So, why GMC's.....

[UK Jack]

I know what attracts me to GMC's, I like their historic value, I like their look and their smell. I like the fact that over 60 years ago they would of been driving past my house and down the lanes that I love and know. I like the fact that these things have a story to tell and that they come from a different country, from a different world and that they were made before I was born...

..............but what do you like about them?

Cheers

Jack

[joel gopan]

They just look like something Willie and Joe would ride in.
Joel

[dr deuce]

For me it is because they about the best designed (with the exception of a couple items) US HMVs from WW2! They are easy to maintain, repliable, easy to fix and restore, parts are readily available at the local parts or bearing/seal store, etc.

I have many different WW2 HMVs. Many of the others are flatheads. Until you have worked on a Willys and then a GMC or Chevy, you will not know of what I speak. Night and day different!

I also have a genset with a Hercules JXLD in it. Even though the Studebaker has the same power train as a split CCKW, it is powered by a flathead Herc. After working on the Herc in the genset, you can keep the Stude!

They are also the truck that apitomizes (sp) US involvement in WW2. They made the difference. I sometimes wonder what WW2 would have been like if Ford or Stude had won the US Army contract instead of GM. All you have to do is look at valve adjustment procedure in a Ford 6 or V8 from that era to understand... The phrase "...you are kidding me right?" comes to mind.


Steve AKA Dr Deuce with over 50,000 miles in a cckw

[joel gopan]

They are also a nice accessory to go with your WWII Jeep. There were about as many CCKWs as there were WWII Jeeps.
Joel

[dr deuce]

AND you can carry your Jeep in the back (LWB). I am not too sure about in a SWB. Might be on the tailgate.

[armydriver]

They are part of my childhood and it's dreams. I used to watch the long convoys of WWII passing my childhood home on U.S. highway 71 and long to drive one of those " big trucks" . I have restored 6 WWII jeeps and 1 M38 but I can honestly say that I had rather drive my CCKW than any of the jeeps and honestly care more about Betty Boop than any of the jeeps.

[Degsy]

It is possible to get a jeep ina SWB, we did it last year to go to Normandy.
we used ramps at the front .got the front wheels on to the headboard ,closed the tailgateand then ratchet strapped the jeep back against the tailgate. The front and rear canvases were then fastened over the protruding bits. Its not easy and I wouldn't want to do it very often.

[Karoshi]

With a conventional front bumper, no tandem hitch, a jeep will sit on the floor of the short wheel base 352 and the tailboard will close to the 45* position. Took mine to Beltring this year, that very way. Used builders planks [ doubled up ] for ramps. These were fitted with sections of angle iron at the top to make a lip that sat over the tailboard hinge bar. All worked rather well.

Karoshi

[dr deuce]

So do I understand that you have to get the front of the jeep up so that the Jeep bumper is over the front of the body?

It will not fit flat even if the rear wheels are on the tailgate?


Thanks
Steve AKA Dr Deuce with over 50,000 miles in a CCKW

[Karoshi]

No No No,.....the jeep will sit with all four wheels on the bed. When the jeep front bumber is touching the the front of the gmc bed, the load of the jeep it totally supported by the bed, the gmc tail gate is free to move but wont close entirerly because of the jeeps rear overhang.

The ramps of 'builders boards' I mentioned were to load the jeep up on to the gmc bed, not for use within the bed as did Degsy.

However with my method of loading, the gmc rear canvas does not 'hide' the jeep.

If however the front wheels of the jeep are raised when on the bed, by say using ramps, then the jeep fits further into the bed and the rear gmc canvas can be fitted properly, this 'hides' the payload.

Does this make better sense?

Karoshi

[dr deuce]

Yes, that is much clearer

Thanks

Steve AKA Dr Deuce with over 50,000 miles in a cckw