Thread: Shop in a truck

Horizontal...... Just like the guy in the picture but less hat and gun....

I have spent many hours in army trucks with the basic machine shop mounted in the van body. I joined the army in 1962 and retired in 1982.

The basic machine shops I used had the Sheldon or Standard Modern lathes, a small shaper, a drill press, a 5KW generator and lots of cabinets. These were usually used in direct support units. The units were in M109 vans on a 2 1/2 ton truck

I was assigned to several general support units and we had the shop units mounted in 26 foot trailer vans pulled by a 2 1/2 ton tractor. The basic shop was the same equipment but a lot more room. We also had the heavy machine shop with a LeBlond sliding gap lathe, larger drill press and a 10kw generator. Though removed from shop inventory we had the equipment from the supplemental machine shop set mounted on the shop floor. This consisted of a VanNorman mill and DoAll bandsaw. We did some impossible work with these shops. The most important component was the 30 cup coffee pot we kept strapped to the wall in the basic shop vans. The general support shops were part of the service and recovery section which included a canvas shop, woodworking shop, glass shop, radiator and welding shop and heavy recovery section.

In the 70's I got in a Kaus van. That is the one with the batwing doors, like the one on the government auction that went for 19K. Mine was older with a gas gen/welder. It was pulled by a 5 ton tractor. Got to use more of the engine testing equipment on that van.

These truck mounted shops were never leveled though we tried to find as level a spot as possible in the field. Don't ever remember having trouble with allignment problems on any of the equipment.

Phil Lux

The South Bend Lathe book, "How to Run a Lathe" has a picture of civilian version of a shop in a truck, and a brief description. I am not sure what the lathe is, but it is mounted transversely.

Thermo1

Had forgotten about this thread. Saw one of these shop trucks up for government auction that ended last Tuesday. Should have put it on watch list to see what it brought? The description was not too clear on just what equipment was there.

Found this thread very interesting. I'll never forget when I first saw that truck mounted shop in the "How to run a Lathe booklet"
I specifically remember them telling about the importance of bracing the floor for the lathe and they emphasized the lathe was the heart of the whole thing. I'll bet that guy with the working shop at the Military shows does find work no doubt .
Interesting what Carla brought out about the ball and socket on the SB .
I Have been seriously pondering Buillding a portable trailer mounted shop with CNC'd Milldrill lathe CNC plasma table , welding.
David Lawrence

Not a truck mounted shop, but I came across this the other day when I finally found a manual for my Ward grinder:-

http://web.onetel.com/~duttondock/Pi.../Demovan-2.jpg

Tim

Do you suppose they found a better place for the compressor after someone hit the ground face first after tripping on the hose? OUCH!
Do they give purple hearts for accidents? [img]smile.gif[/img]
I'm sure the big guy would hit pretty hard.