CMP Tailgate

[Grant Bowker]

I realize this isn't directly to your question about the artillery tractor tailgate but may reflect whether using tailgate chains to hold the tailgate level with the floor was commonly planned (I don't think it was). The body in the photos was bought to provide either its tailgate for other projects or to provide a tailgate as a pattern for replication for the other projects (or both). The body is a bolt-together GS body for LWB CMP, I believe a 5W1, that been converted to a trailer on an unknown chassis and used by a farmer as part of his woodcutting operation. Maybe I should have said abused as it is seriously rusted and has fatigue cracks in places as well. There aren't visible signs of the 5W1 body having been modified. The smaller body sitting in the 5W1 is a 15cwt trailer body that has been replicated as it was in pretty poor condition - rusted almost to the point of falling apart along the joint floor to sides.


Photos show that if the hooks on the chains are placed in the securing plates, the tailgate is below the plane of the floor. If the hooks are pushed into the securing plates (or brackets), the tailgate is much closer to level with the floor - but, I don't see this as a stable configuration as the hooks and brackets are being loaded sideways and if subject to bouncing would probably work their way to the extended position.