All steel bed design evolution

[daveyboy]

BOY... I didnt realize the differences in the bed evolution/design in the bed for the chevy G506..

Not to mention the diffferences in dump vs cargo, the later composites with wood/steel, then finally the all wood versions. There were different height beds in there at some point as well.. Right now, I am concentrating on ONLY the all steel early bed, lower version.

Anyway, this cumulation of data is from what I have seen out there...I have found, requested and recieved etc many pictures of different beds, many from some of you on this forum. Some on line elsewhere, others I seen myself in person and noted these details.

Here is what I have seen difference wise (so far!):

Early All steel cargo bed differences:

FLOOR:
1 piece
2 piece w/ seam and welded

TIE DOWN HOOKS:
Cast and riveted
Metal stamped /spot welded
Round wire hoop / welded

BED PANEL TO SIDE CORNER CONSTRUCTION:
Rounded corner
Angled corner
Sharp right angled corner

BED SIDE STAKE POCKETS:
Flanged and spot welded
Flanged and seam welded
“C” channel design W/ no flange

UNDER side CROSS SUPPORTS:
Short taper / open
Short taper / closed and welded
Long taper / open
Long taper / closed and welded

FRONT BED STAKE POCKETS:
Seam overlaps front bed panel and spot welded
No seam/butts to front panel/welded and ground

TAILGATE CHAIN LATCH:
Round wire welded
Flat stock

a you can see, there are MANY differences and combinations of the above.
Do any of you have any other "differences " to add to this list? I thought it would be a great topic to keep going by adding what you all have. Maybe "cut and paste" the list to your response with a "Y" or "N" to each pick? and if you have something even more unique in construction, and you feel its truely stock construction, add a pic or two.

I dont know.. its just so interesting. I am sure all the changes relate to cost savings and improvements or ease of manufacturing as time went on and they learned better / cheaper methods of construction.

[andy]

Hi Daveyboy, my bed is the wood/steel, data plate is Nov44. What I found when I took my bed apart was: Flooring were 6pcs at 7 1/4" wide and 5 were 5 1/4" wide. Also were two wood cross members that were 5" wide and 68" long and I believe that was a 2x4 as a cross member too. Were 3 medal cross members. All the sides bolted together, which made it easy to take apart. Thanks Andy

[G506]

Davey,
good call trying to compile a list of variations. I don't think I can be too much help, as my 42 Chev is a dump, and these bodies were built by three manufacturers, which potentially adds even more differences! If I've understood it correctly, cast tie down hooks are early (up to late 42), and the flat pressed style were 43 to 45.

[daveyboy]

Thanks Andy/G506 for your input. I have no info on the composite beds at all, so thanks Andy from your end. Maybe keeping all this info compiled that you find as you tear down might be a good idea and useful for others in the future. Much thanks.

As far as cast tie down hooks, I beleive you are right in assuming they were on the early beds only (42 and earlier) and they went to stamped after that, and again, at some poiint, possibly the round wire bent and formed and welded.

I have also heard (or read ) somewhere that the round wire signified a post war addition? It would be interesting to learn if these beds were at one time re-manufactured /reconditioned after the war. Even more interesting if the bodies were once made after the war , by other nations, to replace damaged beds.

[daveyboy]

Here is my trucks bed details (June, 42 dated cargo, less winch)

FLOOR:
1 piece

TIE DOWN HOOKS:
Cast and riveted

BED PANEL TO SIDE CORNER CONSTRUCTION:
Rounded corner

BED SIDE STAKE POCKETS:
Flanged and spot welded

UNDER side CROSS SUPPORTS:
Short taper / open

FRONT BED STAKE POCKETS:
Seam overlaps front bed panel and spot welded

TAILGATE CHAIN LATCH:
Round wire welded

[MIKEN]

Hi Davey - Great information. Can you post some photos of beds, and maybe
other members could post. It would make for great resource material for G506
types. Miken

[daveyboy]

I agree on posting the photos. Ill try and round them all up and get them on one of the on-line phot sections where I keep stuff like this and post the link

[Bud Wheel]

Davey,
The order of "evolution" was all steel, then all wood , and lastly composite for both 1 1/2 ton and 2 1/2 ton

After the war, German companies built new all steel bodies for the CCKWs they have particular spotting differences as well
I wonder if any were built for the G506 series ?

B

[R Cubed]

This would be a great resource with pictures to help to understand the differences.

My 352-B1 has an all steel rear body, the bed is made up of 2 sheets on the floor seam welded down the middle front to back.
Short tapers on bed supports and open section in "C" shape.
Stake pockets flanged and stitched in several places down each side of them welded.
Also have arches cut into them at the bottoms including the rear tailgate ones which are covered by the tapered reinforcing plate !!
The "cast hooks" are not cast they are forged and then riveted.
Pressed steel hooks riveted on, not seen any spot welded.
NOTE my hooks are handed depending on the side they are fitted to.
I have seen lots of other trucks with either pressed or forged and they have not been handed ??

[daveyboy]

Interesting new twist, "handed" vs. not "handed"

Humm. I need to check mine to see as well. Never even gave this a consideration.

As for pictures, I havent yet created a public file section to download too, but will.

thanks for your input!

Dave

[Bud Wheel]

R Cubed,
Your description matches what I understand to be ,
"the post war german built beds "
As you can imagine most of the wartime wood beds would have been damaged,oil,gas soaked, and rotting as well.

Hope this helps
B

[R Cubed]

R Cubed,
Your description matches what I understand to be ,
"the post war german built beds "
As you can imagine most of the wartime wood beds would have been damaged,oil,gas soaked, and rotting as well.

Hope this helps
B

I have heard this before.
Ironic that is, an American truck fighting the Germans and lo and behold it is then fitted with a German load bed, there is a data plate on the front of the bed but cant get to it as the fuel tank frame runs across it.

[Bud Wheel]

Ironic it maybe... but as a way to help reconstruct the "EUR" economy post war several "US " manufacturers liscenced products to be built by foreign companies......Hotchkiss Jeep ......Benz rebuilt Dodge trucks as well IIRC.
Mahindra in India also built vehicles and parts.
The vast majority of CCKW NOS spares we enjoy today have French or Indian build info on them.
Look in this month issue of Supply Line and Army Motors for just such an article concerning "French " rebuilds

Hope this helps
B

[R Cubed]

Hi all, managed to get round to take some pics of bits and pieces on my CCKW352 bed, you can see from the pics the handed hooks, I have not seen these on other trucks I have looked at !!! note also the factory cut semi circles in the bottom of the stake pockets to help water dranage, these cut outs are on all of them including the rear corner ones which are covered by a steel bracing plate which means these were cut out during production rather than a field mod with gas axe.

So here you are hope this is of use.

Here is one of the hooks on the right hand side of the bed see the neat cuts in the stake pockets

Right side tarp hookr 3.jpg

Here is one of the hooks on the left hand side of the bed

Left side tarp hookr.jpg

Here is a shot under the left hand side showing the ends of the bed cross support rails all of which face backwards.

Body suport railsr.jpg