The GMC CCKW

Joel this is right up your alley,in alot of show and musem pictures you see the tool racks for the shovel,pick and ax mounted on the side of the engine compartment,this has always looked funny to me,I don't recall ever seeing this in actual war time photos,is this another water bucket and jeep tow rope thing or did they really install these racks that way?

It is common on trucks surplused from anywhere in Europe over past 40 years. If you purchase the films from Vintage Video, you will find them mounted vertically on Left Front of Cargo Body, and on the Cargo Body sides thru a mounting kit available in WWII. The Open Cab CCKW starting sometime in 44 had provision for the Pioneer Tools on the running boards. Early Open Cab id not have provisions, and left the factory W/O a Pioneer Rack, as did the Closed Cab Models. My CCKW had no provisions on the running boards, I upgraded it for the brackets. Kevin Kronlund can probably supply good European Takeoff Brackets. The Straps on the GM CCKW Factory brackets are unique to the CCKW, and are 1" width copies of the straps and Buckles used on WWII Gas Can Holders. The Straps are rivited in place, also. I had New Life Redo my 1" straps using those special buckles.
Joel

When I pulled my truck home, the running boards were so rusted up they were not repairable. I got two good running boards from a friend in Sweden and they had the pioneer tool brackets mounted on them. The shovel mounts on the drivers side, the ax and pick ax on the passenger side. Thanks for the info on the straps Joel.

I have never figured out why they (anyone) put the pioneer rack on the hood sidepanel. It just makes it that much harder to get the panel off to do anything on that side of the engine.

Steve AKA Dr Deuce

Hi board!

Emile Becker says in his book that there was a technical bulletin from the War Department, issued on may 13rd 1944, showing the different method of mounting the tool rack on CCKW. It tell's that you can put it on the left side, on the front of the bed (wood or steel bed) OR on the left side of the hood. It even gives the list of bolts, washers, nuts and spacers you need.

Well that solves that then. Thanks for the info

I do think it looks kind of neat. The running board mounted tools are kind of hidden under the cab and not easily noticed, even though authentic.

But the running board stowage is a GMC item, it was installed as a factory mod, all late running boards were factory punched out for the Pioneer Tool Brackets.
Joel

I finally got a 1944 TM for the CCKW,and lo and behold they show the tool mounting on the running board,now I know what the brackets are for on my open cab! Now if I can find a copy of Beckers book, in this country, I'll be set.Not that I'd be able to read any of it but I guess it has a lot of great pictures.

my 43 open cab has the brackets for tools on the running boards.

I like the tools on the side of the engine... but on the side of the bed would be even better.

I've seen a FEW pioneer racks on e-bay... if anyone has one REPRO IT! Can't be more than a few pieces of angle iron. Get more of them out there!

They are hard to find, and can be found NOS with straps starting in the $75.00 Plus range, WWII brackets are slightly different in the manner the tip of the shovel is retained. I have 3 New M-Series Pioneer racks @ $100.00 ea. I may have a used one without the straps for $50.00, FOB. They are a pain as they are easy to catch your nylons on.
Joel

Drat, I hate to tear my nylons on a truck. Just ruins my day.