The GMC CCKW

What was the reason for the open roof trucks ? Was it to save on metal for the war effort or better visability seeing aircraft or what ? Thanks . John

There are no Dumb questions!

We often here collectors mis-quote that the change from closed cab trucks to open cab models "was to save steel" but the truth is the open cab tub of a CCKW weights more than the earlier closed cabs. It does not save steel.

There are several reasons for having a "Rag Top". It is a tactical combat vehicle so having the ability to operate with the windshield lowered and covered is both a safety issue and provides a method to prevent detection from windshield glare.

The open cab design allows the taller silloutte to be reduced which makes you a smaller target.

Shipping the vast amounts of large and small equipment to the war zone by sea caused the military to constantly look for ways to reduce cubic size. When shipped, the open cab trucks are packed with troop seats in the bed, windshield down and cab bows in the lowered position.

Nobody said it had to be comfortable.

My wife always wanted a convertable so I bought her one, A CCKW dump truck.

Glad to have another new nember.

Cat Man

Hey Cat Man , thanks for the info ! That makes a lot of sense . I know the cab of my old Chevy sticks up pretty high . As for your wife getting the convertible ; I'll have to try that one on my wife and if it works I may even let her drive it . John

The open configuration of the 2 1/2 ton truck came right after the introduction of the wooden bed trucks as a measure to conserve steel. Thanks for your question.

Americal'43 wrote:What was the reason for the open roof trucks ? Was it to save on metal for the war effort or better visability seeing aircraft or what ? Thanks . John

Thanks for the question. We need to know of the How, Why & Who of the 43 open-cab etc.

Jim S

The open cab concept was developed by Studebaker and adopted buy all manu.

John

Cat Man wrote:We often here collectors mis-quote that the change from closed cab trucks to open cab models "was to save steel" but the truth is the open cab tub of a CCKW weights more than the earlier closed cabs. It does not save steel.

I have to ask a question about this. Did you include the doors in the weight comparison. The closed cab may be less heavy than the open one, but I think if you add the doors to it, in total more sheet steel is used. The open one of course does not have steel doors.

I remember from my research on the Dodge knock-down ambulance that the reason it was made knockdownable was that you could stack two of them on top of eachother in ships, so more vehicles could be sent across the pond. I can imagine that this would be an excellent reason for the open cab of the CCKW, it makes the vehicle height much lower. And it is much easier to move around and defend yourself if you are in a rag top, no steel in the way to hinder your movements.

I think the reason for the open cab is both saving steel and the shipping and tactical advantages.

MANY SAY THAT THE RAG TOP WAS, THAT NOT JUST GETTING THE CUBIC MASS DOWN FOR SHIPPING BUT ALSO THE MEN DRIVING THEM COULD GET OUT QUICKER UNDER FIRE...... BUT YOU JUST TRY GETTING OUT IN A HURRY??????????? SO I PROBABLY THINK IT WAS FOR STEEL CONSERVATION AND CUBIC MASS REDUCTION FOR SHIPPING ..... I VE NEVER HAD AN OPEN CAB BUT HAVE GOT IN AND OUT ....ITS SO MUCH NICER OPENING YOUR DOOR IN MY VIEW....

Agreed on that KEVINABR as the open cab is harder to get in and out of and especially for an old geezer like me with really bad knees. I need to get rid of my open cab trucks and get me a closed cab for ease of entry.

In my "best days" I could get in and out of a closed cab faster than an open cab especially if someone is shooting at you and you need to hit the ground.

Remember that many/most of the open cabbed trucks were shipped in boxes. One of the Vintage Video video's shows them putting the trucks together in a "Little Detroit". If you can find the manual, the packaging manuals for the open cabbed CCKWs, it is quite interesting. The Twin-pak for the Chevy is interesting too as they didn't have the open cab

Great info, thanks Doc.