Front Bumper Equipment Storage

1941 - 1945, MB, GPW modifications, sugestions, and ideas, official MWO's and unofficial WWII field mods NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
User avatar
Chance
G-Second Lieutenant
G-Second Lieutenant
Posts: 591
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:50 pm
Location: Crystal Lake, IL

Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by Chance » Fri Sep 13, 2019 4:51 pm

Interested in seeing photos showing how excess equipment was stored over the front bumper. I can imagine that by and large it entailed tying some scrap wood perhaps across the frame and strapping gear on top of that.

However I wonder if there was ever any theater made solution such as was done with the bustle baskets sometimes seen.

Although I’d be just as happy as indicated to see any photos of equipment front mounted and in particular showing the methods of how it was accomplished.

Not a particularly exciting topic but...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Chance
1943 - January | Willys MB "Skimpy" | Frame No. #203301
1943 - January | Willys MB-T | Serial No. 21488


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

Re: Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by Joe Gopan » Fri Sep 13, 2019 7:31 pm

What did you have in mind to store there? Remember, that the radiator needs air.
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

User avatar
Chance
G-Second Lieutenant
G-Second Lieutenant
Posts: 591
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:50 pm
Location: Crystal Lake, IL

Re: Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by Chance » Sun Sep 15, 2019 6:22 pm

Nothing necessarily in particular. I’ve seen pics of Jerry cans stowed there, also ammo crates and the like during wartime.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Chance
1943 - January | Willys MB "Skimpy" | Frame No. #203301
1943 - January | Willys MB-T | Serial No. 21488

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

Re: Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Sep 15, 2019 6:26 pm

Set items on bumper, tie to grill with rope. You will note that tires will nest between frame horns.
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

User avatar
Chance
G-Second Lieutenant
G-Second Lieutenant
Posts: 591
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:50 pm
Location: Crystal Lake, IL

Re: Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by Chance » Sun Sep 15, 2019 6:30 pm

Image

Image

Image

And I will apologize now for not giving credit on these pictures. I cannot find the references at the moment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Chance
1943 - January | Willys MB "Skimpy" | Frame No. #203301
1943 - January | Willys MB-T | Serial No. 21488

User avatar
Chance
G-Second Lieutenant
G-Second Lieutenant
Posts: 591
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:50 pm
Location: Crystal Lake, IL

Re: Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by Chance » Fri Sep 20, 2019 2:46 am

Image

Etohistory.com


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Chance
1943 - January | Willys MB "Skimpy" | Frame No. #203301
1943 - January | Willys MB-T | Serial No. 21488

User avatar
Knut
G-First Sergeant
G-First Sergeant
Posts: 132
Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 11:58 am
Location: Salzburg, Austria

Re: Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by Knut » Sat Sep 28, 2019 10:28 am

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image


Knut
* GPW <-> 32420 * 6-22-42
<-> GPW 193244
* GPW <-> 209471 * 7-3-44
MB 429191 3-24-45
T3 6172 11-30-42 USA 0255005 (orig.)
T3 ACM 45467
Luther-Jordan Jeep Trailer 91745 1955

Rod Rushton
G-Captain
G-Captain
Posts: 787
Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:40 am
Location: South West England

Re: Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by Rod Rushton » Sun Oct 27, 2019 10:09 am

In the past I have put up with having to ferret about in the back pockets , tipping the camping gear out all over the place just to get at tools to change a wheel or even helping someone who has broken down. I decided to fit an ammo box I had to the front bumper to carry all the tools, jack and some spares for quick access. I had been given a WW2 grenade box, but decided to use one which had some sentimental value, It is one manufactured in 1965 - but I had fitted it to a replica Japanese Armoured Car I made for "Empire of the Sun" and took it to Shanghai for the Spielberg movie I worked on. After returning to the UK I removed it from the truck and used it around my workshop. So it has some provenance special to me.
For the past few years it has been fitted to my GPW and proved its worth time and again. Just this last Summer I went to Normandy - Towing my Caravan - a distance of 796 miles, and again in August toured Brittany, again a distance of 716 miles. even on hills the temperature remained below 190 on the hottest days, and it usually runs at 160 - or whatever the engine thermostat allows.

I would post a photo, but my Broadband is playing up at the moment and it is taking forever to load up, but anyone wanting to know how it is mounted - just PM me
Cheers R
Rod Rushton - Winner 2013 MVT Wilkinson Sword Trophy
Exeter Devon UK
FORD GPW 202055 DoD 5 - 22 - 44 Serial# 20534360
MBT # 25553 DoD 4 - 43
Piper Cub 1944 L4H 480015 G-AKIB

1942 CHEVROLET G506 CARGO. #2NM 213219
1943 AUSTIN LIGHT UTILITY M6448770

User avatar
signsup
banned
Posts: 3932
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 6:30 am
Location: Winston, GA

Re: Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by signsup » Fri Nov 08, 2019 6:01 pm

I have seen the spare tire between the frame horns, but that doesn't save you anything unless you want too carry two spares. I have also seen footman loops all over the hood for strapping bundles or jerry cans. But, you are either leaving the windshield up all the time or removing it completely. If reducing the air flow to your radiator was not a concern, you might consider some sort of foot locker attached to the front bumper in front of the grill for items that you might want to get at quickly. You could attach the lid with the thumbscrews and studs like the ammo crates so a hinged top would not get in the way.
Robert Brough
Winston, GA
2018 MVPA Honor Service Award
President, GA MVPA

User avatar
Chance
G-Second Lieutenant
G-Second Lieutenant
Posts: 591
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:50 pm
Location: Crystal Lake, IL

Re: Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by Chance » Thu Nov 14, 2019 8:11 am

Knut - great photos - exactly the sort of ideas I was hoping for!

Rod, would love to see your pics too.

Signsup, a lot of Knut's photos (especially with what appear to be bed rolls strapped to the front grills!) really are blocking the radiator.

If anyone else has any more photos please post them. As others outfit their rigs with period articles this thread will hopefully provide some inspiration. I've got a Squad Bag that I plan on carrying in the Jeep. I will try to post a photo tonight. (When my girls ride with me in Spring and Fall they they all cover up with blankets. Got tired of staring at their pile of old blankets in the garage during the summer and wanted to just stow them in the Jeep. So this is where the Squad Bag comes into play.) I've also got a practically mint 1936 Bed Roll, which if you've seen them in person are quite large. I've got that strapped to the outside of my bustle basket. The bustle basket doesn't have a lot of depth to it so I could cram these things in it, but prefer that to be the option of last resort. I'm trying to track down an old ragged plank(s) to put across the front gussets/frame.
Chance
1943 - January | Willys MB "Skimpy" | Frame No. #203301
1943 - January | Willys MB-T | Serial No. 21488

User avatar
Chance
G-Second Lieutenant
G-Second Lieutenant
Posts: 591
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:50 pm
Location: Crystal Lake, IL

Re: Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by Chance » Fri Nov 15, 2019 6:51 am

ImageImage


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Chance
1943 - January | Willys MB "Skimpy" | Frame No. #203301
1943 - January | Willys MB-T | Serial No. 21488

Mark Jesic
G-Brigadier General
G-Brigadier General
Posts: 2473
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2016 4:56 am
Location: Birmingham, England

Re: Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by Mark Jesic » Fri Nov 15, 2019 8:33 am

Signsup is correct about the spare wheel in the framehorns. They usually did this with the British jeeps that went into the gliders.

Rod Rushton
G-Captain
G-Captain
Posts: 787
Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:40 am
Location: South West England

Re: Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by Rod Rushton » Wed Dec 18, 2019 2:47 am

Hello Chance
Sorry I have not been in touch sooner - as previously stated, I'm having trouble with my service provider - so PM me and I'll give you my e-mail address - Cheers R
Rod Rushton - Winner 2013 MVT Wilkinson Sword Trophy
Exeter Devon UK
FORD GPW 202055 DoD 5 - 22 - 44 Serial# 20534360
MBT # 25553 DoD 4 - 43
Piper Cub 1944 L4H 480015 G-AKIB

1942 CHEVROLET G506 CARGO. #2NM 213219
1943 AUSTIN LIGHT UTILITY M6448770

Rod Rushton
G-Captain
G-Captain
Posts: 787
Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:40 am
Location: South West England

Re: Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by Rod Rushton » Wed Dec 18, 2019 7:18 am

Hello Chance
In the photos posted on this thread # viewtopic.php?f=10&t=310182 is a Canadian Jeep which has the same ammo box as mine, and by what little I can see I think it has been mounted in the same way using wooden pieces across the front chassis members.
When I mounted mine I did not have to drill any holes in the chassis, but fabricated clamps to hold the cross bar on and bolted the box to that so that the chassis remains undrilled.
Despite the heat last summer the engine temperature remained steady even though I was towing a 1 ton caravan, so I know it works ok
Cheers R
Rod Rushton - Winner 2013 MVT Wilkinson Sword Trophy
Exeter Devon UK
FORD GPW 202055 DoD 5 - 22 - 44 Serial# 20534360
MBT # 25553 DoD 4 - 43
Piper Cub 1944 L4H 480015 G-AKIB

1942 CHEVROLET G506 CARGO. #2NM 213219
1943 AUSTIN LIGHT UTILITY M6448770

User avatar
Chance
G-Second Lieutenant
G-Second Lieutenant
Posts: 591
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2015 3:50 pm
Location: Crystal Lake, IL

Re: Front Bumper Equipment Storage

Post by Chance » Sat Jan 25, 2020 11:43 am

Thanks Rod I’m checking that out now. I agree with the board(s) over the front cross member too so as not to bore holes needlessly.

Am still looking for more photos on this subject.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Chance
1943 - January | Willys MB "Skimpy" | Frame No. #203301
1943 - January | Willys MB-T | Serial No. 21488


Post Reply

Return to “MB GPW Modifications”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 44 guests