Strange Pilothouse

[grey beard]

In Ephrata, PA, just a few miles from my home, I stumbled upon a PIlothouse Dodge pickup that to me seems unusual. It is a 48 to 50 model, from the dash and grille configuration, and it has five lugs per wheel only, which sounds to me like a garden variety half ton, but it has a long bed.

Reading my Dodge books tells me that in 53 they made a half ton express model with a long bed. Did they make this type earlier as well? Anybody know why a half ton of this vintage might have a long bed?

Just curious . . . . . .

[Tony_Urwin]

3/4 ton B-Series have 5 lug wheels,at least my '48 does (15" wheel, 5 x 5" spacing). Mine is a 116" wheelbase, but there were 126" chassis also.

[grey beard]

I somehow had the idea that 3/4 ton Pilothouse trucks all had six lugs. Guess I am wrong, for this one is definitely a 116-inch wheelhase. That would explain it.

Was the wheelbase the only difference between half and three quarter? Springs? Tranny? Anything else?

Thanks

[Merle Coggins]

As I recall from my readings, they shared the same axles and other power train. The 3/4 ton trucks would have heavier springs, the larger 11" brakes all around, and 15" wheels. I've also heard that the wheel bolt pattern is slightly different between the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks, but they are all 5 bolt wheels.

Merle