Roadster vs. Closed Cab Pickup

[1930pu]

I have a 1930 rpu and I am 5' 11" it is tight to get in, but once your in it's worth it!!

[BlueSunoco]

'28 Roadster P/U................ TIGHT squeeze no matter how you cut it!

[Gold Digger]

I have a 30 AA closed cab 1 1/2 ton truck and a 30 roadster pickup. I thought I had trouble getting in the AA till I got the pickup. I'm 5' 11" and 250 lbs. I think my biggest problem is my right knee doesn't work as well as it used to. But that don't keep me out of them.

[tagroff]

I ahve a heck of a time getting in and out of my 28 roadster p/u I am 6:1 and go 230# I guess I need to get on a diet and have some of my legs removed

[BlueSunoco]

Originally Posted by tagroff

I ahve a heck of a time getting in and out of my 28 roadster p/u I am 6:1 and go 230# I guess I need to get on a diet and have some of my legs removed

That's too extreme! Naw, those Model A's are best suited for a 30 year old guy that's about 5'5" and 135#. I knew a fellow that had a '28 Rdstr. Pickup, beautiful truck,,,,, he was a WWII vet but even at 85 years old was still pretty nimble and hopped in and out of the vehicle no problems. Of course he was of a small stature! Rest in peace, he died about 10 years ago his son has the A now and loving it!

Moral of story, get a Tudor or Fordor for most of your driving but keep that Roadster pickup because they are too neat to even think about selling!

[barkleydave]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

It is huge compared to my 57 MGA which is about 8 inches off the ground. Once in it does have very deep foot wells.

My PU.. Spare tire = narrow door but once in it is fine. Compress or remove some of the seat back foam and you can lean back a little farther which is an improvement.

[Lona]

Originally Posted by C26Pinelake

I have quit trying to get in the drivers side of the 1929 Roadster / open cab pickup. I get in the passenger side and slide over. Less trips to the chiropractor that way ( lol ) !
Wayne

Wayne,
Just curious. Why would it be any easier getting into the passenger side? Both doors are the same size. Seems the hardest thing is to get your foot in because of the small space between the seat and door opening in the roadster. I'm only 5'7" (used to be 5"8") so it may be easier for me to squeeze by the steering wheel on the driver's side since I'm not as big anymore.

Glen

[45GPW]

Originally Posted by Lona

Why would it be any easier getting into the passenger side? Both doors are the same size. Seems the hardest thing is to get your foot in because of the small space between the seat and door opening in the roadster. I'm only 5'7" (used to be 5"8") so it may be easier for me to squeeze by the steering wheel on the driver's side since I'm not as big anymore.

Fender mounted spare tires on pickups interfere with full door opening. Most pickups have a spare on the driver's side and a shorter door check on the driver's door to prevent the door from hitting the spare tire.

IMO, it's not the door swing causing a problem on early style pickups; it's the lack of space between the seat and the front of the door opening for those of us whose legs don't bend as easily as they used to. I have more trouble getting out of my 29 CCPU than getting in, because my left leg doesn't want to twist enough to fit through that narrow space.

And it probably doesn't help that I'm 50 years older and 50 lbs. heavier than I was the first time I tried it.

[Lona]

Originally Posted by 45GPW

Fender mounted spare tires on pickups interfere with full door opening. Most pickups have a spare on the driver's side and a shorter door check on the driver's door to prevent the door from hitting the spare tire.

IMO, it's not the door swing causing a problem on early style pickups; it's the lack of space between the seat and the front of the door opening for those of us whose legs don't bend as easily as they used to. I have more trouble getting out of my 29 CCPU than getting in, because my left leg doesn't want to twist enough to fit through that narrow space.

And it probably doesn't help that I'm 50 years older and 50 lbs. heavier than I was the first time I tried it.

Thanks. I did not know the pickups had this problem but agree the space between the seat and the door opening is too tight even on the roadster.

Glen

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by Lona

Thanks. I did not know the pickups had this problem but agree the space between the seat and the door opening is too tight even on the roadster.

Glen

It's a known fact that these things just flat out shrink over time. My first Model A was an AA 280A, pretty much the same cab as my '31 CCPU. I mean, we use to ride 3 of us in the cab and still had room. Shrinkage has gotten so bad that now with just the 2 of us, it's a tight squeeze.

[Chris Haynes]

Originally Posted by 31a

The Roadster pickup is a challenge to get in and out of unless you change the top to fold down, being 6'2 made it difficult

Lebarron & Boney make fold down bows for RPU's.

[Chris Haynes]

Brookville makes an extended RPU cab.

[Gold Digger]

Thinking back, I remember in the late 60's an old couple and their old maid daughter that drove a 31 AA 1 1/2 ton. They all rode up front with the old man weighing in at about 350 lbs but the other two were about normal size. I just don't know how they done it.

[4118truck]

I have a 31 CCPU that I noticed had "shrunk" over the years. Took the seat back out and replaced with plywood covered in egg crate foam and burlap. Looks great and gave me the space I needed.

[Joe K]

Originally Posted by Gold Digger

Thinking back, I remember in the late 60's an old couple and their old maid daughter that drove a 31 AA 1 1/2 ton. They all rode up front with the old man weighing in at about 350 lbs but the other two were about normal size. I just don't know how they done it.

Probably by picking up the shifter lever and swinging it out of the way.

Joe K

[Gold Digger]

Originally Posted by Joe K

Probably by picking up the shifter lever and swinging it out of the way.

Joe K

I'll have to check my 30 AA but don't think you can swing the shift lever on a 4 speed.

[Chris Haynes]

Lebaron & Bonney also make different seat sorings which sit you 2" higher.

[JBill]

Originally Posted by Patrick L.

There is adjustability of the seat back on STD roadsters ? Hmm, I'll look but never noticed anything on mine.

I really don't have a problem getting in or out of them [ I'm 6'1" and swelling a little more around the middle each year], but, its kind of a learned experience over the years.

I wonder if there is a real problem with that, if a shorter steer column would help.

The steering column in my 29 roadster is shorter than the one in my 30 closed cab pickup. Not by much, of course, but some. I'm also 6'1" and growing.

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by Gold Digger

Thinking back, I remember in the late 60's an old couple and their old maid daughter that drove a 31 AA 1 1/2 ton. They all rode up front with the old man weighing in at about 350 lbs but the other two were about normal size. I just don't know how they done it.

Maybe thats why she became/stayed an 'old maid'. Maybe they knew how to get cozy and keep it in the family.

[PO51]

At 6'3" 230 with a 36 inch inseam and a hip replacemant getting into my 28 open pick up is no easy task. Living in Southern California is a blessing as most of the time I drive it without the top.