Gents,
I'm still hunting for troop seats for a base model (fixed side bed) M813. I've had many conversations with people who claim that there's no difference between the seats for the M809 and the M939 series. I've figured out what the difference is:
On the base, fixed side truck there is NO "step" on the front section of the bed for those 2 foot side boards. That is only on the drop-side beds (M813A1 and all M939 trucks). The troop seats I need, were common on the old M39 series 5-tons (M54 cargo truck). If you look at the bed, the fixed sides are completely flat from front to rear and the troop seats would be 12 feet long. The uprights are 2' 9" apart instead of exactly 3 feet apart. Observe the attached photos. On the A1 model (stuffed with troops fording a river) you can see the dropside hinges and the 2 foot "step-up" section that requires the sideboard. On the M54 and M813 base model photos, you can see that the bed is completely flat and the troop seats run the entire length of the bed.
Here are my options:
Find an old set of M54/M813 (base model) troop seats
Find an old wooden set of M35 troop seats, dismantle them, rip new wooden slats and reassemble with the uprights at the proper interval AND scavenge two additional uprights for the extra 2 feet.
If anyone has any leads for me on these parts, please let me know.
I'm still hunting for troop seats for a base model (fixed side bed) M813. I've had many conversations with people who claim that there's no difference between the seats for the M809 and the M939 series. I've figured out what the difference is:
On the base, fixed side truck there is NO "step" on the front section of the bed for those 2 foot side boards. That is only on the drop-side beds (M813A1 and all M939 trucks). The troop seats I need, were common on the old M39 series 5-tons (M54 cargo truck). If you look at the bed, the fixed sides are completely flat from front to rear and the troop seats would be 12 feet long. The uprights are 2' 9" apart instead of exactly 3 feet apart. Observe the attached photos. On the A1 model (stuffed with troops fording a river) you can see the dropside hinges and the 2 foot "step-up" section that requires the sideboard. On the M54 and M813 base model photos, you can see that the bed is completely flat and the troop seats run the entire length of the bed.
Here are my options:
Find an old set of M54/M813 (base model) troop seats
Find an old wooden set of M35 troop seats, dismantle them, rip new wooden slats and reassemble with the uprights at the proper interval AND scavenge two additional uprights for the extra 2 feet.
If anyone has any leads for me on these parts, please let me know.
