Tow Truck

[biohazardbill]

What chassis would have been used for a tow truck. I found a working Ferd Towtruck and am not a big Ferd fan so thought about parting it out and keeping the bed etc to transfer to a chevy chassis. I know it would have been a 3/4 or 1 ton but the wheel base seems awfully short.

[awbrown]

I had a 1977 3/4 ton chevy with a plow and had a slide in wrecker setup on that ,used it like a one ton , it was an awsome truck ... if you have snow ,then go with a 4 wd...

[biohazardbill]

I used to live not to far from you (Oakland County) and moved South 3 years ago... moved to where snow is a rare occurance

Was the 3/4 ton a standard lenght truck? I havent measured the wheelbase but it seems short, probably due to the tow truck bed not extending to much farther than the rear wheels.

[63burban]

C30 one ton dually, short wheel base
I can check wheel base and GVW if you need it

[monolith]

I'm no expert but I got a Holmes 440 wrecker bed to fit onto my 66 LWB 3/4 ton by bobbing about 8" off of the back of the frame.

I recently picked up an actual 1 ton Dually to put the bed on, I wanted to be able to actually use the truck to tow with and I feel a 3/4 ton chassis and suspension might be a little light for the job. Just my opinion though, there are some guys on here that own wreckers who will hopefully chime in.
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[61_FL_Apache]

I think using ferd parts may make a good CHEVY run bad... Just sayin!

[63burban]

My truck has a Holmes 400 on it, and yes it can have it's hands full.

[2manyprojects]

Mine is a 133" wheelbase Holmes 440.

[biohazardbill]

I know its a holmes, how do you tell what model, I will have to look.

What is the difference in models?

On a side note its Holmes parts not Ferd so I doubt it would hurt the Chevy ... BUT looking at the door hinges they are pocket style and look like the would be a good candidate for a suicide hinge conversion on one of our trucks.

I did get it fired up today... $11 for a cap and rotor and vroom vroom.... winch and boom work.

[63burban]

2manyprojects, what size wheels are on your truck? Is it a C30 ?

biohazardbill, My unit has the number on an aluminum plate, I Googled Holes 400 and found the info I was looking for.

[monolith]

I'd love pics of the PTO and winch drivetrain setup before you take it apart-looking on info on how to reconstruct mine and what parts I'm still missing.
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[biohazardbill]

Originally Posted by monolith

I'd love pics of the PTO and winch drivetrain setup before you take it apart-looking on info on how to reconstruct mine and what parts I'm still missing.
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I am not taking it apart for a while, I got it for what I consider a steal so I jumped on it when I could.

I will get some pics this weekend as we need to wash it and get the rest of the branches/vines off of it

[biohazardbill]

I know its a Ferd but this shows the bed. I remember seeing a Tag on it but it has been painted over. I will see if I can unpaint it lol

[2manyprojects]

Originally Posted by 63burban

2manyprojects, what size wheels are on your truck? Is it a C30 ?

It's a 66 C30 the wheels are 19.5

[biohazardbill]

Its a 440... Big tag under the light says Holmes 440 lol

[63burban]

I thought the wheels looked big, how do they work ?

[2manyprojects]

Originally Posted by biohazardbill

Its a 440... Big tag under the light says Holmes 440 lol

Yeah they are easy to identify if that tag is there. The 440 is pretty common you should be able to put it on just about any truck.

Originally Posted by 63burban

I thought the wheels looked big, how do they work ?

They work fine. with tires they are the same height as the stock 18's

[awbrown]

Bio , the one I had in my 3/4 ton was one that someone made ,I found it in a junk yard I worked at and made it work for my truck .. I used 3x3 angle laid one over the back of the bed where the tail gate met the bed and the other one was laid upright at the front ..I angled 2 more 3x3 angles down the bed so i could use the same bolts as what held the bed on ,it was much lighter than the holmes unit ..... I have seen people use the holmes unit sans the bed ... but it was rare that I backed out of a tow job , even if the frame flexed somewhat... I had a 65 one ton with a ramp body that we used for hauling junk cars ,used to stack them 2 or 3 high depending on how big they were... that would have made a nice wrecker...

[awbrown]

I also used an electric wich so I didnt have to mess with a pto...

[biohazardbill]

Originally Posted by awbrown

Bio , the one I had in my 3/4 ton was one that someone made ,I found it in a junk yard I worked at and made it work for my truck .. I used 3x3 angle laid one over the back of the bed where the tail gate met the bed and the other one was laid upright at the front ..I angled 2 more 3x3 angles down the bed so i could use the same bolts as what held the bed on ,it was much lighter than the holmes unit ..... I have seen people use the holmes unit sans the bed ... but it was rare that I backed out of a tow job , even if the frame flexed somewhat... I had a 65 one ton with a ramp body that we used for hauling junk cars ,used to stack them 2 or 3 high depending on how big they were... that would have made a nice wrecker...

Ramp truck. I'd like one of those myself lol
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