How many classes of AA trucks

AA Ford Discussion Group relating to the repair and restoration of your AA Ford.
Cschaff63
Posts: 98
Joined: September 14th, 2017, 5:57 pm
Body Type: Dump
Model Year: 1928
Location: Pa

How many classes of AA trucks

Post by Cschaff63 »

I am curious how many weight classes of trucks there were. Was it like today with F-150, F-250, F-350? I'm getting conflicting info concerning my truck, I thought it was the same as any AA truck,but somebody mentioned that my truck is a heavy duty AA. The front springs don' match anything. They are 2 1/4" wide and 15 leaf stack. It is I believe an E30, dual wheel dump. The book shows the AA as a 1 1/2 ton truck. I will post pics later showing the front suspension.
Bob C
Posts: 1442
Joined: April 24th, 2003, 11:50 am
Body Type: Mail truck, Stake tr
Model Year: 1931
Location: SO CAL

Re: How many classes of AA trucks

Post by Bob C »

They used a heavier front axle starting in 1930 but all the AA's were rated at 1 1/2 tons.

Bob
Cschaff63
Posts: 98
Joined: September 14th, 2017, 5:57 pm
Body Type: Dump
Model Year: 1928
Location: Pa

Re: How many classes of AA trucks

Post by Cschaff63 »

Ok, then mine just has the heavier front axle, is the dual wheel the same as single wheel same weight rating?
User avatar
Chris Haynes
Posts: 2203
Joined: September 7th, 2003, 5:18 pm
Body Type: 82A
Model Year: 1930
Location: Camarillo, CA

Re: How many classes of AA trucks

Post by Chris Haynes »

Although they went through lots of upgrades between 1928-1931 they were still factory rated at 1 1/2 ton.
marcel kristoff
Posts: 32
Joined: October 26th, 2014, 1:00 pm
Body Type: flat deck
Model Year: 1928
Location: Fort St. John, BC, Canada

Re: How many classes of AA trucks

Post by marcel kristoff »

I have a poster in my garage showing light, medium and heavy specs for my ‘28 AA. But they are all rated at 1 and 1/2 tons.
User avatar
1crosscut
Posts: 877
Joined: December 25th, 2010, 7:22 pm
Body Type: 82-A
Model Year: 1929
Location: Lincoln, NE

Re: How many classes of AA trucks

Post by 1crosscut »

I have a set of the after market overload springs on mine. Supposedly brings it up to a 2 1/2 ton rating.
------------
Dave
Cschaff63
Posts: 98
Joined: September 14th, 2017, 5:57 pm
Body Type: Dump
Model Year: 1928
Location: Pa

Re: How many classes of AA trucks

Post by Cschaff63 »

I guess what I find so confusing is that some AA trucks are single rear wheel and others are dual, so one would naturally think the dually would be rated higher.
KimVanOrder
Posts: 753
Joined: August 11th, 2013, 4:25 pm
Body Type: 82-A Platform
Model Year: 1928
Location: Hamilton, Mich.

Re: How many classes of AA trucks

Post by KimVanOrder »

Cschaff63 wrote:
April 15th, 2019, 5:28 pm
I guess what I find so confusing is that some AA trucks are single rear wheel and others are dual, so one would naturally think the dually would be rated higher.
I have a '28 with single, wire spoke wheels. I believe it is a 1-1/2 ton rated. That dose not mean it was rated "practicly" or "correctly". I did hear that soon after Ford added the duals, and a heavier frt. axel. Probably because they were breaking. Tryal and error engineering..
KVO
Dec. '28 AA
User avatar
KillianAA
Posts: 11
Joined: August 10th, 2016, 10:41 pm
Body Type: 82 B Closed Cab
Model Year: 1931
Location: Folsom, CA

Re: How many classes of AA trucks

Post by KillianAA »

I have a reprint of a book originally published in 1931 that states "The Ford Model A Truck.- Truck models in the new Ford line are rated 1 1/2 tons with single rear wheels, and 2 1/2 tons with dual rear wheels." The original book was titled 'The Ford Model A Car, Construction - Operation - Repair' by Victor W. Page. The reprint published in 1998 goes by the same title with the addition of 'for the Restorer'. The fact that this reference was contemporary with the years of manufacture and not a later work and reportedly written with the express cooperation of the Ford company, makes me think it might be accurate since it would have been easily refuted at the time. The edition referenced was a revised and expanded version presumably allowing for such scrutiny.

However, I've done enough historical research in other matters to know that even contemporary writings are not infallible (as is of course the case today... "fake news" and its less insidious cousin, sloppy journalism and poorly researched unintentional errors, are nothing new). I believe I once found another reference to dual wheels equating to 2 1/2 tons but cannot remember where that was. Aside from that, everything else I've seen asserts that all AA's are 1 1/2 ton.

Can anyone else identify a reference that indicates dual wheels raised the rating to 2 1/2 tons?
User avatar
KillianAA
Posts: 11
Joined: August 10th, 2016, 10:41 pm
Body Type: 82 B Closed Cab
Model Year: 1931
Location: Folsom, CA

Re: How many classes of AA trucks

Post by KillianAA »

The reference I quoted is on page 127 of the 1998 edition in case anyone is interested.
Cschaff63
Posts: 98
Joined: September 14th, 2017, 5:57 pm
Body Type: Dump
Model Year: 1928
Location: Pa

Re: How many classes of AA trucks

Post by Cschaff63 »

It only makes sense that the dual wheels would increase payload, as I have seen video of them loading these trucks pretty heavy back in the day on road construction and dam building projects. Would be nice to know for sure, so I can license mine accordingly. Not that I would haul that much anyway, but
User avatar
Chris Haynes
Posts: 2203
Joined: September 7th, 2003, 5:18 pm
Body Type: 82A
Model Year: 1930
Location: Camarillo, CA

Re: How many classes of AA trucks

Post by Chris Haynes »

I hauled 3 tons of scrap to the dump in my Early '30 with duals.
KimVanOrder
Posts: 753
Joined: August 11th, 2013, 4:25 pm
Body Type: 82-A Platform
Model Year: 1928
Location: Hamilton, Mich.

Re: How many classes of AA trucks

Post by KimVanOrder »

Chris Haynes wrote:
May 20th, 2019, 11:33 am
I hauled 3 tons of scrap to the dump in my Early '30 with duals.
Did that include the Truck!! :shock: :lol:
KVO
Dec. '28 AA
User avatar
Chris Haynes
Posts: 2203
Joined: September 7th, 2003, 5:18 pm
Body Type: 82A
Model Year: 1930
Location: Camarillo, CA

Re: How many classes of AA trucks

Post by Chris Haynes »

KimVanOrder wrote:
May 20th, 2019, 4:07 pm
Chris Haynes wrote:
May 20th, 2019, 11:33 am
I hauled 3 tons of scrap to the dump in my Early '30 with duals.
Did that include the Truck!! :shock: :lol:
No, That was the payload.
Cschaff63
Posts: 98
Joined: September 14th, 2017, 5:57 pm
Body Type: Dump
Model Year: 1928
Location: Pa

Re: How many classes of AA trucks

Post by Cschaff63 »

I have heard a lot of stories like that, and seen pics of some pretty heavy payloads on these trucks
Post Reply