APPENDIX D-3 FABRICATION OF CRATE, WOOD, PLYWOOD SHEATHED, BOLTED, MIL-C-104, TYPE II CLASS 2, STYLE A, MODIFIED

TM 43-0156

APPENDIX D-3

FABRICATION OF CRATE, WOOD, PLYWOOD

SHEATHED, BOLTED, MIL-C-104, TYPE II

CLASS 2, STYLE A, MODIFIED

D-3-1. General

Unless stated otherwise, all crate dimensions specified in the preparation instructions for shipment are inside dimensions.

(Maximum exterior dimensions for the crate are 30 feet long by 9 feet wide by 10 feet high.)

D-3-2. Fabrication Instructions

a. Plywood Sheathing. Use NN-P-530 1/2-inch plywood, for sheathing on side, end, and top panels. Apply

sheathing vertically for the side and end panels and extend to the bottoms of the skids on the side panels and to the tops

of the skids on the end panels.

b. Skid Base. The base consists of longitudinal skids and rubbing strips, headers, load-bearing floorboards, and

flooring. For net loads up to 10,000 pounds and crate length up to 32 feet, use 4- by 4-inch skids. For net loads up to

30,000 pounds and crate length up to 20 feet, use 4- by 6-inch skids (on edge). Maximum space between skids is 48

inches, center to center. Use 2-inch lumber the same width as skids for the rubbing strips. Attach strips to skids with two

staggered rows of 12d nails spaced 12 inches apart in each row. Provide 12-inch openings in the rubbing strips, 28

inches center to center, for forklift access. Place center pieces to straddle the center of balance. Center pieces must be

at least 18 inches long (fig. D-3-1). Provide sling openings not less than 4 inches in length (preferably 8 inches) at the

ends of the rubbing strips. Bevel ends of all rubbing strips at a 45angle. Bolt a 4- by 4-inch header to each end of the

base, placed back from the ends of the skids to the thickness of the end sheathing. Notch the ends of the headers to

equal the thickness of the lower frame members of the crate sides. Bolt two additional 4- by 4-inch forklift headers,

spaced 20 and 40 inches (on center) from each end of the skids, and notch the same as the end headers (fig. D-3-1).

Use bolts 1/2 inch in diameter for all headers. When the crate is short or narrow, or when the form of the item to be

crated dictates, 2- by 6-inch lumber will be used in the 42-inch end areas instead of 4- by 4-inch forklift headers. When

2-inch lumber is used and intermediate skids are required, bolt the 2-inch members to the intermediate skids and nail to

the outside skids with 12d nails (fig. D-3-2). Place load-bearing members (4- by 4-inch minimum) where concentrated

loads of contents occur. Notch and bolt as prescribed for headers, except secure to each skid with two bolts when

member is over 4 inches wide. Lumber used for floorboards will be at least 1 by 4 inches and will be spaced 1/4-inch

apart for drainage. When 1-inch flooring is used with 2-inch flooring, nail 1- by 2-inch filler strips along each side of the

thinner flooring (fig. D-3-2).

D-3-1