Get your kit off

[Robbo]

I saw this pic among Sylvia's Normandy photographs:



They sure like to hang "kit" in Europe but I think it's too easy to get carried away and obscure an otherwise nice vehicle.

I don't think I have ever seen a WW2 photo of trucks that looked like these with so many accessories hanging off them.

[RANGER]

Maybe he had no reflectors and was trying to cover it up until he found some.
There is a term used in the Army call "PX Soldier", or "PX Hero" where they buy all kinds of braids and junk to display in order to impress themselves. On the other hand maybe the driver is just displaying all the junk he found in the road from other trucks, or he is a fan of the US TV show "Brady Bunch".

[Robbo]

I am trying to work out the purpose of the large D-shackle on the spare wheel.

Also what's in the long crate with stars on it. Maybe it's the kitchen sink. Did packing crates ever need to have stars on them?

Only thing missing is Granny up on back in her rocking chair.

There's some truth in the saying, "Less is more".

[RANGER]

I am trying to work out the purpose of the large D-shackle on the spare wheel.

Also what's in the long crate with stars on it. Maybe it's the kitchen sink. Did packing crates ever need to have stars on them?

Only thing missing is Granny up on back in her rocking chair.

There's some truth in the saying, "Less is more".

My guess is that the shackle is to hoist the spare onto the spare tire bracket with, and he had no room to stow it anywhere else.
I can still load the spares onto my SWB by hand, but not for much longer.
The stars, anybody's guess, but they may be from the last time his wife hit him.
The truck does look nice tho.
There is nothing like a sharp looking SWB.