CCKW Blinkers

[Littlewood]

Im in the process of ordering a new wiring harness from VWOM and thought I would see what you guys thought of blinker positions before I finalize the order - I was thinking going with magnetic blinkers that could be stowed away under the truck body for displays and attached for traveling - but looking at the truck there is not much scope for this at the front so then I thought why not have them in the blackout lights (as we have on on Jeeps) and have it done and dusted. Any thoughts appreciated.

[gerrykan]

I would put them in the blackouts as you suggested. After all, how often do you use blackout lights?

[John]

I used the front blackout lights as blinkers. They are not very visible, but it was mostly the rears I was concerned about for safety.

John

[Joe Gopan]

Think about it, blinkers within the BO Markers are innefective, they will not be visible, and may contribute to an accident if you rely on them. Note the size lens of the Composite lights the US Army had to go to in order to prevent accidents. The fold away directional idea is quite clever.

[Littlewood]

Its a tough one, BO blinkers at the front and magnetic ones at the back - I have seem this done on Dodge Weapons carrier to good effect. Are BO blinkers on the front effective? Probably not, but what is the compromise of being save on the roads and looking correct for the time period?!

Thanks for the responses so far.........

[gerrykan]

Think about it, blinkers within the BO Markers are innefective, they will not be visible, and may contribute to an accident if you rely on them. Note the size lens of the Composite lights the US Army had to go to in order to prevent accidents. The fold away directional idea is quite clever.

Using your logic anyone using pre-composite tail/brake lights are also contributing to accidents.

[Hammerhead]

Hi Littlewwood,
I received my new wiring harness from Vintage Wiring of Maine in December. Unfortunately I haven't put it on yet since I'm waiting for warmer weather. I ordered the blinker option too. I'm going with the idea of blinkers that fold down on the front fenders using small motorcycle blinkers. By putting them on a bracket thet can be folded down when driving and folded up when on display they won't take away from a restoration. For the rear, the wiring harness allows the tail lights to perform as blinkers. Instead of a blackout light on the rear passenger side I've used two taillights.
I got the idea from several of the guys on CCKW.org. They were of the opinion that putting the front blinkers in the blackout lights would be too small and ineffective. I'm looking forward to getting the new harness on because I've had too many close calls driving without blinkers. I'll post pictures too when it's completed. There were several pictures of CCKW's with the blinker set ups on CCKW.org in the past.

[Joe Gopan]

The US Army sent out a world wide directive is late 1962 to install 2" strips of Red Scotchlite Reflective Tape to install on the rear of Wheeled Combat Vehicles and their trailers. There was something about large slow O.D. colored vehicles that caused othertraffic, especially civilian to ignore and collide with them. Am sure many with M-Series vehicles have discovered the residue of the tape beneath the paint.

[gerrykan]

Think about it, blinkers within the BO Markers are innefective, they will not be visible, and may contribute to an accident if you rely on them. Note the size lens of the Composite lights the US Army had to go to in order to prevent accidents.

The US Army sent out a world wide directive is late 1962 to install 2" strips of Red Scotchlite Reflective Tape to install on the rear of Wheeled Combat Vehicles and their trailers. There was something about large slow O.D. colored vehicles that caused othertraffic, especially civilian to ignore and collide with them.

So, I am assuming your CCKW, jeeps, M37, etc. all have these official U.S. Army safety upgrades....for the civilians, of course.

[Joe Gopan]

No, I do not. I practice defensive driving and do not attempt to compete with traffic. I was just commenting that the Army recognized a problem and took proper action to correct it. MV's driven by GI's are not normally driven at turnpike speeds and do not mix well with general traffic. The Army solved most of the problem with the Composite front and rear lights along with incorporating directional signals.
MV collectors, in order to be accurate still use hard to see lighting. Check your State Motor Vehicle laws you may be surprised what you may discover that has been on the books pertaining to MV's for decades.

[Joe Gopan]

Has anyone researched the new highly visible, easy to hide, strobe lights that are coming onto the automotive market today?

[Thundercat97]

I have been using Joe's (VWofME) blinker option for years on my CCKW, WCs and MB. They are effective from the rear but I still use my hand signals so there is no issue for anyone coming at me. I know Ben would chime in.... assuming people now what the hand gestures mean!

[Joe Gopan]

GI's using hand signals were mandatory right thru the end of the era starting in the 60's when Factory Directional Signals started appearing on wheeled MV's. A GI would not think of not giving proper signals. MP's and Air Police had no sense of humor. I do not have directional on my CCKW but it is time to install some as the public is no longer alert and accustomed to them. I hear a lot of name calling when I slow to turn into my driveway, and cross my fingers and toes when changing lanes. It's scary out there now.

[Hammerhead]

I see this old thread has been brought up again. I thought I would post pictures of the blinker system I did use that I had mentioned earlier in this thread. When I ordered the wiring harness from VWOM, I told him I wanted blinkers in the front and rear. He said no problem. I used fold down/fold up blinkers for the front. I drive my CCKW a lot and have found the blinkers make for a much safer drive. I also display my CCKW and wanted the original look to be preserved too.

This first picture shows both front blinkers in the down position. They are commercially purchased from the local NAPA store. They are large enough to be seen clearly by traffic.



The second picture is a closer view of one of the blinkers.



This picture shows how perfectly hidden the blinker is when folded up for displays.



This next picture shows I used a commercially available cabinet spring (purchased at Home Depot) welded underneath on the bracket.



This picture shows the blinker unit on the steering column and of course appropriately painted OD! 99.99% of the public doesn't know it wasn't there in wartime so I'm safe there.





The rear was simple in that instead of a blackout drive light I used two brake lights that have the added benefit of double the lights for people to see when the brakes are applied. The blinkers work thru them too. I'm very pleased the way the system turned out. I feel it's a much safer driving environment and still doesn't deter from a representable example of a CCKW when on display. As a side note, I approach the license plate in a similar manner. At the Napa store, I got a set of the magnet license plate holders car dealers use. That way when I'm driving the license plates are on and when on display there aren't annoying modern day tags ruining an otherwise excellent display vehicle.

[Joe Gopan]

Good set up you have, that's the way to go. Nice steering wheel, too.