GPO Vehicles

P.O. ENGINEERING DEPT.
ENGINEERING INSTRUCTIONS
TOOLS & TRANSPORT
VEHICLES
B 3601
Issue 1, 22.1.64

MOTOR TRANSPORT
The Area Planning and General Purpose Vehicle, Type 1 (Morris)

1. General
This Instruction describes the Area Planning and General Purpose Vehicle, Type 1 (Morris) and the facilities which it provides. The vehicle is designed for Area duties requiring:-

(a) transport for three to six men (including the driver)
(b) a mobile field office, or
(c) transport for a cable fault localization duty for which the provision of a test van is not warranted.

2. Description
A general view of the vehicle is shown above. The overall dimensions are: length 12 ft. 9 in., width 5 ft. 8 in. and height 6 ft. 9 in. The body shell is of welded pressed-sheet-metal construction and is equipped with windows along each side.

3. Seating arrangements
In the cab section (Fig. 2) there is a single passenger seat in addition to that for the driver. Both these seats are adjustable.

Fig 2

Fig 3

Seats for a further four men are arranged along the sides of the body section, three being on the near-side and one on the off-side (Fig. 3). These latter seats can be folded hack and secured against the sides of the vehicle by means of leather ties, for purposes of improving the load carrying space and access to lockers (Fig. 4).

4. Office facilities
Mounted within the body on the off-side is a table unit (Fig. 3) designed to give sufficient table area for laying out plans, using light test gear and writing. The table is of the drop flap type, supported in the raised position by two hinged brackets and secured for travelling by small bolts on the underside of the table. Always fasten these bolts when the table is raised. Fig. 4 shows the table in the lowered position where it is secured by two turn buttons which turn into slots in the table edge. The table unit also incorporates pencil groove, deep map pockets and partitioned compartments for forms, E.I.s, etc. A light is fitted above the table.

Fig 4

5. For casual note-taking and welfare purposes there is also a small writing flap (Fig. 2) mounted above the engine cover directly in front of the forward passenger seat. The flap has a sliding support which should always be pulled out when the flap is extended, to avoid straining the hinges. To gain access to the engine the complete table unit can be raised and secured by a strap type of fastener. The complete table may be removed by loosening two wing nuts which secure it just below the near-side windscreen.

6. Lockers
There are two under seat lockers on the near-side of the body section, one being on either side of the wheel arch. Access to these lockers is obtained by lifting up the seat (Fig. 4) which forms the lid of the lockers. There is also a small locker under the forward passenger seat; this locker accommodates all the vehicle tools except two long sections of the lifting jack handle which are secured in spring clips on the off-side of the body below the off-side seat.

7. Locking arrangements
The near-side cab door and the rear doors are equipped with standard FA 600 or FP 750 series locks and the off-side cab door with an inside turn button. Under seat lockers are equipped with a hasp and staple so that they can be padlocked.

"Padlocks 1.5 in." are the correct padlocks for use on this type of vehicle and it is advisable to keep all the padlocks to one suite.

8. Ladder carrying
A three-section extension ladder of maximum length 8 ft. 4 in. (closed) can he carried on the floor of the vehicle (Fig. 3), the forward end being housed under the driver's seat. It is of course necessary to move the ladder to raise and lower the table.

9. Load space
The facility of folding back the seats and lowering the table in the body section ensures that a maximum amount of clear body space can be made available when it is necessary to convey bulky items of test gear or apparatus. Wooden battens should be placed below any item likely to damage the floor covering.

10. Maximum load
The maximum load that this vehicle may carry is 10 cwt. excluding the driver. In cases of doubt a simple check can be made by weighing the vehicle in its moving condition, i.e. complete with contents, personnel, full petrol tank, etc. This gross moving weight must not exceed 40 cwt. Any weighbridge charges involved should be passed to Freight and Cartage.

11. Towing facilities
To provide a fixing for a towing hitch, the rear bumper bar has been reinforced and drilled to accommodate the standard pin-type clevis. The vehicle will not be issued complete with clevis but one will be fitted on request to the R.M.T.O. provided that:-

1. trailer Tool Carts only are to be towed
2. the Area Engr. is satisfied that the facility is necessary
3. the local terrain to he traversed is free from any steep and difficult gradients

When the vehicle is carrying its maximum load and towing a fully-laden Trailer Tool Cart (approximate weight 10 cwt.) a gradient greater than 1 in 7 must not be attempted.

Important:- Applications for the provision of towing facilities must he restricted to essential cases and in no circumstances must trailers other than Trailer Tool Carts be towed.

12. Sliding doors
Under normal driving conditions the cab sliding doors should be kept shut while the vehicle is in motion, as a precaution against accidents. In foggy weather or when manoeuvring in a congested space it may nevertheless be found an advantage to have the doors open; in such circumstances the doors should be secured in the open position by the turn catches near the bottom of each door.

13. Sliding door pockets
The glazed door pocket panels hinge upwards when the securing screws along the bottom edges are freed, to give access for cleaning purposes.

14. First aid kits
The driver's first aid kit is located above the windscreen. If a party regularly using this vehicle is equipped with a larger first aid kit, this should be mounted in a prominent and accessible position (e.g. the rear end of the table unit) using two leather straps; two suitable leather straps complete with buckle should be purchased locally where necessary.

15. Vehicle battery
The vehicle battery is housed beneath the floor and access is obtained via a floor trap situated immediately behind the driver's seat. A budget lock secures the floor trap.

16. Spare wheel
This is housed at the rear below the floor and to remove it the hinged rear number plate should be slid towards the near-side to release a spring-loaded catch, and then be raised out of the way.

17. Damage to paintwork
The outside of the van has a synthetic enamel finish. Attempts to retouch any scratched or damaged parts should not he made by the staff using the vehicle; work of this nature will be undertaken by the Workshop Supervisor/Mechanic-in-Charge when necessary and during periodic overhauls.

18. Signwriting
Standard inscriptions for signwriting are given in C 0015.

19. Speed limit
See D 0022.

References:- C 0015, D 0022

Last revised: February 04, 2021