15-cwt GS trailer saved from scrapyard

[Grant Bowker]

The modified/reinforced tongue. The quality of the welding suggests a postwar Bubba-bilt modification to allow overloads. They pulled hard enough to generate cracking at the front plate of the tongue and distort the large castle nut on the drawbar eye. I would be interested to know if anyone has seen service bulletins for CMP trailers to parallel those for the trucks and whether drawbar modifications are mentioned. The added channel below the tongue required removal of the original steps just ahead of the box, no sign they were ever replaced.

[Grant Bowker]

I would also be curious whether anyone knows the purpose of the cutout in the tailgate that shows the remains of hinges above it, presumably for an outward opening flap. Such a flap would let small cargo flow out but if the hinges were free enough would open by gravity as the tailgate opened. possibly as a step?

[Grant Bowker]

Photos are of Bob Carriere's 20 cwt made by Dominion Truck Equipment as part of the China Aid Contract.
This batch of photos to show the unreinforced (matching the manual) tongue.

[Grant Bowker]

More of Bob's 20cwt trailer. He has mounted a 1 cu m water tank for use around the property.

[rob love]

Here is a shot of mine back when I dragged it home.

Dscf0052.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/sten...f0052.jpg.html
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...r/Dscf0052.jpg

[Alex van de Wetering]

Great addition to the stable, Grant.

I would also be curious whether anyone knows the purpose of the cutout in the tailgate that shows the remains of hinges above it

It reminded me of the US M10 Ammo trailer, which has a similar, but larger, cutout in the tailgate. With the M10 the cutout is to clear the tow hitch, allowing to tow trailers in tandem, but that doesn't seem to be the case with the 15cwt(?).

Clive posted some 15cwt pics in this thread: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7870
It's hard to see if these trailers have the cutout and flap as well.

I think a step wouldn't make sense as the hinges are at the wrong side. Could this trailer have had special purpose, where something long was stored in the centre of the body, like a mortar tube, radio mast? .....or maybe a panel to allow a cable and socket to be fed through from a generator set, sitting inside the body???

Alex

[Grant Bowker]

Based on the SB-5 parts and maintenance manual, I believe the 20cwt was designed to allow a rear tow hook but that the 15cwt was not. I see no holes on my 15cwt frame to indicate a tow hook having been installed. I haven't measured but don't believe the cutout is large enough to clear a typical CMP tow hook.