AWM images - Jeep semi-trailer image
 

To those MLU people who avidly trawl through the AWM images on line, somewhere buried in there is an image of a jeep converted into a semi-trailer.

If someone chances upon it, or knows the call number, could they please post it here? I've used a bunch of keywords to search, but am yet to luck onto it. :bang:

Thanks

Mike

Popular Science magazine
 

When I was growing up somehow the house acquired several orange crates of 1940s Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, and the like magazines. I remember several rather breathless short articles bragging about the many ways to reuse wartime equipment. There were many naturally on all the civilian uses of Jeeps. I'm sure the thrill of freezing, frying, soaking, bouncing, flipping and other hardships suffered by the troops meant only a few of the imagined roles really panned out.

Maybe like this?

Interesting but not it.
 

Thanks Lang, not seen that one before. Where did it come from, please?

The AWM image I remember was a 4x4 jeep with the rear of the body removed, and a single-axle, single wheel/side semi-trailer. The image was taken in a supply dump and was a local/unit-level conversion. Just cannot find it now!

Mike

Mike

That was a Pinterest Willys Jeep Trailer collection.

Lang

Thanks Lang (we need a 'like' button on MLU!)
Mike

Could be
 

Is this it ?

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C246105

Yes! Thank you, Mike, that's the one!


Mike

RAAF Semi-trailer
 

To update the image a little, this is 25 Air Stores Park, RAAF, vehicle (25 ASP, which can be seen on the side of the hood/bonnet and on the end of one of the stacked boxes). The unit moved to Labuan Island in late June 1945, operating there until disbanded on 19 November 1945.

The unit had previously been located on Noemfoor Island from June 1944 until moving to Morotai Island in April 1945. If, as the caption states, the jeep was acquired on Noemfoor Island, then it had been with the unit since prior to April 1945.

The construction of the trailer is interesting, as it appears to use the rear section of a jeep chassis, chopped off just in front of the forward spring mount of the rear springs. The pivot point on the towing tractor jeep seems to be above the pintle hook position, rather than over the rear axle.

The RAAF evidently found the conversion useful, as an official conversion was drafted in 1947/1948 with the 5th wheel pivot mounted above the line of the rear axle, the trailer having a drop-down gooseneck design. I suspect the RAAF were the only service to officially adopt a jeep single-axle semi-trailer conversion, but how many were actually converted is not known to me. It is certainly one of the more unusual jeeps.

Mike

For people who prefer to see the photo in the MLU view rather than the original site:

And how do you "Find an abandoned Jeep"?

In the latter stages of the War in the Pacific, vehicles that required uneconomic repairs, or even required transport by limited available shipping, were "Struck off" wherever they happened to be, while the unit moved on. Sometimes, a little bit of scrounging could put together a serviceable vehicle that was still useful.

Not Noemfoor, but have a look at http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=28368