I need some help identifying my 47 flatbed turned small dump. I've searched the forums but haven't been able to turn up the specific info that I'm after so any help would be greatly appreciated.

ID plaque reads 12500 GVW, Engine 799 T 1549100-unclear, Model 798T, H P 87. Wheel base is 158 inch.

For parts ordering purposes I'd like to know if it's a 2 ton or what.

Thanks for any help.

Larry Dehart.

 

Hi, from what I see in my '39-'48 Ford / Mercury shop manual, in regular trucks 1 1/2 ton and bigger the brakes & suspension specs seem to be the same, wheel bases / chassis lengths and diff ratios vary. Mine is a 1 1/2 ton, 134'' wheel base duels on rear axle and it had 1 1/2 ton painted on the door when I got it .

 

Interesting. Mine also has duels with a wheel base of 158". I'd read in a post from about 2004 that tire size could help determine tonnage. Mine are 7.50 x 20 front and 8.25 x 20 rear.
So 1 1/2 ton was painted on the door, not 12500 gvw or something like that?

 

I believe the two tons had a two speed rearend. One of the reasons Ford went to a "two ton" was customers were sourcing two speeds from the aftermarket. Ford figured they were missing out, and the rest is history.

 

I see. Mine does have a two speed rear end. Top speed is around 45 mph in the high range, 20 or 25 in the low range. It pulls good with a load though.

 

just a little something to think about I have seen a few pictures of what is refered to as a three ton. there are a couple pictures on hanks truck pictures website, it looks like a 1.5 ton but has a two speed rear and six lug wheels. I think it was a 1939 model.

 

Wow! Thanks for the steer to that web site. Trucks to spare. A little bewildering at first but something in there for everybody. Hank's Truck Pictures

 

Still looking for help.

 

Larry, I can only give you some basic info. I have 48 two ton, a 50 1 ton and a 52 two ton. The 48's tended to be very similar to the 47's as far as chassis went.

The serial number means:
7 - 1947
9 - V8
9T - model (truck larger than 1 ton)
1549100 - serial string
87 might be body code

12,500 gvwr in 1948 would have fallen in the range for 1.5 ton trucks. 1.5 ton trucks with 158" wb were rated between 11,500 and 14,000. Tires ranged from 7.00x20 to 7.50x20

Two ton trucks with 158" wb were rated at 15,000 and tires were 8.25x20

Both 1.5 and 2 ton trucks could have the two speed rear end, and the same spring packs could be ordered on both.

Hope it helps. For what its worth, most of the parts swap and were exchanged between 1 ton, 1.5 ton and 2 ton trucks. There doesn't seem to be much difference except for frame dimensions and tire size.

Nice truck!!
Tim

 

Tim, thanks very much. Kalispell is just over a couple of mountains from Sandpoint. Great info and as I suspected there isn't any way to tell exactly what the truck started life as. As you pointed out, as far as parts go, there isn't any real need to pin it down any closer.

Thanks again.
Larry