Shortened LWB for towing?

[72BlckButy]

Would you consider a shortened LWB truck to be safe enough for towing purposes?

With all the shortening going on I have often wondered what everyone's feelings were towards how safe this setup would be. I know some can lay thick welds but would it be enough? Would a backing plate (fish plate) be strong enough to compensate?

What are you feelings?

[mbgmike]

Why not if done correct. Large trucks get shortened and lengthend all the time, of course they are straight frames Just depends on if its done right. you just have a liitle truck so you pull a little trailerThe problem with shortening a small truck is that people just cut them in half in one spot and weld them back and say thats fine. add a plate , weld it up and go for it. Granted shortening one is less of a problem then making one longer. I doubt if anyone here ever ran any stress calculations on it to see for sure. If you really need to know give us the dimensions on the reinforcing plate and or a dwg and we can run the calcs.

[68GenIII]

If welded properly by someone that knows what they are doing the welded portion with be stonger then the frame itself was before. I would not attempt this with out being a decent welder and having the proper welder.

[Stocker]

Depends on what you are towing, and there's more to it than being stout enough -- a shorter wheelbase will tend to be less stable with a larger load in tow. I knew a guy who had a very nice Bill Stroppe-prepared early Bronco that he used to tow a thirty-some foot single wide trailer. The Bronco had plenty of power and little squat but it was a constant battle with the steering wheel of that short-coupled rig, and that was when the 55 mph NMSL was in effect. Like mbgmike said, keep the trailer small and you'll be fine.

[KrazyRay]

A proper weld will be as strong as the existing frame and when you add a fish plate it will be stronger. I would not hesitate to shorten your frame.

[Shyguy]

I myself will not tow anything of any weight with a short bed truck, they are too unstable to me, but I have the option of using a lwb duallie.

My son on the other hand tows trucks on a trailer with his swb '67 but at times it is a little scary. He is going to build a lwb shop truck for that purpose.

A shortened swb truck's frame will be strong enough if it is done properly. In the old days we use to box frames to make them stronger.

Danny

[LockDoc]

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I am in the process of switching the sheet metal from a '67 3/4 ton to a '69 1/2 ton frame. I had planned to shorten the 1/2 ton frame until I bought a 20' tilt bed trailer, now I'm going to leave it a long bed. I don't think I want to pull my 20' trailer with a short bed truck. I'm sure there are people who do but I will need more room to haul parts anyway...

LockDoc