Racer's Wedge question

[johnbuzzed]

I'll be combining the Racer's Wedge hauler with the Dodge Little Red Express cab and front "clip". The chassis won't be detailed, so I can get away with a lot of non-prototypical stuff to make it a nice-looking curbside build. The Wedge body has wheel cutouts for tandem wheels, which is no problem, but I would like to know if they should be tandem, single wheels or tandem duallys? Thanks in advance for any help.

[Eshaver]

John, , to be road worthy, yes Tandem wheels are the safe way to go . I can tell ya from being in the towing business for a number of years that a rear single wheel just won't cut da mustard on a heavy body with a load .

[Renegade]

If I remember correctly the original kit with the Chevy cab and chassis had dual rear wheels with a spacer tube in between. You used the stock wheel back and hubcap and just used the spacer to connect the two tires.

[mikemodeler]

Modelroundup used to offer replacement side panels in resin to allow for a single rear axle instead of the tandem, might check with them to see if they still have them.

[johnbuzzed]

Would duallys be advised even with the tandem axles?

[rasafyff]

The original kit had a second axle that mounted on top of the spare tire.

[Edsel-Dan]

The Original used Tandem Singles. Only one of the 2 Model-King kits had that extra axle.

For Duallys, you will have to modify both the chassis & Wedge body.

Starting with the Dodge kit will make the changes easier.

You may need to slightly narrow the rear axle, and either widen the body sides around them,

or add Quarter round to cover the exposed tires

Duallys would be almost manditory now due to DOT regulations, but back in 71 when this kit came out

the Tandem Singles may have been acceptible

Most haulers like this I saw back then were Single drive Duallys, not tandems.

Also the ramp was more of a full width Deck than the narrow ramps of the kit.

[freeman62]

I'm playing around with the racers wedge myshelf and this post has help me decide which way to go on wheels.I was just going to go with a single ,but now i'm thinking duals is the way to go.

[Truck parts]

What wheels and hubs would use?

[Edsel-Dan]

Depends on what you like or want.

The Original 71 annual issue of MPC's Chevy pickup that included the Wedge has 2 options.

Chrome (reverse) open steel rims or the stock hubcaps

You could use the Dodges rims/caps if you have enough, or anything else you like.

Open steel are the easiest to find. So many kits had them

Lug pattern is something to think about too is they will be seen.

Most Open rims are 5 lug, but 6 lugs were likely more accurate on a heavier Pickup like this will represent

[gtx6970]

I don't think any dodge truck of this era ever had 6 lug wheels, they were either 5 or 8 depending on GVW rating of the chassis

[Eshaver]

Yer correct !