Aussie timber bodied general service lorries/trucks

[Matt Austin]

Afternoon, folks,

I'm wondering if people might please share some info or pics showing the various timber bodied GS lorries/trucks in Australian WW2 service? I'm trying to get my head around the various layouts, and can't seem to find a great deal of information about the different varieties.

I'm particularly interested in seeing where the dropside bodies fit into the equation. My Inter K5 has long-since lost the rear sides, but the brackets (as attached) seem to indicate that it had dropsides, that were hinged off the rod running down the sides of the vehicle. Photographic evidence has seemed to suggest to me that the GS vehicles had fixed sides, but now I'm not so sure. If GS bodies were all fixed side, what do I have?

If anyone could point out books or other reference material to help me learn, I'd be most grateful.

Thanks very much. Cheers,
Matt

[Ryan]

Look here for some pics.

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=22967

[Matt Austin]

Thanks very much, Ryan. They show exactly what I'm looking for in relation to the fixed-side vehicles. The attached pic shows a similar setup on my own truck, with four horizontal boards and an upright made from channel. (discounting the farmer's added angle and tube.)

I'm wondering, also, if there's photographic evidence of GS trucks with dropsides, or were dropsides restricted to specific non-GS types?

The hunt continues, and I'm grateful for people's contributions.

Cheers,
Matt

[cliff]

Matt I have 42MB of photos just of different Inters. PM me your snail mail address and I'll send you a memory stick of them. Once you have downloaded them just send the stick back. You should get all the details of a fixed side body from these.

[Tony Mathers]

Your tray seems to be the same shape and design as mine.
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=21884

Is it 12 foot or 14 feet long? Ignore the Workshop cage, but the wooden sides and hinges seem the same.

[Ganmain Tony]

Hi Matt

One of the different configurations of bows on timber bodies..

[Matt Austin]

Cliff,

Thanks very much. PM sent

Tony M,

That's remarkable! I'll go out tonight and measure the length. Looks pretty standard across the varieties, then. Now life'd be easier if there was another such body floating around, but I imagine that it shouldn't be too difficult to replicate the timberwork, at least. The uprights look to be made from channel, with sections cut and welded in. Are yours attached with old-school coachbuilder's square nuts?

Ganmain Tony,

Thanks very much, that is a type I haven't seen without the canvas cover. Gives me a good understanding of how the bows sit inside the brackets on either side.

Thanks very much, gents.

Cheers,
Matt

[Tony Mathers]

The uprights look to be made from channel, with sections cut and welded in. Are yours attached with old-school coachbuilder's square nuts?

Looks like normal domed bolts with standard nuts, but remember this would have been rebuilt several times in the 40 years it was with the army.

The flat piece at the top is for the cage lock, so ignore it.

[Matt Austin]

Thanks Tony, that makes perfect sense. I reckon I'll use original-spec hardware. Mind you, I may be getting a little ahead of myself!

Cheers, and thank you for the pics.
Matt