ferretfixer

Hello Fellow Green machine Afectionardo's!

On the 30th June 2024, it is the Ashford ( Kent ) Armed Forces Day. I myself will be attending With my Command Car. But More vehicles & Uniformed re-enactors are needed. To Provide an interesting spectrum, accross the Board of our Respective hobbies.

It is always an Honour to Support Our Armed services. & Monies rasied, will be donated to Military Charities. So Really Worth while Attending.

The venue is Victoria Park, which is Massive. & has a superb George IV period fountain in the Grounds. A Magnificent Spectical in it's own right when working!

Please get in touch if you would like a day out ( A Sunday ) & would like to attend this worthy event.

I will supply you the organisers details & contact info for entry forms.

Many Thanks in Advance!

Best wishes to you all: Mike. 👍

Gordon, That is VERY interesting to see. Thank You for Posting! 👍

Hello Mike, I had thought about these from the off. But i have since had information.

That GMC trucks that also Towed 1 Ton Ben Hur Trailers. Had a Pair of holes in their rear crossmember for the Aux chains.  When the weather is a bit better, I will roll back my Collapsable garage. & check if this was also the case for dodges?  It is interesting, that this question has never been raised before?.....

My findings will obviously be posted on here. For the benifit of others, who may have been thinking along similar lines. Towards towing a trailer.

1 minute ago, norseman 02 said:

My WC57 certainly never had attachments for safety chains. As these models were intended for field command use by officers why would they want to tow a 1 ton trailer .. unless it was for officers' mess goodies !

They were also used as reconasance vehicles. Equipment towed in trailer. left at 2nd echalon whilst out on a mission / task.

Also a VERY basic question that arises from your own question is:  Why would they want to tow a 1 Ton Trailer?  My reply would be: why would the vehicles therfore be fitted with a tow hook assembly?.......😁

And this one....391865056696

55 minutes ago, kevin powles said:

None that I can find there. 

Look at this one for starters.  Ebay item No: 314636580208

Transfers readily available on eBay.

20 hours ago, john1950 said:

Internal square is for the inner tubular wheel nut on a twin wheel axle some GMC 343's had twin fronts to be able to use a front mounted crane. I have not been able to look this week as the weather has been against me and other things, as soon as I can I will start looking again.

No pressure John. Just important to get it right Buddy!  Many Thanks.

Mike.

On 2/2/2024 at 4:03 PM, john1950 said:

Sorry I cannot put my hands on it yet, these are all I have found so far. I am sure the one I am looking for has a square in the small end for use on th twin rears of a Ford Sussex and similar. I will keep looking. These are the ones I have found so far.

A GMC Brace also has a square hole in the opposite end. & the socket diameter must be 40mm.

Update on Info!

I am informed, that a WW2 GMC (Jimmy ) truck wheel brace will fit?

Anyone got a spare they no longer require at all?

Mike

Looked on the web. No pics of the tow hitch on a jimmy close up. found a couple of video's of Jimmy's being restored. & From what i observed the tow hitch is larger & swivels. But NO sign of any eyebolts for trailer chains?...

Which opens another question: What ww2 vehicles that towed a Ben Hur 1 Ton Trailer's. Actually DID have eyebolts for the Hitch?...... Perplexing, or what?...😣

1 hour ago, Enigma said:

I don't think CC's had them.

But as you stated installing your own would be a wise thing to do. Jeep bolts might be a bit too lightweight though. Maybe weld some form modern bolts or eyes?

 

Years ago I was nearly run over by a runaway horse trailer that uncoupled itself from a car in a corner.

(No, there was no horse in it at the time).

I agree, I don't think CC's had them either? Do you know if weapons carrier's did?

Or did Jimmy's have eyebolts, as they did also Tow Ben Hur trailers. If that was the case, I would need to source a couple of those I Guess?

Regarding the Horsebox incident. I think that is one of the reasons it is law now on modern trailers. To have a brake away cable coupled to the handbrake system. It makes perfect sense when you think about it!.....

48 minutes ago, Mk3iain said:

I have absolutely no knowledge of these vehicles but later trucks such as CUCV used holes in plates at the tow hitch to hook the chains into.  It could be a backing plate folded at the bottom to give two holes on the flat. If that makes any sense...

Or, two loops welded onto the bottom of the backing plate, I think a MUTT I once had used that.

Yes a bit like a Land rover defender plate as standard. I would hope to avoid that, & get some eyebolts as Enigma has suggested.

Thanks for your input though.

Mike.

Hi Guys! OK, this might sound mundane. But is actually a significant safety question!

Does anyone know / have photo's etc. Of Dodge command cars Towing Hook mounting bolts? I ask as I have a 1 Ton Ben Hur Trailer. Which comes with safety chains & Hooks. I have never seen a command car fitted with two lower 'Loop' mounting bolts. To accept the hooks on the Trailer chains!

Therefore, when your towing a loaded trailer to a show. Obviously safety is one of the paramount considerations to be borne in mind!

If this was the case, I was thinking of fitting a pair of jeep eyebolts to my Command car for this reason.

I await your feedback gentlemen!

Kind regards to all contributing Members! 👍

Hi John, Any one would do. As long as the internal diameter is 40mm Across the flats. 👍

2 hours ago, Enigma said:

I didn't buy it so please don't beat me up. 😅

if I did that. You would have to be charged a fee Mate!.......😁

4 hours ago, john1950 said:

I will have a look but it will be a couple of day's.

Many Thanks john, Cheers! 👍

I note others have also picked up on this. Under 'W&P 2024 Headings.

21 hours ago, Nick Johns said:

New show, by a Dutch registered Events Company

https://warandpeaceshow.com/

I posted about this under Scuttle butt / Roumer control Buddy 😁

20 hours ago, john1950 said:

If you cannot get one, I think I have both log and short wheel spanners in the dark box. I would have to go digging to be sure.

John, if you have one with a 40mm Internal width. That is just what I need! 👍

17 hours ago, wally dugan said:

MIKE the biggest at the moment is a tight 38 mm but the lad says we left a couple of old spider type in the shed when we moved so l will go and look let you know a load of 35mm so if you find a 40mm socket you can have one to make it look like the one in the picture

Hi wally. No the spider type would take up too much room in the vehicle Mate.

It would HAVE to be like the one I showed in the photo.

2 hours ago, ltwtbarmy said:

Just a thought, but wouldn’t the trailer wheel nuts be the same as the towing vehicle’s wheel nuts? Have you tried looking at a wheel brace for a GMC CCKW, this being a frequent tow vehicle? The braces do look remarkably similar, and with, if I understand correctly, GMC wheel nuts being 1.5” (38.1mm) a GMC brace seems to be the correct one-

https://jeepest.com/gb/wheels-hubs-cckw352-353/3914-wrench-wheel-nut-gmc.html

post script- i am guessing that you measured a non rusty unpainted unbashed nut to get the 40mm and used a vernier rather than a tape measure! 

Hi, No the prime mover is a dodge. Not handy to be able to conveniently measure a wheel nut on that vehicle.

The nut was measured with a steel ruler.

2 hours ago, john1950 said:

If you cannot get one, I think I have both log and short wheel spanners in the dark box. I would have to go digging to be sure.

Hi John, Very kind of you. But let's wait & see what Wally comes up with first My Friend! 👍

10 minutes ago, wally dugan said:

that's OK there not going any where

Wally, The diameter is: 40mm flat to flat across Buddy.

6 minutes ago, wally dugan said:

MIKE do you know the size as there is a heap of this style in my workshop

Wally, I would have to measure a wheel nut flat to flat Mate.  Bear with Me Sir!......;)