Composite cargo beds

jonjeep · Post by **jonjeep** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 1:31 am

Can anyone give me a history/ fact / spec. lesson on the composite cargo body for the 2 1/2 ton truck of WW2? I have one that was built in June of 1945. Wooden bed with metal sides, right? Not as interesting as the all wood bed I know, but I know very little about these things. Joel, can you help me out here? Thanks, jj

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 9:53 am

Bryce Sunderlin has an excellent Article on WWII Cargo Truck Bodied in Issue 46- CORRECTION NOT 44 (1988) of Army Motors, it explains the Late Composite steel Body with wood floor of late 44thre 45. The 1944-45 Steel Cargo Body could have either a wood or BOLTED in Steel floor. The 41-42 Steel Cargo Body had a welded in steel floor. The 45-45 Steel Composite body was bolted, and not welded together,and had the round wire tie down hooks. 44-5 Steel body could be identified by the row of bolts on the Cargo body side at the floor line.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 10:02 am

Lloyd White, close friend to Bryce, is in Oregon City, he can give you a better story. Lloyd and Bryce are long time contributing Editors to AM, and may prefer to contribute only to AM, I understand, and respect their right to do so. The MVPA is a fine organization, and I feel better off for having been a longtime member, as there are a lot of great members and excellent articles tied to that group. Infomation may be a little slower from MVPA than the worldwide net, but the information is well researched.

Joel

jonjeep · Post by **jonjeep** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 12:31 pm

Joel, Thanks for the information. Unfortunately, I have only been a member of the MVPA since 1993 so I don't have Bryce Sunderlin's article. So my understanding is that there were 3 styles of cargo bed mass-produced: The all wood, the all steel and the composite steel-wood. Am I right? jj

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 12:43 pm

The 44-45 Steel Body had either the steel floor bolted in and not welded as the pre 42 ones were, or the wood Floor. the sills and stringers for the 44-45 Composite Steel body were not interchangeable between the steel and wood floor version. I do have the AM #44, and can make a one copy of the Article. It may be on this site also. The Wood And Composite Cargo Body is complicated withits hundreds of different pieces and strange named bolts and brackets. They are not pictured in any one manual, it takes a few. It is a study in Carriage and Step Bolts, and all the strange nuts and anchors they thread into. Carriage makers of the 20s thru 40s would be right at home, hardware stores will go nuts.(Pun Intended)

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 6:46 pm

NOTE:

It was AM Issue #46, not #44.
My Mistake.

Joel