Army Cots: The Easy way to stretch the second end stick over the side rail pegs

Рет қаралды 72,044

7 жыл бұрын

The classic army cot from WW2, Korea, Vietnam, etc. makes a very comfortable sleeping platform. These old cots can also be a pain in the butt to setup and assemble UNLESS you know the easy trick shown in this video.
The problem lots of people get stuck on is with getting the second end stick over the pegs on the side rails. The canvas is very tight, and makes it hard to get the last peg in the stick's hole. Watch this video for the clear instructions for making this simple.

Пікірлер: 91

@dakotad8360 6 жыл бұрын

this saved me from sleeping on the ground ty so much

@tangytempura2818 6 жыл бұрын

@Dakota D I kinda lost my End sticks for my 1951 Army Cot is it possible if I can get the dimensions of your cot's End stick and where the holes are located? so I can build a replacement pair of those end sticks for the cot. Thanks that would be a big help!!

@BigDaddyPapi82 2 жыл бұрын

Any tips if the nubs are broken off?

@alanworthington5355 11 ай бұрын

I just spent 20 minutes in 89° heat wrestling this cot like it was a gator tryin to get me and THIS is all it took?! FML...and TY

@starz4marie Ай бұрын

I have had this cot for years and can never figure out how to assemble that last piece. I came across your video. Wish me luck lol 🙏🏽

@rzorrok1 5 жыл бұрын

Just bought a Coleman Trailhead 2 cot. I may be a little out of shape, I'm not a total weakling, but there was no way I was going to get that second rail on using pure muscle. I knew there had to be a trick but interestingly, all the videos showing assembly of this particular cot do not actually show the reviewer assembling the last peg. With your video I was able to do it without any problem. Thanks again!

@vulcanraven224 3 жыл бұрын

Thats cause nobody can do it easily lol

@jesterboykins2899 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Bought mine at an antique store. Set it up for the 1st time with your help. Don’t know what to do? KZfaq it. Most likely someone else knows how. Thanks again. This will make doing re-enactments more pleasurable.

@rafterL78 29 күн бұрын

We both have a new degree from you tube university 😅

@husker_nation 4 жыл бұрын

When I was in the Army, our drill sergeants made us do this a thousand times. When I got to my unit, I showed this to my squad leader and platoon sergeant and they were dumbfounded and spread the word among the battalion. Needless to say, this was my first impression as a young private at the time 🙂

@bign9573 Жыл бұрын

Lucky

@georgeday8716 3 жыл бұрын

Damn. I remember many nights in the Army where we would give up on the second bar and just deal with it. Recently bought a military style cot for my office (yeah, I work too much) and thought to look up a solution on KZfaq. Thank you very much! You've saved me from regretting my nostalgia!

@Mel_Sharp 3 жыл бұрын

This 68-year-old girl scout thanks you. Your technique is a lifesaver. I can remember camping with this type of wooden-framed army cot as a little kid, and, try as I might, I just didn't have the upper-body strength to properly assemble it.

@ChronoShadow69 3 жыл бұрын

You are good people. I'm quarantining away from people and got a cot for easier sleep in my living room. Being sick and fighting with that last peg was frustrating. Thank you so much!

@mariawinzler Жыл бұрын

Thank you sir I just got one of these vintage cots and had to order the wooden ends. Now when I go camping I know how to assemble.

@ChristyCallahan 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for making this extremely helpful video! My husband didn’t want me to get a cot because it’s a bit of a hassle to set up. When I couldn’t figure out how to assemble the cot, (that I bought anyway! lol) he was taking too much joy in that. Thank you for saving me from a big “I told you so!”

@lidiawest8615 Жыл бұрын

Love this!

@Adrian1944- Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much I was so frustrated at my last event when I first got mine 😂

@irhcsa 4 жыл бұрын

8 years in the army and I never thought about this. FML.

@bigmikem90 3 жыл бұрын

Right!

@jeremeneff3806 3 жыл бұрын

Me too....wtf....lol

@dancartlidge5202 3 жыл бұрын

THANK you for this vid....just got a Coleman cot, and was about to package it back up because I couldn't get the second cross-member in....heck, even seen girls who can. But your "foot" method saved the day!!!

@lidiawest8615 Жыл бұрын

Incredibly helpful. Thank you so much!

@Atlas531 4 жыл бұрын

omg...this is so simple but genius. Thank you!

@rodneymiller5926 4 жыл бұрын

Your way is superior to any other way i have seen , Thank you for making this video.

@duglife2230 Жыл бұрын

I love collecting WW2 antiques and just picked one of these up at a yard sale for the criminal price of ten dollars! Not entirely sure if it's from WW2, Korea, or Nam, but it's in relatively good condition aside from a few holes in the canvas and some rusty metal parts. Though I don't plan to sleep on it unless I ever get into reenacting, I did want to set it up just to look at it and it was being a real pain in the keistar to set up. Thank you for this video!

@ThisIsStartingToAnnoyMe 3 жыл бұрын

Just bought a Coleman Trailhead 2. Got it yesterday. Barely got it together with the use of a pry bar. Can't wait to try this way. Kudos!

@dubhtail 5 жыл бұрын

Just moved in Wisconsin. Storage unit frozen. Tried air mattress. Expensive one. Got a hole. Couldn't repair it, even tried a tire repair kit. Decided to get a cot. Could not get the second rail on. Your video addressed the problem exactly and we did it! So now I can sleep off the carpet until it thaws around here. Thank you!

@pablogonzalez8304 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for this tip I always wondered how to do this. I am going to give it a try.

@jeffreyhritz5628 Жыл бұрын

Awesome and easy! Thanks!

@G_Robb Жыл бұрын

Great advice! I've never seen one with a wood frame. It must be pretty old. The ones I used in the US Army (2003 to 3008) and use now (I found one at a garage sale, and one at a pawn shop) are aluminum.

@dorianjohnson7046 Жыл бұрын

I think thats rust

@stevehirsch8413 4 жыл бұрын

Hell yeah... You just made my life easy... 👍👍

@Must-love-all-dogs 3 жыл бұрын

TG. At 5"2" & petite, I have pulled a few muscles over my camping days setting these up and usually end up with only one end secured. Saggy cot makes for one heck of a backache in the morning. Thanks so much! 😊

@panchovillasmith8218 3 жыл бұрын

Wow... Thank you. Now to find a cot. I just got rid of myine last summer.

@erikserafin7886 2 жыл бұрын

My cot got me. I gave up and thought the canvas shrunk. Thanks.

@computersales 2 жыл бұрын

This works well. My suggestion would be to just stand it up to do the stretching part. It's easier to slide your hands down the rails and stretch it downwards than having to slide across it and then bend down to slide it down.

@williamganley4739 2 жыл бұрын

I've always just used a third cot end as a crowbar. Using the cot itself as a pry bar is good thinking.

@ejroehrs 6 жыл бұрын

Bless you lol I just got 2 cots and both of them are REALLY tight

@matthewbazerkomccusker74 2 жыл бұрын

Thank God !!!!!loli finaly found outhow to get that last damn bar on lol , mines aluminum . Thank you sir

@bailey9970 5 жыл бұрын

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS. I have been using my cot to camp for about 3 years now and every time I kill myself setting it up before ... NOT ANY MORE

@alanallgaier313 3 жыл бұрын

I found that rubbing generous amounts of corn starch on the side rails "lubricated" it, so that it reduces friction when you're pulling... it slides easier.

@mrjohnnydangerously 3 жыл бұрын

Works perfect. Thank you!

@craigt9203 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the cool video I was driving and found one. Missing its sticks for the end. And was painted on top re-stained ha ha I’ll have it back to original. Minus the sticks. I’ll remake those shouldn’t be an issue

@elizabethschnepp371 4 жыл бұрын

This was very helpful!

@xcalabur18 10 ай бұрын

I honestly never knew this wasn't common knowledge amongst reenactors, etc. LOL

@michellefarrar9503 6 жыл бұрын

SO so very helpful thank you

@kristiefish7041 Жыл бұрын

So smart!!!! Gosh, ty!!!!

@General_Eisenhower1945 5 жыл бұрын

They are still like this. The only differance is now the frames are aluminum. Same damn design same damn problem

@scottcaldwell7480 2 жыл бұрын

Work smart not hard. Good tip.

@23Boggzy 9 күн бұрын

Get the green part wet and it stretches just enough to pull it with no struggle at all ... And it dries quick.

@Mrssniffles 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@MBJeep 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks..verry helpful

@daveww2 Жыл бұрын

A WWII e-tool works as a great pry bar - that's how I do it.

@sandrastuart4935 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!!

@joecostello6795 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks alot

@pkneeyahx 10 ай бұрын

Amazing!!!

@damonhallsworth1948 5 жыл бұрын

Brilliant.👍

@MrKennychung 3 жыл бұрын

Got it. Thank you

@danielalamo2075 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tips. I just bought three army style cots for $20. But only one of them has one of the spreader sticks. I'm just going to make the rest because the price was right.

@pauldouglas5883 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome!!

@dianebassett1930 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you!!!

@WW2JeepandRifle 5 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

@greggdsciotto8952 Жыл бұрын

Thx!!

@capricornsoul7227 3 жыл бұрын

Wow u r too good wish you were here!

@barryfairwood2174 3 жыл бұрын

Nice! Stand the cot up.

@internalinjectiontrulyhere6182 2 жыл бұрын

I knew dat because I make hard n soft material threadly ripping ropes.

@microzap Жыл бұрын

And all this time I've been sleeping with one end not fastened lol

@daisybbuchanan 11 ай бұрын

Same.

@madgemccoy4695 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I just bought some old used ones and could not get it on till now. Thanks so much. Any solutions for recovering material. Wanting to use for my grandkids. Thanks

@Ralphieisthegreatest 3 жыл бұрын

Well f#%& me dead. I've been fighting mine since 1975. Thank you so much for the teach!

@privatesnafu1275 4 жыл бұрын

any trick to fix an old cot that has shrunk a bit?even tight the center of the wood frame does not line up with the center of the canvas

@OsvaldoCervantes-hk9mz Ай бұрын

If canvas rips ,,is there any way to replace it? Or do u need to buy a whole new set up?

@KING-ld6we 8 ай бұрын

Please share the design of same cot , i want to make it for myself 😊

@chelseymcgee484 6 жыл бұрын

Can you show how to fold it up?

@internalinjectiontrulyhere6182 2 жыл бұрын

Pre member without glasses tv close memo.

@neildegrassetitan2465 3 жыл бұрын

🦁👏

@ChrisHightower 4 жыл бұрын

Where the f was this info when I was in the scouts?

@kahlospirit24 5 жыл бұрын

Anyone found replacement canvas for one of these wooden cots?

@WW2JeepandRifle 5 жыл бұрын

"At The Front" has a replacement canvas cot cover. Check it out at: www.atthefrontshop.com/product_p/usgmcot.htm

@TheShawna1 6 жыл бұрын

Does this work for the Vietnam Era nylon and aluminum end stick Cots never could get it together .Jim

@WW2JeepandRifle 6 жыл бұрын

Yes it does. Same trick works for those cots too.

@mikekeltner4291 10 ай бұрын

Mine keeps collapsing, I set it up , sit on it and then it splays out, to hell with the damn thing

@Ryan-ORMA 29 күн бұрын

I’m strong. And always got it. But Bro. Bro! Money

@iloveplanetearth209 4 жыл бұрын

Doesn't it lose the stretch cause its too tight

@pullo26militarysurplusc.r71 4 жыл бұрын

Only good video

@dorianjohnson7046 Жыл бұрын

Coulda used that knowledge years ago... fml

@mattsweat1576 Жыл бұрын

Work smarter, not harder

@internalinjectiontrulyhere6182 2 жыл бұрын

Memo..

@DanieHattingh Жыл бұрын

😂 That is so simple. Or you are a genius. Or both. Thanks anyway.