The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1941-46(7) GMC Experts Needed

I am trying to locate a half-ton 1946 GMC underbed spare tire carrier. This is not a Parts Wanted post.

I am having a difficult time understanding what it looks like and if it bolts to the GMC steel bed floor.

I have 16” rims and tires. Which carrier is correct for the GMC half ton?

I have the left carrier found in the GMC 1929-50 Parts Book diagram (the left diagram depicts a 1937-40 carrier) but it is too narrow for the 16” tire/rim combination. My 16” tire rim combo will not lay flat on the strap and lock in on the center “tabs.”

Were there different size carriers for half ton wheel diameters?

Is there another carrier for the 1941-47 years? Or, was this 37-40 design carried through the 1941-47 model years too?

The photographs show the carriers I have - a 1937-40 carrier in black powder coat and the other that also does not fit a half ton 16” narrow width stock tire. It seems to be for a larger width tire perhaps 1947-53 3/4 ton. ?? Correct?

Tom,
Perhaps these photos will help you. This is on my 46 1/2 Ton and carries the original 16" tire.
Harold

This may be what I have then, Harold. I’ll play around with the larger carrier and see. Thank you. I also see that there appears to be an additional crossmember just above the rear axle too. Thank you for posting the photos. Big help. Tom

These photos show the 6.50 x16 tire in the later carrier (that is perhaps the carrier used from 41-53/4).

Do I need to be concerned about the U bracket that bolts the tire to the sliding strap? As you can see, there is about 1.5” plus between the outer edge of the U bracket and the rim/tire.

I can always make a neoprene block spacer to fill the gap and glue and run a bolt through it to adhere it to the U bracket.

Assuming that this will fit into the half ton frame and the crossmember I will make above the rear axle.

Thoughts from the Gallery Of Experts?

Looking at Harold's photos it appears that the top ends of that u-bracket bear against the frame crossmember and not the tire. The tire/rim is secured in the center of the rim. As long as the rim is secured, you shouldn't need anything to fill that gap at the ends of the iu-bracket. I have no direct experience with the sliding spare carrier, but just going by the pics.

If the wheel shown in Harold's post is correct for the spare tire carrier in the photo, it would appear that he has a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. Tom's truck is a 1/2 ton model with 6 bolt wheels. I think we are comparing apples to oranges here.

Mike

The 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton are indeed different. Refer to the first pic in your first post, Tom.

Mike,

I have a 1/2 ton with the 16” tire/rim combination. ("apples to apples" here!)

Tom,
Flip your tire over. The outside of the tire faces the ground. Look closely at the photos I sent showing tires mounted. Also, take a close look at the factory photo (first photo) and you will see the outside of the tire facing down.
I noticed your slider bar does not have the "slider pin". In case you need one, here is the spec to make one. A bolter furnished this to me when I restored my carrier.
Harold

Got it, Harold. I have the outer facing down. Unless I am missing something… I believe the photos I posted with the mounted tire would be the correct carrier for the 1941+ half ton. And, from conversations I am having this style of carrier - carried through to 1953 maybe 1954. Thank you for the pin diagram.

Thanks to all that assisted. Always learning!

Tom

Thanks to Kevin –- looks like this slide out phased out around 1951.

The slider carrier was phased out by '51. There may have been a few that were installed past that date. My '51 uses the later carrier that swings on a bolt in the front left and latches to another on the right rear.

Tom,
I see the outside of your tire is facing down, sorry I missed that before. Could the "horn" be from a 3/4 T?
The slider was used from 1940-to 1950. Different design for 1951-1954 and another design for 1955-1959.
I am attaching a photo of the 1951-54 type.
Good luck on your hunt. It took me over 2 years to find all my parts.
Harold

Just to add to the confusion,
I have a 1940 Chevy pu 1/2 ton
This is a rough drawing of how it’s set up. Fits together well.
If you can figure it out….. if not, let me know….

Mike

Rabut,
Do not know about your drawing, (photos work better) but if it works for you, that is great.
Here is the GM manual page of the 1937-1950 tire carrier for 1/2 T.
Harold

Harold,

The picture on the left, I believe, is for a model later than 1940. As to Your picture on the right, on the left side of the drawing, seems to be correct for the 1940. It matches pretty close to the one I have except that the attachment to the underside truck frame is different.

Mike