1963 pickup bed GVW and GVR - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

LuckyLightning · 05-12-2007, 12:20 PM

Does anyone have any experience in taking the back end of a 1963 (or 60-66) bed and chopping the frame to convert it to a trailer? I need to register mine (truck was wrecked, only way to salvage it) and am having trouble deciphering the what's depicted in the owners manual.

It's a 2wd shorty, and in the manual it says rear axle capacity is 3500 but rear spring capacity is 2500. That doesn't make much sense to me as I need to know what it's carrying capacity is, which I'm assuming should be the lower number of 2500... does that sound right?

Also, the weight of the vehicle as a whole was either 4100 or 4400 (both numbers are in the same box), but with only the bed and half the frame and rear axle, I don't know what the weight of only those would be.

So if anyone has any experience with this kind of conversion, and then registering it (the important part), I would love to hear from ya as to what all you've filled in the blanks with on the registration form.

SIR · 05-12-2007, 01:35 PM

....go with the 2500 which means thats the weight it will take to hit the rubber stops in the rear......

GREASEMONKEY72 · 05-14-2007, 06:25 AM

i say go with the 2500 also

LuckyLightning · 05-18-2007, 11:37 PM

Yup, the 2500 GVR sounds good to me too. But what about the GVW? How much do you guys think this trailer weighs?

rickf · 05-19-2007, 03:15 AM

I'd guess at 1200 lbs. My 64 C10 step weighs 3900 empty with driver, I know this from the exit scales at the dump. Let's call it 4000lbs. I'd guess the cab, front body work, engine and front clip are 70% of the weight. So that leaves 30% of 4000lbs for the "trailer" section: 1200 lbs.

As for capacity, you have to go with the weakest link in the chain, which looks to be your spring rating of 2500lbs.

LuckyLightning · 05-22-2007, 10:23 AM

Thanks rickf, I'll go with your assessment and rate the "GVW" of the trailer at 1200 lbs.

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm off to register the trailer this week.

05-12-2007, 12:20 PM	#1
LuckyLightning Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 348	1963 pickup bed GVW and GVR Does anyone have any experience in taking the back end of a 1963 (or 60-66) bed and chopping the frame to convert it to a trailer? I need to register mine (truck was wrecked, only way to salvage it) and am having trouble deciphering the what's depicted in the owners manual. It's a 2wd shorty, and in the manual it says rear axle capacity is 3500 but rear spring capacity is 2500. That doesn't make much sense to me as I need to know what it's carrying capacity is, which I'm assuming should be the lower number of 2500... does that sound right? Also, the weight of the vehicle as a whole was either 4100 or 4400 (both numbers are in the same box), but with only the bed and half the frame and rear axle, I don't know what the weight of only those would be. So if anyone has any experience with this kind of conversion, and then registering it (the important part), I would love to hear from ya as to what all you've filled in the blanks with on the registration form. __________________ Michael - 1962 C20 LB stepside (project thread) - sold - 1963 Chevy C10 LB stepside (donor) - 1963 Chevy C10 LB Custom flatbed (project thread) - sold - 1979 K20 LB fleetside (project thread) Favorite exchange on the board so far: ol_Curt: "Jason, do you have power steering?" jason65: "No, but I lift weights."

05-12-2007, 01:35 PM	#2
SIR SIR Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: grants pass oregon,usa Posts: 658	Re: 1963 pickup bed GVW and GVR *....go with the 2500 which means thats the weight it will take to hit the rubber stops in the rear......* __________________ 66long low fleet http://community.webshots.com/user/LVNR66

05-14-2007, 06:25 AM	#3
GREASEMONKEY72 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bakersfield,CA Posts: 7,893	Re: 1963 pickup bed GVW and GVR i say go with the 2500 also __________________ -steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME

05-18-2007, 11:37 PM	#4
LuckyLightning Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 348	Re: 1963 pickup bed GVW and GVR Yup, the 2500 GVR sounds good to me too. But what about the GVW? How much do you guys think this trailer weighs? __________________ Michael - 1962 C20 LB stepside (project thread) - sold - 1963 Chevy C10 LB stepside (donor) - 1963 Chevy C10 LB Custom flatbed (project thread) - sold - 1979 K20 LB fleetside (project thread) Favorite exchange on the board so far: ol_Curt: "Jason, do you have power steering?" jason65: "No, but I lift weights."

05-19-2007, 03:15 AM	#5
rickf Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lake Oswego, OR Posts: 318	Re: 1963 pickup bed GVW and GVR I'd guess at 1200 lbs. My 64 C10 step weighs 3900 empty with driver, I know this from the exit scales at the dump. Let's call it 4000lbs. I'd guess the cab, front body work, engine and front clip are 70% of the weight. So that leaves 30% of 4000lbs for the "trailer" section: 1200 lbs. As for capacity, you have to go with the weakest link in the chain, which looks to be your spring rating of 2500lbs.

05-22-2007, 10:23 AM	#6
LuckyLightning Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 348	Re: 1963 pickup bed GVW and GVR Thanks rickf, I'll go with your assessment and rate the "GVW" of the trailer at 1200 lbs. Thanks everyone for your input. I'm off to register the trailer this week. __________________ Michael - 1962 C20 LB stepside (project thread) - sold - 1963 Chevy C10 LB stepside (donor) - 1963 Chevy C10 LB Custom flatbed (project thread) - sold - 1979 K20 LB fleetside (project thread) Favorite exchange on the board so far: ol_Curt: "Jason, do you have power steering?" jason65: "No, but I lift weights."



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