Pre M48 Conversion - Handling & ride question

[Justinv8]

Hey Guys

Im considering converting a m35a2 w/w into a m48a2 tractor. I live in the UK and parts are hard to get hold of and tractors are rare. This will be purely for visual appeal and I won’t ever be towing a trailer with it. I have read the previous posts on here where others have done the same conversion and know what I’m in for.

The truck previously had an old non original broken crane attached to the back which I have now removed, so it’s currently just a chassis. I drove the truck home 20 miles or so and it’s was the most bouncy, hard ride I have ever known. I would describe the handling as violent. Admittedly some of the local roads I was on are quite uneven but at 30mph the truck was almost unbearable to drive.

I expected the truck to be a harder ride without the weight but the handling as is has me questioning the whole tractor conversion idea. Does anyone have any experience making it handle better? Will putting the extra small amount of weight of the fifth wheel and associated hardware help at all or will it always be a handful? I have never driven a m275 but wondered how they handle without a trailer.

 

[NDT]

Get a spring driver’s seat. As you go faster the rear tandem will just bounce over bumps, spending a good bit of time in the air. I used to watch them as I drove with the cab top off alot.

 

[Mullaney]

Hey Guys

Im considering converting a m35a2 w/w into a m48a2 tractor. I live in the UK and parts are hard to get hold of and tractors are rare. This will be purely for visual appeal and I won’t ever be towing a trailer with it. I have read the previous posts on here where others have done the same conversion and know what I’m in for.

The truck previously had an old non original broken crane attached to the back which I have now removed, so it’s currently just a chassis. I drove the truck home 20 miles or so and it’s was the most bouncy, hard ride I have ever known. I would describe the handling as violent. Admittedly some of the local roads I was on are quite uneven but at 30mph the truck was almost unbearable to drive.

I expected the truck to be a harder ride without the weight but the handling as is has me questioning the whole tractor conversion idea. Does anyone have any experience making it handle better? Will putting the extra small amount of weight of the fifth wheel and associated hardware help at all or will it always be a handful? I have never driven a m275 but wondered how they handle without a trailer.

.
I agree with @NDT

You will get bounced. A lot. That 500# 5th wheel isn't going to take the place of the bed that was on your truck before. If you really want to build a tractor that you don't plan to use to drag trailers, removing a few springs from the stack will help your ride. I would make certain that if you remove springs you and anybody you might ever buy/sells that truck needs to remember what you did...

I have a truck that is 30 years newer than yours and it will beat you to death running bobtail.
Lowering the tire pressure will help that bounce problem too...

 

[Justinv8]

Thanks for the replies.
It's pretty much what I suspected but wanted to confirm. I already have a springy seat. Lowering the rear tyre pressures sounds like a good thing to try, any idea what's the lowest psi I can safely go down to?

 

[Jeepsinker]

Switching to radial tires will also help some. You can probably run 35 psi with no load.

And don't be afraid to rig up some shock mounts and add some shocks to the rear suspension.

 

[cattlerepairman]

I found that the rear end of my truck quieted down significantly with the upgraded dog bone ends installed. My theory is that the rubber bushings in the original ends store the energy that deforms them and feed it back to the axles. The Heim joint type ends don't do that. Less jumping around as a result.

I have the original cargo bed and radial tires and while the ride is not unmanageable on rough roads, I do have to slow down where other vehicles don't in order to keep my truck in its lane.

It's spring ride. Chiropractors appreciate it.

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