Blitz with dual wheels?

[Mike Cecil]

Warren

In case the Bailey Bridge sections misled you, the images posted by Rick C are both tippers, just different models. The Aust Army's CMP range of trucks during WW2 had only one series with duals as standard as far as I'm aware: tippers. Post war, some No.6 LAA tractors were so fitted as well, with Units equipped with both single and dual wheel-ed tractors.

Tyre size for tippers with duals was 8.25x20.

The spacers for the front wheels were essential to retain the steering geometry (king pin angle to point on the ground where the centre of the tyre was)

Regards

Mike C

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I got this message plus picture in my mailbox:

Hi guys,

I'm a lurker, not a member, but the Softskin forum has a current thread dealing with 'Blitz' dual wheels.

You may be interested in the attached pic, which although it doesn't show it clearly, you can however just make out the dual wheels behind my late father's right leg (esp. the patch of light on the ground between the duals). It also plainly shows the 'Blitz' being used as a prime-mover with semi-trailer attached.

The pic. is of Allan Layton after being demobbed to the Aust Army Service Corp, 3rd Military District General Transport Company shortly after WWII.

regards
Allan Layton (jnr.)

[Mike Cecil]

Yes, I hadn't included the wartime 'Tractors' in my post .... just the Trucks.

Mike C

[Howard]

My F60S Tipper Link to Keith's Page is fitted with dual wheels.
The front wheels are standard fare, retro-fitted when one of the offset wheels was damaged by a tree stump. But that's not the interesting part of my post.
The truck was used for taking the cereal harvest to the receivals. The problem with the duals was that the outside tyres actually straddled the weighbridge, and therefore gave inaccurate weight measurements.
This was solved by the fitment of duals with a different offset. The photo attached shows one wheel fitted with one of each.
SO I am guessing that the military supplied wheels had a greater offset than the civilian items?
IMG_2858edit.jpg IMG_2843edit.jpg
H

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

I got this message plus picture in my mailbox:

This truck didn't start life as a semi trailer tractor, it was in fact a tractor of a different sort, a No6 Bofors LAA tractor which as we have seen were often adapted to use these wheels. It's original engine umber was PR3874462, chassis 28442200698, disposal date May 8th 1959 at 3BoD.

Allan, is it possible to get a large scan of this image please? You can contact me via Hanno.

[Mike Cecil]

Well spotted Keith! And yes, what a nice image it is.

The Unit sign is S = South Australia and '105', which was a General Transport Company, hence South Australia GT Company, so this is a vehicle in 4th Military District (South Australia) rather than 3MD (Victoria).

Mike C

[warren brown]

Hi everyone -went out and had squizz at this truck yesterday. The chassis was standing in long grass - full of brown snakes. On saturday the farmer's Jack Russell terrier cornered a brown snake - the snake reared up like a cobra and the dog kept at it - eventually the snake decided to leave but the dog had it by the tail - the snake dragging the little dog through the grass! Ugh! The farmer said he thought 'the dog was a goner' but it happily the little bloke wasn't bitten. The farmer - who's a classic car buff - Ford Customline, XP falcons etc - had pulled the Blitz apart to restore it and so the truck's been in pieces for some time. The chassis was very good indeed - surface-rusty, but not rusted - but the cab sitting next to it was exceptional. No rust in it whatsover and straight. In his shed were the guards, engine etc - the panel work was like new, the steel doors fantastic, so at least those bits had been out of the elements. I think - it's a C60S (?) and i'm guessing it was a tipper - someone might be able to tell from the photos. The ID plate might say something - but I don't really know the ins and outs of those. Certainly it's a rare model as you can see it's fitted with a Hills Hoist.

[Keith Webb]

Yes it's a C60S chassis and what's more (if I read right) it is WO78 which was a No6 arty tractor, not a tipper, although it seems to be missing the winch mount side plates.
The chassis number (again if I read correctly) is 28442S00644 which would mean it had ARN 73618, was built in Sydney, delivered to Melbourne. Only thing which doesn't line up is the engine number listed for that truck in the records...
Did you get a shot of the cab showing the back wall? If it was a No6 it should have the speaking tube unique to these and ambulances.
The Hills Hoist is definitely a rare addition!
The other mystery is why a Ford man has a Chev in his collection.

[warren brown]

Thanks Keith! That sounds interesting! The farmer said the truck came from up Canowindra way and that's all I could get about its history - his Blitz knowledge wasn't particularly great - which is easy to understand as they just bought it as a farm vehicle way back when. So - would arethe dual wheels correct?