Canadian Dodge, 3 ton 4x2

[Lang]

Mike

The annotation read "Mid East and THEN Australian Forces"

Throws the delivery destination in doubt in my mind.

The Ryde vehicles (I think photo is Feb 44) all look new or completely refurbished and do not bear the signs of used vehicles as all the bits and pieces are in order and identical.

Lang

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Lang,

Not to me, given all the other indicators: the 'then' might just as well refer to delivery sequence, ie satisfy the Mid East order first, THEN export the Aust allocation to Aust.

There are a number of factors that I think support that view:
(1) no Dodge trucks listed in the AIF vehicle register, which is where they would have been if delivered to ME & taken on charge there.
(2) no Dodge trucks listed on any of the surviving manifests from ME to Aust
(3) no transfers of Dodge trucks between the AIF register and the AMF register

I'm yet to check through the Aust purchase and assembly contract list (cannot do that until early next week) but I'm reasonably certain I have Dodge truck purchases and assembly contracts listed, ie assembly in Australia, not the ME.

I can revisit this when I can get to the data next week. I agree the Ryde vehicles do look pristine: just as I'd expect of vehs delivered direct and assembled locally with the local mods.

Mike

[lynx42]

I had a few minutes with nothing to do so I had a look at the ARN books, (AWM2016.38.206.pdf - you can Google it), which has most if not all the Australian delivered Dodge 3 ton trucks mentioned with their ARN's. This truck I have posted the photos of in posts 4 & 5, is ARN. 121064 in the book with the numbers from 114438 to 122646.

It is interesting as in that book there are more modern vehicles like the LARC 5's, motorcycles and some impressed vehicles from the Northern Territory and Papua/New Guinea. So the numbers are all over the place.

regards Rick.

[Kevin Goodwin]

Hi all, Lynn has mentioned that one of the data plates could relate to 'body type' can anyone shed any light on this? On other British vehicles there seems to have been a relatively 'standard' wooden body pattern produced by various manufacturers, having seen the few available pictures of the Dodge rear body some have an aperture at the front and some don't, did the Canadian built bodies have a 'standard' wooden body pattern, for example mine has hinged sides, is that a modification or original?
Kevin

[Lynn Eades]

Kevin, the four digit number is called the Model code.
As examples of 1/2 ton 4x4, the Model code for a WC-27 (this is called a sales symbol)
The 1/2 ton Ambulance is Model code 4139,
A WC-41 (Closed cab) Model code is 4162, while the two Reconnaissance models with and without winch (WC-23 and WC-24) are both Model code 4119.

For 3/4 ton WCs: WC-51 and 52 the model code is 4290 for the Bucket seat body (body work from behind the seats forward) while the pickup body (rear cargo bed is model code 4266. (that was complicated)
The plate with the 4290 is fixed to the front of the cowl just under the rear of the bonnet. (I don't think there was a plate attached to the 4266 on the body)
The WC-56 and WC-57 Command cars (reconnaissance) are code 4219
The Ambulance (WC-54) is code 4239
The Carryall is code 4249.
Any how...
The first two digits would be first year of production of that body type. (1/2 ton were 41 models and 3/4 ton 42 models)

A quick google search tells me that the other number is the body number, or if you like the number on your cab was that many from the start of production (yours was the 33,325 one built) of that Model code.

Sorry I dragged that out.
Lynn.

So, your model of truck was first built in 1942, the body code (for ordering parts) is 52, and it is the 33,325th. body of that type built (1942,1943 or 1944???)

[Kevin Goodwin]

Hi all,
Thanks to Lang for giving me the contract numbers for my truck I have found this picture of a truck from the same contract, this will now provide a template for the rear body on my truck, just the minor detail of sorting out some measurements!
Kevin

[Lang]

Instead of a rear body, what about this. One of the best looking WW2 outfits.

Lang

[Ian McCallum]

Hi Keith, living in East Anglia you should have realised the body extensions relate to its post war life of hauling sugar beet, I believe called 'cheater boards'. This was a common modification to ex military vehicles to increase the capacity they could carry and goes along with the mod to install twin wheels/tipping gear. Have known of this vehicle for a number of years and glad its found an appropriate good home.

[Lang]

Some scans from parts manual.

[motto]

Referred to in Australia by a previous generation as 'hungry boards'.
I haven't heard the term for years.

David

[Lang]

Dave

You still see hungry boards on light load trucks like mulch carriers and landscapers trucks to cart the light bulky branches etc away.

Those Dodges would probably carry 6 ton legal in their afterlife and most blokes would probably up that to 8 tons with duals fitted. Engine would pull the load but brakes might have been a worry! They were very popular with Cockies fitted with wheat bins carrying who knows what weight once bulk handling came in during the 50's. Even in the bag days they probably stopped loading when no more could be put on and the tyres looked like bursting.

Lang

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by motto

Referred to in Australia by a previous generation as 'hungry boards'.
I haven't heard the term for years.

David

and 'greedy boards' in this part of the country !

Richard

[Lang]

Can't find Dodge photos with a quick search but this is an Army Chev which along with the Fords and Dodges formed the backbone of the farm fleets in the late 40's and 50's.

Photo split in two for some reason.

Wheat.jpg wheat2.jpg

[Kevin Goodwin]

Thanks for posting the pictures Lang they will prove really useful.
Ian, I was aware that the truck had been used primarily for the Beet season and that the 'greedy boards' were not standard fitment together with the tipping gear, however I was not sure if the main body was the original that had been modified for its new role, as it turns out the original body has long since gone! I must have been very fortunate to acquire the truck if yourself/others were aware of its existence, are you able to throw any light on its history?
Kevin