[ihc] RE: David's IH quest

["Jim Grammer" <jgrammer@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Date: Mon, 19 Apr 2004 11:36:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: David Raistrick <keen@domain.elided>
Subject: [ihc] Buying my first IHC: 1/2 or 3/4 ton?

<random snippage>

What Allan said!

>I've narrowed it down to something between 1950 and 1968 (no Scouts or
>T-Alls!), prefering 1950-1960 with a stepside...

For towing, '67 - '68 1200 long bed. Can you say 'dual circuit brakes'? ;)

> I need to be able to pull a ~18ft trailer with a ~5800lb car (or truck!:)
> on it, and do so safely at 55 or so mph for long distances.

Sounds like you plan to pull a typical 7000#GVW flatbed. I'd check the
actual trailer weight, I've yet to see a 1200# trailer that I'd trust to
haul a 5000# truck on. My 18' hauler is 1600# bare and really could be built
heavier, it's pretty bare bones.

> I expect to have brakes on the trailer, of course.

Better have electric brakes on both axles of the trailer. Even with a 1200,
you're working with small-ish drum brakes at all 4 corners. The 12" diameter
is OK, but trucks of that vintage have narrow shoes. As a comparison, my '73
1210 has 12" x 3" drums all around and is just adequate for modern highway
conditions.

>I don't need (or particularly want) 4wd.

Nice thing about a 4WD is you can swap in disk brakes or a disk brake front
axle. Expect a 2WD to need a king pin kit unless they've just been done on
the PO's dime.

>With my towing needs in mind, I've been looking for a 3/4 ton truck (120
or 1200).  Is this reasonable?

Yes. As Allan mentioned, a 130 would be even better(bigger rear brakes). Not
many around with pickup beds tho'.

>  Would the 1/2 ton trucks perform
>reasonably for what I need?  I know that the IHC trucks are /much/ more
>solidly built then the other domestic half tons...

Not IMHO. BTDT. This is where someone will chime in that they pulled 14k#
with their 1/2 ton and lived to tell about it.

>What's the general difference between the 1/2 and the 3/4 ton trucks?

Suspension, axles, brakes and frame.

>Are there frame differences,

Yes.

> or could the 3/4 ton suspension
>and axle be bolted into a 1/2 ton truck?

Yes, provided we leave the torsion bar IFS 100/1000 out of the discussion.

>I'm not looking for a restored truck, or
>looking to restore a truck...just looking for something I can use
>regularly.

I'd be very surprised if you find a 'ready to drive' truck that's not
'restored' at least in the owner's opinion ;). Most stuff that's not
'finished' is either still a project or taken apart! Good luck tho', and
check the value guide on the SSS web site for pricing tips.

Jim