The GMC CCKW

I was a benefactor of two great people on this forum. First the person from Texas, who turned me onto this great trailer located in Maine. And the second a super guy from Maine who helped me haul this beauty back to his house/shop and is holding it until I can get it with my truck and trailer (Snow and my SHAEF issues ) You both know who you are and I can't Thank You both enough. Don't be bashful if you want to take credit. I will not forget you!

I was able to pick up a near perfect and complete G221 M1 Searchlight trailer today. This 65 plus year old beauty is in fantastic condition for its age. It appears to be totally complete from the landing wheel, to the winch, to the taillights to the reflectors. Minor negative issues are the brake handle is rusted and won't move, some of the corner legs are rusted and won't move, it needs tires, and the skid pan has some rust issues. Other than that WOW!!!!.

I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

It has been a great day!!!! You never know what is out there!













My question...is this the correct double lens service light for this rig? It does not show it in the TM I have.



Check out the interesting double function draw bar. This is the 4 bolt job that all G221 trailers have. Only this one has a lunette ring on side and ball hitch on other. It is cast and looks military. Is this original?

Congrats!!!!!!

Mine has the double ended (with ball on one end) hitch too, so I guess it is standard.

Bill. Really glad it worked out for you. I can't believe that snow, it was 71 degrees here today, got a little done on my WC's after church. You can repay the favor by finding me one here in Texas. HA HA HA Again, real glad it worked out. Jeff

What confuses me is to how little stuff like that is here in Texas. We were loaded with Army Air Fields, Army Forts and Naval Air stations , and of course the Red River Arsenal, and yet WWII HMV's are really scarce in un-restored condition here.
That is a real beauty Bill and thanks for the great photos.

Bill
Some snow melted out of the inside and the 4 original turn-buckles to secure the search-lite showed up

There other stuff in there too just need a little more sun

Cheers
John

Wow!!!!

It gets better everyday.

Thanks

Bill

armydriver wrote:What confuses me is to how little stuff like that is here in Texas. We were loaded with Army Air Fields, Army Forts and Naval Air stations , and of course the Red River Arsenal, and yet WWII HMV's are really scarce in un-restored condition here.

Do you suppose the "oil business" used up all the surplus vehicles

John

John
The oil business and timber industry used up a lot of the surplus equipment. I also understand that a lot was resold to Mexican businesses and of course ranchers are not noted as being too kind to old trucks either. Jeeps, now that is another thing. They were used for sport, like hunting and just driving around when you were a kid. My first jeep was when I was fifteen, in 1955. It was a 45 MB and was painted red and blue. Therefore a goodly number have survived.

More snow gone....
The steel chocks to stop the forward travel of the search-lite are now visible
And 1 of the leveling jacks appears to be free

I thought you got the "deal of the century" with the M5 this has to be equal if not better

Maybe you should send the former owner some more money


C Ya
John

John,

Just one of those lucky things that does not happen very often....

Do I need to post an armed guard around the trailer?

Is all the snow out of it? Or is more good stuff going to show?

The pics from Sunday show what looked like the top edge of a wheel rim under the foot of snow. What was that?

Bill

That is one beauty of a trailer Bill. Heck, if I had something that scarce and beautiful I would have it in my bed room.
Congratulations on getting the trailer. It is nice when you see good things happen to good people and you are the best.

I saw on the CCKW net that you have a nice M1 Trailer. I would love to ask you a few questions about it.

I can be reached at :

shoop19@brick.net

If you would, drop me your phone number and I will drop you a line. I need a short education on these beasts....

Thanks,

Jon Shoop
314-703-9710 cell
Home 636-398-5334

Noting several differences between the M17 and M1 Trailer. I want to install a quad mount....................on the M20 trailer in one. Looks like the sides are higher on the M1, among other things.

Jon

Jon,

The M1 is specifically set up for the Searchlight unit and has higher sides, the winch, the tube for storage of the light manual adjusting rod (right front on the trailer), the spliting front frame, and other specfic items. There was also a high side G221 directors model that was a soft top rather than a hard top that had the high sides. This contained a gun director (computer) setup.

The other variants of G221 trailers were for different applications. I also have an M-7 Generator trailer that I have had for a year. It has small bulges in the side but it is unknown whether it will support a Quad 50 mount



I don't have any pictures of the floor of a Quad Mount trailer. I would love to see pictures if anyone has any.

Bill

I believe the only difference between trailers was the "flexi mount" on the tow frame.

I don’t have a picture of the floor arrangement but know of a quad mount (without M10 base) that is carried on a M7.

Here's the real thing:

Yeah, looks like the m1 is out. I know of one for sale that is complete but.......wont fill the bill so the search continues.

Anyone have any contact for Dave Binkley?

Jon

Looking for one that I don't have to totally rebuild....

the football lens taillights look like the early louvered blackout lights.
never noticed that before,
kinda odd that thay used both.
BB

now all you need is a searchlight for it.
http://www.robotswanted.com/searchlights/products.htm

BB

Brian,

The searchlight came first.....



Now I have the correct way to haul it behind my CCKW.

All I need is the official period ramps to get the Gen unit up in the bed of the Jimmie..

Bill

Where might, or do an internet search to find a WWII M1 Searchlight tiltbed trailer on the West Coast, closer to Sacramento, CA? Thanks, Richard 916.961.5966