I have a 1950 Ford F-68 built in Windsor Ontario . In the front stake pocket on the driver side is what seems to be a crank type hole that runs through the pocket and through to the inside of the box . The outside hole runs vertical and the inside hole horizontal . There are oval caps / covers with spring type clips that fit into the holes for both inside and out that I assume are used just for looks when the holes are not in use.
I've asked many people what the holes are for and no one seems to have a definitive answer . Any Ideas ?
Thanks
Tim

 

I've never seen that so I'm gonna subscribe. WAG - for a crank handle on a dump bed.

 

Could it in some way be the crank hole for a spare tire?

 

that is odd,
I wonder if it was part of some kind of bracket that clipped in there as part of a spare tire side mounted? is there any other tell tale holes on bed sides father back towards the fender where other brackets could have been?
the hole on the inside of the bed is above the wood floor of bed? was there maybe something mounted on the floor of the bed right there?

anything extra on running board or frame mounted in that area?
very curious indeed...

Welcome to FTE by the way, show us some pictures of the rest of your truck too!

 

I love it when we get to play 'stump the host"

I think the only thing we can probably agree on is it's not original, and whatever it was done for, it was done by or for a PO. I'd like to see more pics from inside the bed, if there's any other markings or tattle-tale signs of what might have been inside that the holes could be for. The fancy covers makes it even more strange. Something that industrial is not typically dressed up.

 

Thanks for your replies . Lets see if I can address some of your questions .
The crank for a dump bed is possible .
The spare tire theory has been hashed over time and time again and at the end of the discussions it gets voted down . There are no provisions , cut outs , indentations for a tire inside or outside the box .
There are no other holes or mounts in the box , frame or the bed floor . Now the wood bed was in very poor shape when I got the truck , but didn't notice anything unusual when I removed it.
The inside hole is only about 3 or 4 inches above the wood floor of the bed .
No mounting holes anyplace where something may have been bolted down .
If the crank holes were put in after purchase someone really knew what they were doing , the looked punched out , very smooth clean cut edges . Yes the covers do add to the mystery

Food for thought , I stopped and talked to a gentleman in my area that is a retired body shop owner and now restores old vehicles as a bit of a hobby and to keep himself busy , a real perfectionist . I posed the question to him and after he did a week or two of research got back to me saying he thought it might be for a winch crank, but wasn't really sure.

I'll get some pictures of the inside of the box next time I'm at the shop. I have to rent a place 20 minutes from home to work on my truck.

Thanks again , maybe can solve this mystery now that I've taken it North American wide .
Thanks again
Tim

 

Yes if it is above the bed wood than most likely a winch crank. Makes more sense to me.

 

Yes I think your right arctic y block , we'll stick to the winch crank until someone comes up with a better idea .

 

Would those hole arrangements work to store the engine hand crank as well? The inside slot being horizontal would prevent the crank from coming out.

 

raytasch
Don't think its for an engine crank , the hole is too big for a engine crank and the crank would rattle and fall out for sure . You would likely bang your leg, or worse if it stuck out .The hole is big enough to fit a crank the size of a dolly crank on a tractor trailer .

 

Thought that I’d give this question another try seeing how it’s been some time since I first posted it and really don’t have a definitive answer .Maybe some new members might have some new thoughts or old members may have stumbled onto some info. In doing some research I found out that maybe the mystery hole may have some military application do to the fact that it’s a Canadian built truck from 1950 and Ford Canada built their trucks to military standards during this time .
Any thoughts or ideas ?
Thanks Tim
(picture posted above)