Look what passed me today

1349 · Jan 25, 2014

Driving in N Oklahoma....this was coming up behind me, I thought iit looked weird so I slowed down to let it pass....I saw the frame splice from what used to be a truck to this racecar hauler? trailer. Apparently running it front wheel drive because there was nothing driving the rear wheels. Weird looking rig. I couldnt help grabbing the phone and taking a pic.

JayinNY · Jan 25, 2014

That is wierd, great pic, nice and flat out there no snow, looks like they have enough street lights too! thanks for posting it.

Paul from MI · Jan 25, 2014

I saw a few trucks like that in Germany 20 years ago. Front wheel drive, rear axle controlled hydraulically so the bed could be lowered right down to the street. Forklifts could drive right up on them without a dock or ramp to load, then raise the rear axle to the driving position and go. Pretty neat idea.

Goose · Jan 25, 2014

When I was racing, back in the 1970's, I saw the same thing someone had done with an Olds Toronado. That was when the Toro was big, with the 455 ci engine.

They'd cut the Toro off behind the front seats, adapted a pickup cab rear panel onto it, and fabricated frame rails joining it to a tilt bed tandem axle trailer.

Matt_In · Jan 25, 2014

There is one just like that down the road from me sitting in the guys yard for a couple years.

toolz · Jan 25, 2014

Out local MTD (city buses) have some Ford people movers that are set up like that. It keeps the floor real low so people can get in easier. There"s a 4x4 transfer case on the transmission, blocked off where the rear driveshaft would connect, and just uses the front driveshaft. Silly setup, but I guess it works.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 25, 2014

Handicap bus, low floor and wheelchair accessible.
Later Bob

JayinNY · Jan 25, 2014

I wonder how long the front drive terrain lasts like that?? I remember years ago my grandfather who never had a 4wd truck asked my dad if you disconnected the driveshaft to the rear end, could you drive your truck with the front axles? Or in 4wd with no power to the rear end, just the front end.

tedregentin · Jan 25, 2014

The problem with this kind of setup is that the front differential on a four wheel drive runs on the back side of the ring gear because a front differential is just a rear differential is flipped over.

Janicholson · Jan 25, 2014

When flipped over the ring and pinion are driving on the same thrust face as when right side up. No geometry changes other than which side of the drive wheel hits the road!.
It could be a Toronado drop in!! Jim

Pops1532 · Jan 26, 2014

I've seen a few of those at race tracks over the years. Like others said, probably a Toranado FWD.

gtractorfan · Jan 26, 2014

Is that bug or mud splatters on the windshield? Haven't had any of either here in Ohio for a long time.

rrlund · Jan 26, 2014

Hey,Red Green made something like that out of a front wheel drive car and a boat trailer!

heavyhaulertoo · Jan 26, 2014

We just used a 1974 have ton chevy and left the 4*4 locked in worked fine. I think it still is running in northeast Iowa.

RLA · Jan 26, 2014

All I will say is it wouldn't be worth a hoot
on snow coverd roads in pa. Loaded.....

Jeff B. · Jan 27, 2014

That's not exactly true. Lots of front ring & pinions are reverse cut to be run in the front. Dana axles use them all the time, especially on fords.

Look what passed me today

1349

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JayinNY

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Paul from MI

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Goose

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Matt_In

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toolz

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Anonymous-0

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