Here's a good look at a special-purpose modification of a CJ-3B Universal Jeep. This picture from the Images in Time collection at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library looks like it was taken at the same time as photos seen at the bottom of the CJ-3B's at the Port of Toledo page, showing conveyor belt-equipped CJ-3B's being loaded onto a freighter.
These conveyor Jeeps were typically used for loading baggage at aiports (see Airport Jeeps of the 1960's on The CJ3B Page.) There were varying designs, but the most common had the large rear supporting platform seen here.
A rear-view photo from the late-1950's Willys booklet Jeep Vehicles in Public Service shows the platform wrapping around the side of the Jeep, and appears to show it supporting the bottom of the conveyor belt, which was likely driven by the rear power take-off.
Unfortunately we have few right-side photos, but the platform can be seen also wrapping around the right side of a CJ-3B in the background of a photo of a Lanica DC-6 at Miami International in June 1966 (90K JPEG, photo by John P. Stewart courtesy of Airliners.net).
An exceptional picture in the Toledo Library Collection shows the assembly of one of these Jeeps at the Willys plant or perhaps at some other local fabrication company. The front and rear supports are in place, and in the large copy of the photo (60K JPEG) it appears the cowl is being modified prior to installation of the conveyor.
Steve Mehls spotted a glimpse of one of these Jeeps on the tarmac in the Elvis Presley movie Blue Hawaii. This view and the one at the top of this page, make it look like the right side of the hood must have been cut to allow the conveyor to be fully lowered.
Chuck Watford supplied this photo of a former belt loader which he later restored to stock 3B configuration. The modifications to the cowl and dash are obvious, although it looks like someone may have replaced a piece cut out of the firewall, to re-install a normal hood.
Chuck says, "I was told that the front drive shaft was removed, and the transfer case was placed into low range and the levers removed, as part of the belt loader installation."
We've also been told that some of the oldtimers in ground support have tales of the control levers being hit while operating the belt, causing the vehicle to drive off un-manned!
The lower cowl and hood of a DJ-3A didn't require cutting to install a conveyor. In this photo by Mike Winchester of a DJ-3A formerly used at the Tucson, Arizona airport, a CJ-2A windshield has been added to the surplus Dispatcher. Mike also took a picture of the extra coil overload spring (50K JPEG) added to the right front axle.
This picture of a DJ-3A baggage loader is one of many Willys promotional photos taken at the Toledo Airport. The DJ here has a different rear platform that doesn't wrap around the rear of the body, and has the door openings cut down to the floor for easier access. Photo from the Toledo Library Collection.
See a Dispatcher in Chicago with a shorter conveyor, in Airport Jeeps of the 1960's.
See also Airport Jeeps Around the World on The CJ3B Page.
Thanks to the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, Mike Winchester, Michael Perry, Chuck Watford and Mountain Dan. -- Derek Redmond
Go to the Index of Unusual CJ-3B Photos.
Return to Building Jeeps at The Parkway Plant on The CJ3B Page
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