M35 bed thickness

[Pawnshop]

One of the first things I noticed about my M35A2 was how thick the bed is. I just assumed they were all like that, but over the last two years of sometimes remembering to look at other ones, I have not seen another like it! Mine appears to be two pieces of 3/8" plate steel, all the others I have seen were sheet metal. Anyone else have the heavy variety? As far as I know mine is a stone stock 1970 Kaiser-Jeep M35A2.

 

[goldneagle]

That's almost 1500# just for the bed alone! 15.3 pounds per square foot. WOW

 

[Akicita]

Mine looks like your's. Mine is also a 1970.

 

[shannondeese]

mine was that way, 1985 according to Gov Liq. the 67 Studebaker was thinner

 

[m16ty]

That's one heavy floor. I can't think of a reason to have a floor that thick in a cargo truck. A dumptruck maybe. Troop or cargo protection from IEDs?

I tend to think this was added to the truck and didn't come that way from the factory.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Ideal for bolting up one of those little pickup cranes in.

 

[3dAngus]

Almost looks like a precursor to MRAP. Is there any extra steel or weld marks under the drivers seat? MRAP really came out in the second conflict, or in this decade, but in the early 90s they did a lot of field beefing up of the vehicles using steel like that to protect the troops and supplies.

 

[dittle]

My 1970 Kaiser Jeep isn't that thick.

 

[Pawnshop]

According to Carnac this truck did all it's duty stateside (Ft. Sam Houston, med school), no IED armor added. There IS a fire bottle mount on the driver side front fender, maybe it hauled fuel tanks?

 

[cornrichard]

Run that truck across a scale and see how much heavier it is than a regular truck! I bet it rides nice all the time.

 

[Jakob]

Run that truck across a scale and see how much heavier it is than a regular truck! I bet it rides nice all the time.

If nothing else, it'd ride much smoother!

 

[Pawnshop]

It does ride smooth, and the 1100 XLs don't hurt either

 

[rosco]

Mine is only 1/8".

 

[rlwm211]

Mine is 1/8th as well and it is a 72.

RL

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

My 1968 Kaiser has a later model A3 bed (although I know it too was off an earlier truck rebuilt to A3 specs).... I'll check and post findings in a little bit after I go by the house for lunch.

 

[DJones]

Run that truck across a scale and see how much heavier it is than a regular truck! I bet it rides nice all the time.

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

My 1968 Kaiser has a later model A3 bed (although I know it too was off an earlier truck rebuilt to A3 specs).... I'll check and post findings in a little bit after I go by the house for lunch.

Got detoured at lunchtime and didn't make it to the house. I'll do the measuring this evening.

<sigh>

 

[Akicita]

Run that truck across a scale and see how much heavier it is than a regular truck! I bet it rides nice all the time.

I also have the thicker plates on my Deuce. I haven't weighed the old girl yet but I can tell you that I sometimes feel the rear lift off when I'm empty and hit a pothole, or drive on uneven roads in construction zones at 30 - 40 mph.

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

Got detoured at lunchtime and didn't make it to the house. I'll do the measuring this evening.

<sigh>

My time got way out of control... <BIG SIGH> ... but finally got to it.

The plates in my former M35A3 bed at the "standard" thickness - about 1/8th inch thick. I didn't use a micrometer on it, but I'd say 8ga or possibly as thin as 10ga steel. (Gauge= how many plate thicknesses stack to equal 1" total thickness)

The distortions in my bed reflect some heavy/concetrated loads having been carriaged. I'm sure that thicker bed would not do that as readily. I'd pay big $$$ for THAT upgrade.