Hi. Im new here. I recently retired and want to buy an old Ford truck to play around with. Im currently interested in a restored 1938 tonner flatbed 60HP. It looks very nicely done. My question is this: I cant find anywhere what these trucks will tow. I would like to tow our camper occasionally and not far, but still would like to use it to tow. Will it handle that job? my camper is 30FT and weighs about 6500LBS. Im talking about a 30 mile tow, not anything far. #2: Do these stock flatheads require oil with zinc? Lead additive in the gas? I've had a few old cars and trucks but nothing this old.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

With only 60 hp it might move a load of that size...in low gear. Be a slow ride. Even if you got it rolling, stopping would be an adventure with the stock mechanical brakes.
In other words, I wouldn't attempt it. Just my 2 cents though.

 

I second that.

 

Thanks for the reply. I know top speed with stock gears would only be about 40MPH. Im not in any hurry, and for stopping I was going to convert the truck to 12 volt and see if I couold hook up electric brakes. I don't know. Mostly worried about the weight. Truck is supposed to be a one-ton which would be an F-350 today without everything else. I assume a one-ton is a one-ton regardless of the year.

 

These trucks weren't really made for towing. That's why you'll find no tow weight information. Back then a farmer would just fab up own towing set up. As the others have said, this won't make a good towing vehicle, sorry to say. You're going to be better with a bigger V8. If you were towing a little camping trailer you'd be okay, but 6500 lb trailer is asking a bit much out of the truck as you describe it.

 

Thanks Gary. I might just keep borrowing my son in laws truck when I need to tow camper. I really like this 38.

 

Welcome to the site Bender. We love pics when you can

 

Daily drove this 38 tonner for ten years on very hilly Orcas Island. Started with an 85 hp v8, switched to a 110 hp with 4" merc crank. Then it towed up hills. I did just that with 12 v electric trailer brakes. At first it was 6v and I carried a 12v battery on the trailer. Ran the brakes on 12 pos ground. Soon put a gm one wire alternator on the truck and all was good. I have been there, done that many times and a lot of them on the interstate with a trailer. The stationary engine on the trailer weighs 2125 lbs, that '32 1 1/2 ton weighs a lot more. Truckdog, Tacomacream and Rickster have seen the treacherous 1/2 mile hill up to my place and it pulled the loads and stopped them. The self energizing cable brakes are quite good on the tonner as they were taken from the larger truck as 38 was first year of tonners and the engineers knew juice brakes were only a year away. In other words, the size of the tonner's brakers were overkill. Use caution, go slow (duh) and it should work. Repower with 59ab or 8ba and you're golden.

 

Well there ya go. It's like the Packard advertisement: "Ask the man who owns one."

 

That's the reply I was waiting for. Thank you. If I buy the 38, i'll justhave to figure out a hitch and 12V for trailer brakes. I really don't care how long it takes to get there. And it's not far and not too many stops. I always take my time anyway. Im in no hurry. thank you GB Sisson

 

You're welcome. That post was just 'right in my wheelhouse'. In 38 the v8 tonner had a 4.11 rear axle. Now combine that with 34" tall tires and it's geared as high or higher than many more modern trucks. In 39 the standard ratio for v8s was changed to something like 4.86 because 4.11 was just too high for most service. The 60 hp was only available with a very low gearset. When towing I never used the service brakes, all braking was with the trailer brakes which were up to the task. I have done 70 mph on Interstate 5 with that stationary engine on the trailer. What I didn't mention was that in the following year I put the big stationary engine in the truck's newly installed bed (a narrowed bed from a wrecked 46 tonner) and put a farmall cub on the trailer for the yearly antique tractor/engine meet at Lynden Wa. Driving home, on the last hill on my dirt road I had a good run in granny low, engine wound up real nice and I had good traction, but it went slower and slower until 2/3ds way up the engine's rpms became just too low and the engine steamed and stopped dead. In other words I 'powered out'....I woke up my 8 year old son who was asleep next to me and instructed him to gather rocks and branches to block all the wheels while I activated trailer brakes while standing on the brake pedal. Once blocked, I walked to a neighbor's house and we took my toyota landcruiser in 4 wheel low chained it to the tonner's frame and at the drop of my arm we let our clutches out. Together we crawled right up that hill. So in my usual long winded way, what I'm saying is 'don't press your luck'. Over the years as I collected more junk to display at the show, I took to disconnecting the 38 at the bottom and towing the gravel Mt. Pickett Road with dual range 4wd vehicles only. Sorry if this is too much information.

 

Might want to check with your insurance Co and make sure you are covered for towing....collector type insurance generally will not cover towing. And well, stuff happens.

 

Yes, I can verify the trek up (or down) the hill to GB's place can be quite an experience. I wasn't sure I was going the right way as the road is very narrow, curvy, and steep in spots. Fortunately, I was there on a dry day. I have been known to take risks but might be hesitant to pull much of a trailer up or down that hill. I surely wouldn't want to have to tow a trailer up or down that road when it is raining or snowing. GB certainly has a beautiful place once you get there.

 

The 38 was licensed to my business as a regular work vehicle and on the company's vehicle policy. Most people today register something like that with collectors plates and if that's what you plan, then by all means make sure you have coverage. I was also about 35 when those pictures were taken. Today I tow anything heavy with my 92 f350 4x4 dually diesel.

 

When Packard's were introduced, there was no literature available, so when people asked, James Ward Packard said "Ask the man who owns one."

Packard used this slogan from 1899 thru 1956. Studebaker used it in 1963, but it didn't help them a bit.