'38 Tonner Spare Wheel Carrier???
 

I’m looking for a little help on mounting of the spare tire on my 1938 tonner. The tire came mounted on the driver side with a spare wheel carrier that I suspect is not original. I’m attaching some pictures of the truck as it was when I bought it and of the wheel carrier. The carrier is 30” long and 5” wide at its maximum width. The repair/ fabrication work on the bed has been significant and is just about complete, so I need to consider mounting of the spare before I go further.
1) Pictures that I have found of ’38-’40 tonners seem to have had the spare mounted on the passenger side of the bed although I have no evidence of that on this tonner. Mine was on the driver’s side. What are your thoughts?
2) The part number for the spare wheel carrier for ’38-41 tonners in the Ford Green Book is 81y 1433-B. Is that the part I have? If not, what does it look like? I haven’t been able to find anything other than a picture in Mac’s for a ’40-’41 half ton spare wheel carrier which is quite different.
Input appreciated. Thank you.

Re: '38 Tonner Spare Wheel Carrier???
 

The attached photos show the spare tire carrier on my 1940 Tonner. Note that the fender is dished out to allow for the spare tire to be mounted lower and well clear of the cab. The mounting bracket that you see is OEM and was welded to the bed in the manner that you see.
Les Williams

Re: '38 Tonner Spare Wheel Carrier???
 

Thank you for the photos. I know that there were design changes in the tonners between '39 and '40 as well as some differences between each of the years. My '38 tonner rear fenders are without any sort of indent. Add to that the 17" wheels in the '38 tonner with manual brakes, and I would think it difficult to avoid the gas filler tube in the event of mounting the spare wheel on the right side. I appreciate the clear views on the '40 tonner. I would be interested in any other responses also. Thank you.

Re: '38 Tonner Spare Wheel Carrier???
 

I sent a PM with some photos of a 38 tonner in original condition that has no spare tire carrier visible on either side. Based on that and the original condition of your rear fenders, I think that the spare tire carrier you have is an after market or a shade tree adaptation that was installed by one of the truck's owners. The wheels on my tonner in the photo are the OEM 17" locking ring type with Firestone 700:17 tires.

Re: '38 Tonner Spare Wheel Carrier???
 

Since I built my 38 tonner from found parts before the internet, all I can say is you can see here that the 7.50 x 17 clears the driver door and there was no indent in the fender. BTW the punk in the green hat just turned 23 and works for the old man.

Re: '38 Tonner Spare Wheel Carrier???
 

I’m reviewing what I found previously in a couple of publications. The Ford Commercial Car & Truck 1938-41 reprinted booklet does show that the 122” chassis can accept a spare tire mounted under the rear section of the frame, and the fittings are riveted on my frame without any hardware. On a further page the same booklet shows a sketch with the spare wheel and the fuel inlet indicated on the right hand side of the truck. That sketch for a ’38 or ’39 tonner seems to show an indent in the right fender so that the spare could clear the filler tube. There also are a couple of pictures further in the book that also show a right side mounted spare on the ’40 or ‘41 Express body. However, my fender which is original to the truck does not have an indent, and I suspect that a right side mounted spare (with 17” wheel) may not clear the gas filler tube. The same Ford booklet does state that the 122” Express came with five 17”x5” wheels with locking rings which I have and which I am using along with the mechanical brakes.
As an aside I did also read in Wagner’s book that in ’42 Ford moved the spare wheel on the ½ ton to the driver side because of interference with a right hand gas filler tube from an under seat gas tank. I do also see some pictures in Wagner’s book for right side mounted spare tires on the tonner.
I may need to wait until the bed is completed and returned to the truck to answer how I am going to best be able to handle the spare wheel. I do have a 5th hub cap for a side mount which is the way I’m leaning.
The thing is that I am trying to keep the truck stock as much as possible. This truck was a dealer demonstrator with chrome grill and windshield, sliding rear window and 2 tone paint.

Re: '38 Tonner Spare Wheel Carrier???
 

Gary - PM

Re: '38 Tonner Spare Wheel Carrier???
 

Anyone else have any info to add? I'm still undecided.

Re: '38 Tonner Spare Wheel Carrier???
 

For what its worth I looked at all my '38/'39 Ford ads and I do not see a spare mount (right or left) on any of the 1T's. I also searched internet photos and could not see any dimples in any rear fenders and the very few spare mounts I saw did not appear to be stock.