CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Military Trucks 2 1/2 ton and greater, Wanted, For Sale (NO AUCTION or EBAY), and Knowledge Base

Moderator: kw573

Post Reply
Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Oct 02, 2011 6:01 pm

In military life the drivers and trucks are quite compatible as the graduates of the fine US Army Training Camps are all slim and trim. In Civilian life the driver and CCKW may not be made for each other. The CCKW came with two basic steering wheels, First and Second Series up thru a point of time in late 42 had the early Hard Rubber Steering Wheel. This steering wheel had a habit of the smooth factory finish wearing off leaving a black undersurface that rubbed off on sweaty hands, and most of all on the paunchy belleys of post war drivers with big guts. There is no mistaking a fat Closed Cab CCKW driver, his shirt usually has a horizontal black mark across the belly. :wink:
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO


shoeshop
G-Sergeant Major
G-Sergeant Major
Posts: 154
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:36 am
Location: belgium

Re: CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by shoeshop » Tue Oct 04, 2011 12:46 am

thats why I have a post war french steering wheel in mine :lol:
1945 willys MB #451674 (under restoration) OREGON FOX
hood number #20718239 S (SOLD)
1944 chevy G506 (needs restoration)
1943 gmc cckw 352 (needs restoration) WILD BOAR
194? ben hur trailler (partly restored)
1968 Reo M624 dump truck

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Oct 04, 2011 3:59 am

The smooth plastic type?
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

shoeshop
G-Sergeant Major
G-Sergeant Major
Posts: 154
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:36 am
Location: belgium

Re: CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by shoeshop » Tue Oct 04, 2011 7:23 am

yep 3spoke, truck is ex french and its in good condition so its a keeper :mrgreen:
1945 willys MB #451674 (under restoration) OREGON FOX
hood number #20718239 S (SOLD)
1944 chevy G506 (needs restoration)
1943 gmc cckw 352 (needs restoration) WILD BOAR
194? ben hur trailler (partly restored)
1968 Reo M624 dump truck

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Oct 20, 2012 7:09 am

We have a long winter ahead with plenty of time to wash that black steering wheel mark off your shirt and belly. If you are Dr. Duce there is no danger of a "CCKW Belly" :wink:
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by Joe Gopan » Fri Mar 08, 2013 6:41 am

Remember, even you can get a "CCKW Belly" the WWII GI's for the most part did not have a problem. Those Closed Cabs are a tight fit. :wink:
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Sep 21, 2014 5:06 am

Time to cut out the "Twinkies" and start slimming down for the Veterans Day Parade and for the coming year. The Army did not train pot bellied drivers.
This goes for Jeep Drivers too. :wink:
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu May 28, 2015 2:17 pm

And if you are short waisted, a "booster seat" is a must to see out over the hood in the CCKW's with open cabs. I used an extra open cab seat back cushion to sit on, and there is WWII photographic evidence of the same being done during WWII.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Mar 28, 2016 4:31 pm

Does your truck fit you?
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Oct 10, 2016 10:02 pm

And they look better without all that "Kit" hanging from them.
Each ride is a step back into "Yesteryear", and for a few moments I am once again that "Lean Mean Fighting Machine" the Army molded me into 55 years ago along with echos of Duckworth Cadence still bouncing in my head.
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh, don't tell that to the V.A., will you? :wink:

How many of you CCKW owners can shift your beast without grinding gears? I do a pretty good most of the time except for that first trip or two after winter storage.

Am I right, Dr. Deuce? :wink:
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Mar 22, 2018 3:14 pm

Time to avoid the "Twinkies".
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

mudflap
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 356
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2013 1:07 pm
Location: SE MI

Re: CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by mudflap » Thu Mar 22, 2018 8:18 pm

I always wondered about that. I'm 6' 3" and my open cab fits quite nicely. Lots of room, good visibility. Its almost seems like the truck was designed for someone of my height.

The average height of WWII soldiers was what, 5' 8" to 5' 9" maybe? My Dad was around that height and he drove them. I don't remember him mentioning that he had any problems - however for anyone below that height I would think that it would start to get a little difficult.

I wonder why the cab was not designed more for the average soldier of that era. ( Although, I'm extremely glad it wasn't. ) :)

Best Regards.....

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by Joe Gopan » Fri Mar 23, 2018 3:35 am

The average height was not as short as most may thing. Many od us are just one generation from parents of that era and are not short. The same basic Open cab was designed for the Studebaker and used on the CCKW and Kenworth Wrecker, it was not an ideal match for the trucks as most drivers could not see down over the hood as well as they could seated in closed cab CCKW.
The Open Cab CCKW is sort of an afterthought that utilized a Studebaker design.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

chibobber
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 360
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 12:10 am
Location:

Re: CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by chibobber » Fri Mar 23, 2018 7:57 am

My dad was 5'7" and was 230lbs.He drove the open cab from D-Day+31 till VE day.The other unit driver was 6'4". They called them "Laurel and Hardy".
Dad learned to drive the trucks in the CCC in W.Va..When he entered service he was in the CAC pulling the big guns.When it came time for overseas,he was in hospital for surgery. Assigned to the new Psychological and Publicity Service Battalion,he drove the comm trucks and hauled generators.
Do not know if he used a booster seat,he never mentioned it. He took great pride in driving HIS truck and double clutching across Europe. :D

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: CCKW IS A LEAN MEAN FIGHTING MACHINE

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Mar 24, 2018 5:17 am

Too bad there wasn't a time machine to allow the next generations to experience this.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO


Post Reply

Return to “Trucks 2 1/2 ton +”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 41 guests