Chassis winch in 15-cwt chassis

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the input. But to my knowledge, no 15-cwt chassis were fitted with a chassis winch at the factory or assembly plant during WW2.

All the 15-cwt chassis with winches I have seen, turned out to be modified ones. With the abundance of spares available post-war, a chassis winch is a likely/ useful addition for a skid logger, garage tow truck, etc. Plus it is mostly a bolt-in conversion. But the available evidence shows these were post-war civilian conversions, and not part of the original configuration of this type of truck.

I would like to challenge the membership to come up with source material supporting the chassis winch being a factory option for 15-cwt chassis during WW2. Note that in the case of the CGT Portee and Polsten AA truck, source material mentions a winch - but these are hand winches, not chassis winches as covered here.

HTH,
Hanno

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Thanks for all the input. But to my knowledge, no FORD 15-cwt chassis were fitted with a chassis winch at the factory or assembly plant during WW2.

All the 15-cwt chassis with winches I have seen, turned out to be modified ones.

I would like to challenge the membership to come up with source material supporting the chassis winch being a factory option for 15-cwt chassis during WW2. Note that in the case of the CGT Portee and Polsten AA truck, source material mentions a winch - but these are hand winches, not chassis winches as covered here.

I understand that C15A's have the chassis mounts fitted for a winch, but it was not usual for an actual winch to be installed. The 42 cab Portees are as such, and this another point that muddies the waters over the old 15cwt or 60cwt chassis question.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

I understand that C15A's have the chassis mounts fitted for a winch, but it was not usual for an actual winch to be installed. The 42 cab Portees are as such, and this another point that muddies the waters over the old 15cwt or 60cwt chassis question.

With mounts you mean the winch crossmember, as per Tony Wheeler's remark?:

Originally Posted by Tony Wheeler

Getting back to your question Hanno - the CGT frame is nothing more than a C15A frame. Unlike the FGT frame, which is a modified F15A frame, there's no difference between the CGT and C15A frame. Likewise throughout the whole CMP 4x4 range, because unlike Ford frames, all Chev frames were built with a winch crossmember.

If Chevrolet standardised the 101-inch wb chassis, it could be used to either assemble a CGT or a 15-cwt truck. As per the manual, the chassis winch was only "optional equipment on C30, C60S, C60L":

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

I just looked up some more facts in the Chevrolet MB-C2 maintenance manual and list my findings here:
[snip]

Winch:
Standard on CGT, supplied as optional equipment on C30, C60S, C60L.
[snip]

Being standardized, it would be easy to bolt in a winch after military service, which explains why we come across them quite often - but they are not part of the original configuration of the 15-cwt truck.

- Hanno

[Pete Ashby]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

With mounts you mean the winch crossmember, as per Tony Wheeler's remark?:



If Chevrolet standardised the 101-inch wb chassis, it could be used to either assemble a CGT or a 15-cwt truck. As per the manual, the chassis winch was only "optional equipment on C30, C60S, C60L":


Being standardized, it would be easy to bolt in a winch after military service, which explains why we come across them quite often - but they are not part of the original configuration of the 15-cwt truck.

- Hanno

Agreed Hanno,

however when they turn up they are invariably professionally fitted not some after thought bolt on by a farmer.
My guess is these trucks were REME/ CREME late war modifications or possibly post war.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

With mounts you mean the winch crossmember, as per Tony Wheeler's remark?:

- Hanno

It's not so much as a Crossmember (which suggests a full-width frame between the chassis rails), as 2 "C" section pads that are rivetted within each chassis rail.