My K Blazer's brakes are not up to towing my CJ-7, and I really don't want to buy a bigger new truck to haul a new trailer either, so I've been looking around for a flat bed haul my Jeep to Moab, etc...
Today I looked at a 1972 Chevy 30 (1.5 ton?) dualie with a 10 ft. long flat bed with only 72K original miles on it. The cab's had a lot of sun but the drive train and frame looks to be in incredably good shape. Like new tires too. Looks like a maybe a 327 ci V-8, manual box and a giant round shaped dulie rear diff and two tier leaf spring packs in the rear.
And the sign on it said $ 2500 or best offer and it's just been sitting in the yard of a quiet residentual street for the last few months.
I figger I could strip off the old wooden bed and build a slightly longer metal bed suitable to ramp the rig up onto.
Do you think that size of truck is suitable to the task?
It could even make a good fifth wheel rig if the Jeep was too heavy for it.
I'd sure like to get and fix it up.
Whadda ya think?

WAAAAY back when I was just out of highschool....
I worked as a delivery driver for an Equipment rental yard... we had this exact same truck (A-1971 I think)
It was damn near impossible to overload...
the only time I was ever scared was when I had an 700- series Bobcat (with rock-rake) on the back and a Bobcat mini excavator on a dual axle trailer ( with no brakes as I later found out)...
I ended up popping a wheelie with the front end going over a railway crossing..... I must have carried it the whole wheelbase
the front end then came down HARD.... no damage...
the # one thing I would do though is to upgrade the front brakes....some of these early trucks had front drums...

The rear axle is probably a 12.5" ring gear Eaton...

BTW, a "30" is a 1 ton. I had a 69 GMC HD (11,000 lb) chassis cab with a 292. Stretched the frame and added a flat bed with dove tail and pogo stick. Most I ever hauled was a Chevy suburban AND a For LTD at the same time! Slow, but no problems.

As CRO said, you may need to upgrade the brakes. On mine, I had a late 70s (early 80s? don't remember) 3/4 ton parts truck. 2WD 3/4 and 1 ton front suspensions are the same so, I pulled the entire front suspension (including sway bar) out of the late model 3/4 ton and slung it under the 69. The suspension cradle actually unbolts from the later models (7 bolts per side IIRC) and will bolt up under the older frames. I upgraded a number of old front drum trucks to disks like this, though you do have to deal with 6 vs. 5 lugs issues on 1/2 tons. All you have to do is drill 1 new bolt hole per side. I also got the dual master, proportioning valve, and brake booster from the donor. No more brake problems.

Originally posted by CRO
the # one thing I would do though is to upgrade the front brakes....some of these early trucks had front drums...

In 1971 they went to disk brakes. I have a 69 Chevy 2wd I am fixing up and I just put a 1971-1972 Chevrolet truck front clip under it, then the rear axle shafts to keep the lug pattern 5 lug, instead of the 67-69 6 lug pattern it was. I'd find a 71-71 8 lug disk brake truck and do some swappin'.. Also, does this truck have factory A/C or a factory Tachometer? What about tilt?

Edit: Ok yeah I'm a DAN :flipoff2: I just now read that it was a 1972, so it'll have disk brakes up front anyways...;)

Originally posted by oletater

Also, does this truck have factory A/C or a factory Tachometer? What about tilt?


No AC, but there may be a factory tach in the dash (it was locked up) ... and sadly, no tilt ... boy, that would be cool ...
The bed is pretty high but the level could possably be lowered some on rebuild. The wood deck is pretty rough and has a full cattle guard so it looks like it just could be a little used and fairly well taken care of farm vehicle.

So, except for presumably being under powered for the hiway (easy upgrade there) so far it sounds like this rig COULD be a good and heavy enough base for Jeep haul'in !!!???

It's in a good neighborhood, but it looks like the residents may have moved so I guess I'll just have to call the # on the little sign and see if I can take a little drive ... :)

Only 72K original miles and $2500 (or less) is just too tempting.

Towing forum ???? We have one now :D:D:D:D.

Originally posted by Todd
Towing forum ???? We have one now :D:D:D:D.

Sorry,,,, I just now saw it.
The Mod's can move me if necessary ...
My bad.:rasta: