Cab on frame while towing? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chevy_fatman · 01-08-2003, 05:46 PM

I recently bought a dismantled shortbed truck that I need to tow some 700 miles, everything is apart, my question is What size of bolts can I use to secure the cab back on the frame so I can tow it safetly?

I'll be towing a 18 ft car hauler with my long bed and I'll need some of the space on the hauler to place the bedsides, my bed will be stuffed with the all the suspension components and maybe the doors, otherwise I'd place the cab in the bed.

The guy I got it from can't find all the bolts and nuts, and I don't think that some straps will secure the cab on the frame good enough to avoid damage to the lower parts of the cab, any replies will be appreciated, Thank you.

**1971Stepside** · 01-08-2003, 05:57 PM

I brought mine back from Cheyenne WY to Missouri with the cab sitting on the frame. I had it strapped down with a 4" wide nylon tie down strap. I had several boxes sitting in the cab of parts that added weight. Come to think of it the bed was strapped down the same way. It was on a U-Haul trailer and it all rode fine. Bolting would be better though.

teeitup · 01-08-2003, 06:15 PM

Hey Fatman, I hauled a bed and cab with straps only before. Chained the frame down and strapped everything else, never had a bit of problems over 400 miles good luck, is that the one over by Chicago? I thought I seen you get one on Ebay? GOOD LUCK, Randy

chevy_fatman · 01-08-2003, 06:48 PM

Guess I'll have to get a couple of straps to tie the cab down onto the frame, Thanks for the advice 1971Stepside.

Yes teeitup, that's the one, that'll make a good road trip, ha; the frame is getting tied up with thick biga$$ straps

for safety and boxin' the rest, I'll be leaving Saturday morning, should be back sometime Sunday, if my tow rig don't die on my again on the way back

snow man · 01-08-2003, 07:06 PM

now i know who was bidding against me. good luck with the truck. snow man

chevy_fatman · 01-08-2003, 07:40 PM

Was that you snow man?
man, don't ever bid against me, you'll lose, LOL.
If you had bid 20 more bucks you would've had beat me!
I'm becoming an e-bay junkie, hehe
How far are you from there snow man?, maybe we can meet over there and you can help me load the truck

j/k man

snow man · 01-08-2003, 07:46 PM

yes it was me i wanted the frame and bed you were just to fast for me and i started bidding to early. i didn't mean to run you up on the price i am about 3 hours south of there. i am glaD I DON'T HAVE TO COME FROM PA to pick it up thats a long haul. later snow man

Longhorn Man · 01-08-2003, 11:32 PM

chevy_fatman, you coming through Columbus at all? I'm about 5 miles south of the I-70/I-270 intersection on the west side of Columbus. Let em know if you need a hand or a place to crash.

chevy_fatman · 01-09-2003, 12:21 PM

Hey thanks for the offer Andy!, you have pm

O'l Buck · 01-10-2003, 04:40 AM

The bolts would be better, but straps would be about as safe, if you do strap it, I'd strap the cab to the trailer, not the the frame of the truck, it will act as additional tie down for the truck frame and if you strap it to the trailer, it's not gonna wiggle like it would if you tied it to the frame. Just get some good 4" ratchet straps or get the straps with a hook on only 1 end and a couple clip on winches for flatbeds (they are about $25 in truck stops). And I'd run the straps across the floorboards, not the top of the cab. Um.....that's about all I can think of.

01-08-2003, 05:46 PM	#1
chevy_fatman Where's my beer? Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I live in the state of denial.... Posts: 5,621	Cab on frame while towing? I recently bought a dismantled shortbed truck that I need to tow some 700 miles, everything is apart, my question is What size of bolts can I use to secure the cab back on the frame so I can tow it safetly? I'll be towing a 18 ft car hauler with my long bed and I'll need some of the space on the hauler to place the bedsides, my bed will be stuffed with the all the suspension components and maybe the doors, otherwise I'd place the cab in the bed. The guy I got it from can't find all the bolts and nuts, and I don't think that some straps will secure the cab on the frame good enough to avoid damage to the lower parts of the cab, any replies will be appreciated, Thank you. __________________ Paul How do you make the invisible, visible?.........You take it away.

01-08-2003, 05:57 PM	#2
1971Stepside Almost Satisfied Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,932	I brought mine back from Cheyenne WY to Missouri with the cab sitting on the frame. I had it strapped down with a 4" wide nylon tie down strap. I had several boxes sitting in the cab of parts that added weight. Come to think of it the bed was strapped down the same way. It was on a U-Haul trailer and it all rode fine. Bolting would be better though. __________________ 1971 C10 Stepside. LSx 6.0 with BTR Stage IV, Speed Engineering Headers, 4L80e transmission w/3200 Circle-D Stall. 3.73. Posi. Purchased this truck when I was 17. I started the rebuild (or take apart) in 1993. I have drug it around all over the country in pieces. Finally back on the road in 2021. "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do. Life's been good to me so far."

01-08-2003, 06:15 PM	#3
teeitup Just like to part out trucks!! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Meriden, Ks-North of Topeka 10 miles Posts: 27,396	Hey Fatman, I hauled a bed and cab with straps only before. Chained the frame down and strapped everything else, never had a bit of problems over 400 miles good luck, is that the one over by Chicago? I thought I seen you get one on Ebay? GOOD LUCK, Randy __________________ 67 Chev swb stepside 4x4 283 4 speed SOLD 72 blazer 4x4 4 speed Cheyenne 72 GMC swb 4x4 fleet 4 speed, original paint 1958 Cameo (one of 1405 built, it was my dads) 2020 chevy Apex 4x4 crew cab 1969 Z28 with the 302 1980 chevy swb 4x4 1964 chevell Malibu SS 1976 K20, sold new originally out of my dads chevy dealership Members that I've met, over 200 probably closer to 300 in the 12 years I've been on this site, everyone I met "It was a pleasure"

01-08-2003, 06:48 PM	#4
chevy_fatman Where's my beer? Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I live in the state of denial.... Posts: 5,621	Guess I'll have to get a couple of straps to tie the cab down onto the frame, Thanks for the advice 1971Stepside. Yes teeitup, that's the one, that'll make a good road trip, ha; the frame is getting tied up with thick biga$$ straps for safety and boxin' the rest, I'll be leaving Saturday morning, should be back sometime Sunday, if my tow rig don't die on my again on the way back __________________ Paul How do you make the invisible, visible?.........You take it away.

01-08-2003, 07:40 PM	#6
chevy_fatman Where's my beer? Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I live in the state of denial.... Posts: 5,621	Was that you snow man? man, don't ever bid against me, you'll lose, LOL. If you had bid 20 more bucks you would've had beat me! I'm becoming an e-bay junkie, hehe How far are you from there snow man?, maybe we can meet over there and you can help me load the truck j/k man __________________ Paul How do you make the invisible, visible?.........You take it away.

01-08-2003, 07:06 PM	#5
snow man Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mt. zion illinois Posts: 276	now i know who was bidding against me. good luck with the truck. snow man

01-08-2003, 07:46 PM	#7
snow man Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mt. zion illinois Posts: 276	truck yes it was me i wanted the frame and bed you were just to fast for me and i started bidding to early. i didn't mean to run you up on the price i am about 3 hours south of there. i am glaD I DON'T HAVE TO COME FROM PA to pick it up thats a long haul. later snow man

01-08-2003, 11:32 PM	#8
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	chevy_fatman, you coming through Columbus at all? I'm about 5 miles south of the I-70/I-270 intersection on the west side of Columbus. Let em know if you need a hand or a place to crash.

01-09-2003, 12:21 PM	#9
chevy_fatman Where's my beer? Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I live in the state of denial.... Posts: 5,621	Hey thanks for the offer Andy!, you have pm __________________ Paul How do you make the invisible, visible?.........You take it away.

01-10-2003, 04:40 AM	#10
O'l Buck Recovering Truck Driver Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Orleans, NE USA Posts: 1,883	The bolts would be better, but straps would be about as safe, if you do strap it, I'd strap the cab to the trailer, not the the frame of the truck, it will act as additional tie down for the truck frame and if you strap it to the trailer, it's not gonna wiggle like it would if you tied it to the frame. Just get some good 4" ratchet straps or get the straps with a hook on only 1 end and a couple clip on winches for flatbeds (they are about $25 in truck stops). And I'd run the straps across the floorboards, not the top of the cab. Um.....that's about all I can think of. __________________ 67 K-20 350, SM465, Eaton rear, 4.56 no spin option 00 Dodge 2500 4x4, 24V cummins, 5 speed Chad South Central Nebraska



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