GPO Vehicles

P.O. ENGINEERING DEPT.
ENGINEERING INSTRUCTIONS
TOOLS & TRANSPORT
VEHICLES
B 3603
Issue 1, 5.11.59

MOTOR TRANSPORT
The 10-cwt. Stores Carrying Vehicle (Closed), Type 1 (Morris)

1. General
This Instruction describes the l0-cwt Stores Carrying Vehicle (Closed), Type 1 (Morris). This vehicle has been introduced to improve the economic efficiency of centralized stores delivery pools; it is suitable for most subscribers’ apparatus delivery work.

2. Description
A general view of the vehicle is shown above, the overall dimensions being 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, mounted on a Morris chassis. Cab and body are separated by a wire mesh screen as shown in Fig. 2 to enable the body to be locked (see par. 10) without restricting access to the cab.

Fig 2

3. Cab
Seats in the cab provide for one passenger in addition to the driver, the driver’s seat being adjustable. The passenger’s seat may be tipped forward to facilitate access to the vehicle battery which is housed beneath this seat. A compartment adjacent to the battery compartment accommodates all the vehicle tools with the exception of two long sections of the lifting jack handle which are secured in spring clips alongside the passenger’s seat.

Mounted above the engine cover is a folding type of writing table (Fig. 3) with a sliding support; the support is pulled out when the table is extended, to avoid undue strain on the flap hinges. To gain access to the engine the complete table unit can be raised and secured by a strap type of fastener. If necessary the complete table may be removed by loosening two wing nuts which secure it just below the near-side windscreen.

Fig 3

Situated behind the driver and let into the top portion of the wire mesh screen is a two-compartment locker equipped with sliding doors. One compartment is intended for personal effects and the other, together with a wire mesh container mounted adjacent to the table, for E.I.s., books, papers, etc.

Two hat and coat hooks are mounted on the wire mesh partition, behind the passenger’s seat. The fire extinguisher is accommodated in the cab.

4. 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.

5. Body
The main field of use for this vehicle requires maximum clear body space and the vehicle is accordingly issued without any form of rack fitments (but see par. 6) giving over 100 cu. ft. of load space. Ribbing is fitted to protect the sides of the body against damage from the load. A Ladder, Extension, No. 5 can be transported by placing it on the off-side of the floor and pushing the head of the ladder into a recess formed below the driver’s seat; access to the recess is afforded by a hinged flap.

6. Rack units
Some form of racking may be necessary in a few cases. Such requirements should be dealt with on a local basis, consideration being given, in the first instance, to the use of minor van fittings, (see B 3606). If minor van fittings are unsuitable special racks may be constructed locally on prior authority being obtained from the Eng. Dept. (Ca) (see par. 7).

The R.M.T.O. must be consulted, at an appropriate stage, on the best method of mounting minor van fittings or special units in this vehicle; he will arrange for mechanics to give any co-operation necessary in fitting racks in position.

An appropriate entry in respect of additional fitments should be made on the vehicle tool list (A 1112) and on the vehicle record card MTE 46X.

7. Special racks
If such racks are considered necessary, sketches of the proposed arrangements should be prepared and submitted to the Eng. Dept. (Cn) for approval. Simple forms of racking are preferred; light slotted angle could possibly be used. It is, of course, accepted that the actual construction used will depend largely on local resources.

8. Maximum load
The maximum load that this vehicle may carry is 10 cwt. exclusive of driver and passenger. Where rack units are fitted allowance must be made for the weight of the units. 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“.

9. 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:-

(a) trailer tool carts only are to be towed
(b) the Area Engineer is satisfied that the facility is necessary
(c) the local terrain to be traversed is free from steep and difficult gradients.

When the vehicle is carrying its maximum load and towing a fully laden trailer tool cart (approximate weight 12 cwt.) a gradient greater than 1 in 7 must not be attempted.

IMPORTANT:- Applications for the provision of towing facilities must be restricted to those cases where it is essential and in no circumstances must trailers other than trailer tool carts be towed.

10. Locking arrangements
The near-side cab door and the rear doors are equipped with standard FA 600 series locks to enable the contents to be safeguarded when the vehicle is left unattended for short periods (the off-side cab-door is fitted with an inside turn button). For extended absences additional security can be obtained by padlocking the rear doors. A hasp and staple are fitted to the rear doors for this purpose. The vehicle tool box and cab locker are also equipped for padlocking.

"Padlocks 1.25 in" are the correct padlocks for use on this type of vehicle. It is advisable to keep all three padlocks to one suite.

[NOTE:- "Padlocks l.25 in" are sometimes of the spring self-locking type; to prevent the accidental locking of keys inside the van body, it is recommended that the padlock keys should not all be carried together.]

11. Lighting
A light is fitted in the cab and another in the body, the cab light being specially positioned to take account of the writing table. Both lights are controlled by a three-position switch mounted on the screen behind the driver.

12. Spare wheel
This is housed below the vehicle 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.

13. Re-enamelling or re-touching
The outside of the van has a synthetic enamel finish. Attempts to re-touch any scratched or damaged parts should not be made by the staff using the vehicle; work of this nature will be undertaken by the Mech. I/C, when necessary, and during periodic overhauls.

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

15. The speed limit for this vehicle is 30 m.p.h. except when towing a trailer (see D 0022).

References:- B 3606, C 0015, D 0022

Last revised: February 04, 2021