OT: Military Cot parts

refit1701 · Post by **refit1701** » Sun May 11, 2008 12:35 pm

Anyone know where a person could find the wooden end bars for a 52 wooded GI cot? I got the thing for 7 bucks at a flea market, it's nearly new but missing the two end bars.

Evilbay was no help so....

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Sun May 11, 2008 2:53 pm

They shouldn't be difficult to make if you can get the dimensions. They're just a couple lengths of maple or oak stock with a hole in each end. If someone has a cot, he may be able to do a little measuring and provide you with the L/W/H of the "square" bar, the hole diameger, and the center-to-center spacing of the holes.

If you've never set one of these critters up, be warned that the bars appear "too short" when you install them. You have to really tug, sometimes, to stretch the canvas enough to get 'em on. Once you get 'em on, the cot will be "drum head tight." They're surprisingly comfortable, and you'll never again wake up with a wet butt in a soggy sleeping bag!

refit1701 · Post by **refit1701** » Sun May 11, 2008 3:00 pm

I slept on one of the aluminum ones back in February. To say they are tight as a drum is an understatement. I don't normally sleep on a piece of plywood, but that cot felt just like one. I was miserable.

Maybe it wasn't broken in or something...

The wooden jobs may have more "give" than the newer aluminum ones. I picked up the 51 dated cot so it would go with my 53 truck. Next are ammo cans and boxes. I like collecting period dated stuff.

knattrass · Post by **knattrass** » Mon May 12, 2008 11:17 am

You could drop a quarter on those aluminum cots and take out your eye! When that frame snaps over center, that fabric is drum tight. I ended up using a little foam layer on mine because it was like sleeping on a diving board.

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Sun May 18, 2008 1:58 pm

Maybe you guys are just too skinny!

Actually, the canvas will stretch a little with use, so the more often you sleep on it, the more comfy it will get. In the AF, we got to use an air mattress with the cot (if we were lucky).

mike_l · Post by **mike_l** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:04 pm

I just saw a box of these last month at Findlay, OH. I think the same guy comes to the Anderson, IN show in July. If you still need some, let me know and I will try to get a couple if he shows.

creinemann · Post by **creinemann** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:44 pm

Does anyone know of a place to get new canvas for these type of cots?

OT: Military Cot parts

OT: Military Cot parts

Cot Canvas