AUSTRALIAN Jeep Trailer REGISTER and database - AUSTRALIANS PLEASE READ

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi All,

I have posted this here knowing that there is a large amount of Australians on this site and that they would probably be happy to participate.

During WW2, a variety of Australian manufacturers (automobile and not) produced trailers for the military. These were all locally designed and as the designs progressed, the pattern followed that more of the US 1/4 ton trailer- MBT/T3 etc. Some of these trailers survive, but what model, where, condition and how many is ANYONES guess.

I, along with another collector decided to start a trailer register and database of Australian jeep trailers- mainly to record data and survival of those trailers which were produced in limited numbers in Australia during WW2, but also any overseas variants which reside here and were used by the Australian Military.

Chuck Lutz from www.g503.com/forums maintains a register of the USA produced trailers around the world. The aim of this register is to make something similar to Chucks list for Australian produced or used trailers for everyone to easily access to complete and read (I did it this way as it means i do not need to continually update the register with data and it is accessible anywhere).


I have set up a 'google documents' survey which is then linked to an online database. By filling in the survey, data is then recorded on the online database for all to see. The survey is voluntary and you can contribute as little or as much information as you like.

THERE IS ONE RULE THOUGH: ONLY CONTRIBUTE INFORMATION FOR TRAILERS YOU OWN OR WHEN YOU HAVE PERMISSION FROM THE OWNER TO SUPPLY THEIR INFORMATION. PLEASE DO NOT PUT SOMEONE ELSES PERSONAL INFO IF THEY DO NOT WANT IT PUT. I would hate to have this spoilt by annoying people who do not want to participate.


So, for those of us with WW2 jeep trailers (Australian or US made) IN AUSTRALIA, or who own an AUSTRALIAN jeep trailer, please feel free to fill in the survey and contirbute. Please note, i am not collecting this info for personal hoarding/use, i just thought it would be a good idea to start a trailer register for all to know what is out there.

The survey is running through the following website. Follow the links and you will see what has been done and you can do. Please pass on the link of the following website or the direct link to the survey to all those who you know with jeep trailers in Australia as only through word of mouth will this get out there and will it be as successful as i think it can be.

http://www.vintageengines.net/page11.htm


Cheers and thankyou. If there are any questions or suggestions, please contact me!

Ian.

[phoenix]

Sounds a bit like what REMLR does for land rovers, international trucks and No.5 trailers (and derivitaves).

Depending on how much depth you want to go into, the AWM still have the registration books noting all of the trailers used by australia.

The ones I find fascinating are the jeep trailers that were modified to use land rover hubs and wheels for the early land rovers.

I have one photo of such a jeep trailer on this page of REMLR. http://www.remlr.com/lrpr_raeme_ade.html

I have a couple more photos of them which I am yet to put online if you are interested in a workshop jeep trailer.

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi Richard,

Thanks for that info. I didnt realise there was one for landies etc. I look at it from the point that there can never be too much information to share about!

I realise the AWM has the rego books with the trailers in them, however i am hoping to create a list of surving jeep trailers, not so much those which were here in the first place.

Intersting pic of the US made trailer there! I didnt realise the army modified them so much! Can you please put up the other trailer pics?

Thanks,
Ian.

[phoenix]

I'll dig them out tonight and post them up

REMLR kept track of survivors and spottings in the flesh and on e-bay before we had the registration numbers available, and finally transcribed. We are still doing the trailers though as there is a lot of them, some as late as in the 70's.

Richard

[phoenix]

Ok, I think these are all of the photos that I have. I also have a couple of studie workshop trucks set up. These photos are all from the same period of time as the page of photos I linked to on REMLR above. They were all done my ADE presumedly for appraisal before deciding on what would find army use. Some made it to regular use, others did not.

I have larger versions of all of these photos if anybody wants or needs copies. I will post these photos over a couple of posts.

[phoenix]

[James Baxter]

Hi Ian,

Just to let you know that I have added details of my Australian Jeep trailer to your register. I bought it back in 1997 when i was living and working in Sydney, and shipped it back to the UK. I also bought a Ford GPW which was restored by Darcy Miller and which I also shipped to the UK. The trailer is undergoing restoration. The NSW WW2 Jeep club provided some very useful scale drawings of the front stand, which was missing from my trailer, and which allowed me to have a stand made up.

James

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi Bob and James.

Thanks for putting up the trailers you have gotten.

Jeff Gordon is currently working on an article which we can put up on the website to aid people in ID'ing their trailers. My guess Bob is that yours is a #4. I`m not sure if GMH or Ford as I cant see the tie down catches closely enough. From what i`ve seen, Ford are flat on the hook part and GMH is rounded type hook like you find on the hand hook used for lifting chaff bags. Jeff also says that there is a way of telling by the floor, but i havent seen a #4 GMH floor so i cant say!

The draw bar does not look original either- too long.


James- i have often wondered if any Australian trailers are overseas- guess that puts that one to bed! Thanks for adding you details.

Cheers,
Ian.

[James Baxter]

Hi Ian,

I've managed to work out what is the serial number on my trailer. being stamped on the data plate it is rather worn, I am now sure it is 1125. The data plate has Ford 1945. Does this serial number signify anything in particular?

James

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi James.

The number you found is the serial number of the trailer. I presume it is on a small rectangular plate on the rear panel.

Out of curiosity, FMC 1177 was on ebay here a while ago!

The number itself doesnt seem to signiy anything as far as i know. There might be records somewhere to do wit ford or trailer serial numbers, but if there are i dont know of them. The only thing you could provide would be an ARN- army rego number which, if the trailer hasnt been sandblasted, will still be somewhere. Mine is on the rear panel, bottom left hand side (when looking at it from the rear). If you give me this, next time i am at the war memorial in Canberra, i will look it up and send you the small bit of info on it- when sold, to who, (maybe even work orders carried out) etc.

Cheers,
Ian.

[James Baxter]

Ian,

Many thanks. I will carefuklly rub down the paint and see if I can find any trace of a number. I suspect, however that sometime in its past the trailer may have been shot blasted, so obliterating any trace of numbers. I will let you know what I find in due coure.

James