jeep spare fuel rack question
 

How was the the top strap secured/locked in place for this front rack style?

Attachment 129314


Also what does MA and MB refer to when talking about the jeep subject?


regards,
Jack

Ma & Pa jeep
 

Willys MA, "M" for "Military", model "A,"
Attachment 129315


Willys MB:
Attachment 129316

Hello Hanno, thanks!

By the '70s, we thought the Pinto fuel tank location was bad. Standards do change.

It looks like it’s a pin through holes in the vertical strips, but it’s hard to tell from this angle.

It could be a water can … :)

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Thank you Jakko. The water can was a possible tertiary question to my thread, but not sure if Crerar's driving regime would require quick access to extra water?

Point noted about the rod sliding through the upper framework of the fuel rack. Found slightly different angle of the same jeep to confirm this. Just wondering how it was kept in place to prevent it from sliding out while driving?

Attachment 129375

From the picture you posted as a screenshot of Acrobat Reader:

Attachment 129382

… I get the impression he had one of each — assuming it’s the same two jerrycans as in the other photos.

From the photo above, there seems to be some kind of lock on the left-hand side. Could just be some kind of simple latch that prevents the pin from sliding out, or maybe it’s padlocked to prevent people stealing the cans? However, I can’t find any more photos of this particular jeep from the left-hand side on a quick search, nor a clearer version of this photo.

I just noticed the stars on the sides are completely point-down. I thought the normal way in the Canadian Army was point-forward, until it changed to point-up eventually?

Is it the stamped portion of the fuel can painted white indicating it contains water?

Anyhow, I went back to the same photo album to see if any helpful photos were missed. There is this one but quality of a contact sheet is not much help, but it does seem to be same as the opposite side.

Attachment 129386

Plus one more of a different serial jeep:

Attachment 129387

I think so, but I’m not sure why I think so :)

Very hard to see … It could just be flat bar with a narrow end to go through the slot on the right, while on the left side of the rack is a bend-over bit that the flat bar hooks into somehow? Maybe with a separate retaining pin though both the bar and the rack’s vertical strip?

Yes, the white painted pressings in a jerrycan indicate that it is a dedicated water can.

David

Hello David, thank you for confirming white painted portions identifying water can.

Attachment 129389

Jakko, thank you for the continued interest. A flat metal strip (same as those used for the constructed rack) with narrow ends is what I had originally thought. Taking a close up view of the area, it does seem the 'restraining' metal strap is just visible to the left of the rack framework:

Attachment 129391

If one of the narrow ends is curved, it would be very slight bend as there is not much room to pivot at that point in between the fuel can handles. Also the actual insertion of that strap would require prying outwards one end of the rack, so not sure how viable that is?


Another example, but this one is designed differently with the vertical framework tapered to a point where the restraint is inserted:

Attachment 129390