just my .02C worth.

I wonder what they pulled trailers with back in the day? Hmmmm........

 

Drool....

 

Why do you need to tow Dave? You're supposed to drive that Vicky like you've been doing. Just hook up a small camping trailer rig to take Mama and the Boy with you in the Vicky and set up the truck for daily.....

 

You're absolutely right Howard – I have and will continue to drive the Vicky to car shows and events.

The truck, however, would replace my daily and it would be used year round in all weather conditions and parked outside – just like the Nissan. The towing question is just in case I need to take the Vicky somewhere to be worked on (or pick up another project). I've had to tow the Vic once so far and the Nissan did OK. It's a Frontier, 3.3, auto, not a V8 ***an.

I would hope that an F1 with a V8 would do a better job of towing that the Frontier. And I would expect the 41 to be fairly similar in ability and feel to the Frontier.

 

Brakes on the trailer also and with your mods to the truck - You will have it whipped!

 

No boxey from factory.

 

Isn't the double C channel that's on '35-40 frames considered boxed. It's not what we normally think of as boxed but the fact that it has a inner channel riveted to the frame rail to me says it's at least stronger then it's earlier counterparts. But yeah I guess that wouldn't be as strong as what you'd want for towing.

 

Good info, thank you. I knew about the 35-40 frame rot issue – in the back where the x member ties into the kick up, right? I've looked at a few 38/39 truck frames with the same issue.

I want to check out the 41 in person, (They are good looking trucks, you know?) and go from there.