REO/STUDEBAKER CARGO BODY-Betcha Didn't know this one?

[joel gopan]

These interchange with G-508, but there were differences. Your Studebaker may not have a CCKW cargo body , but your CCKW may have a Studebaker/REO Cargo body. All variations of the Cargo body will be also found on the STUDEBAKER/REO. (The GIs back then could have cared less what body was on their truck)
These were more likely to have carried borsch than a CCKW would have.

STUDEBAKER had one body that was unique only to the Studebaker 6X6

[Matt]

Hi Joel,

I have a WW2 photo of a closed cab 353 with M32 gun mount which appears to have a Studebaker metal bed on it,it has the hole for the gas tank filler in the front panel on the left side.

I have a question,on some steel beds the stake pockets have a cut out at the bottom while others don't,why is this? and which tarp hook is the earlier type,round or flat?

Joel I have received your PM but can't read it as the PM's are playing up again.

Matt.

[arnee]

Hi Matt

The steel bodies built during WWII had no water drainage holes in the side panels. These holes were only cut out after the war and we know two types. The first were cut out with the bodies on the the trucks, they vary in size and are fairly rudimentary. the second are found on bodies built after WWII and done by the manufakturer.
The cast round tarp hooks are the early one.

Arne

[Matt]

Hi Arne,

Thanks for that! cargo bodies are new to me as my truck is a compressor.

Matt.

[armydriver]

Variations abound, by manufacture and by modifications, both war time and post war.

[joel gopan]

WWII Truck Cargo Body
On the US produced WWII Body there were only THREE type hooks. The first hook was the cast hook with the barb on the end, it was riveted on and was on the early steel body; next was the stamped flat tie down hook that was held on with screws and was on the wood Cargo body; last was the wire type hook found on the late Composite Steel Cargo Body, it was rivited on. When a hook was damaged or broken off, they were usually replaced with the stamped flat hook and bolted on. You will note that the stamped flat hook can also be found on the sides of the GMC Open Cab.

Post War

The Steel Cargo Body produced as replacement in France for the CCKW had the flat stamped hook. These bodies had the half circle ventilating holes at the bottom of the stake pockets and were uniformly cut at the factory, and not the primitave torch cut holes found on many European used CCKWS.


Stakes
The wood stakes were prone to swelling and more than difficult to remove at times. The best way to go are the short steel stakes that have the shoulder on them. They are designed to fit the Cargo Body in a uniform manner and position the bow corners at the correct prescribed height. (these are the way to go as they are easy to install and remove) There were times when longer stakes were used to raise the height of the Tarp in order to give additional head room such as on kitchen trucks, parts trucks, or with the set # 7. There were no part numbered Tarps for the custom jobs, and additional canvas duck was sewn to the sides for these projects.

[Matt]

Thanks for the info guys.are the holes in the stake holders only seen on trucks from Europe or would the mod have been carried out on CCKW's still in service in the US after WW2,such as those with National Guard units?

Matt.

[joel gopan]

From what I have seen over the past 50+ years it was a Euro thing.