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Still re-assembling the truck but eventually one of my restored AN/GRC-46's will be put on the M-37. I’ve been looking for stock shelter tie-down cables for some time but no success. There were a few methods of shelter security used over the years but I focused on the type I was most familiar with during my signal corps days. That type is shown in the first picture and they attach to the bed rails. Looking at them again after all these years, I decided I could make my own.
By luck the bed rails match the ID if 1-1/4” conduit. EMT will NOT work for several reasons; you must use standard conduit. The conduit is cut into 4” lengths and a slot is removed. Then one end is welded shut and a plate is welded on for the turnbuckle attachment. Drill a hole and you are finished. There are left and right types for the front and back of the bed rails and left and right.
If anyone is interested, I made a CAD drawing of these prior to making them. Not sure how to post ACAD or PDF files here. The drawings, along with the pictures shown in this post, will show you how to do it. Welding is required as well as a source of some small pieces of plate steel. You can buy a short section of conduit at Lowes. I have included a picture showing how they fit on the bed rails even though I don’t have the shelter loaded.
Swaged cables are also available on-line from several vendors. You will need 4 cables with thimbles swaged on each end and a hook at one end for shelter attachment. “Jaw”/’Jaw” turnbuckles should be used to avoid having to swage the cables to the turnbuckles, unless you have a swagger.
By luck the bed rails match the ID if 1-1/4” conduit. EMT will NOT work for several reasons; you must use standard conduit. The conduit is cut into 4” lengths and a slot is removed. Then one end is welded shut and a plate is welded on for the turnbuckle attachment. Drill a hole and you are finished. There are left and right types for the front and back of the bed rails and left and right.
If anyone is interested, I made a CAD drawing of these prior to making them. Not sure how to post ACAD or PDF files here. The drawings, along with the pictures shown in this post, will show you how to do it. Welding is required as well as a source of some small pieces of plate steel. You can buy a short section of conduit at Lowes. I have included a picture showing how they fit on the bed rails even though I don’t have the shelter loaded.
Swaged cables are also available on-line from several vendors. You will need 4 cables with thimbles swaged on each end and a hook at one end for shelter attachment. “Jaw”/’Jaw” turnbuckles should be used to avoid having to swage the cables to the turnbuckles, unless you have a swagger.
