MCGRATH Semi trailer

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Darren - I have a bucket load of images of one here in SA. If you buy it I'll copy them to a CD. Looking at your image, it has one of the most important parts still attached, namely the front bow section. The floor and side boards can always be replicated and wheels can be replaced. See if there are any hood bows and there should also be a skeletal gazebo type structure that fitted on top of the bow section. Re. scrap value, I was talking to a scrappie today and he said he is now only getting about $130/ton as opposed to $300 not that long ago.

Bob

[Darren Witty]

Thanks for all the info!
Some more photos for your interest

Thanks
Darren

[Darren Witty]

Bob,
Do you have a photo of the skeletal gazebo structure? Better still do you have a war time photo of the trailer in all its glory?? ie with hood bows and gazebo? Does anyone know what typre of brakes it would have had if any? This one appears to have had air brakes at some time.

Thanks again
Darren

[hrpearce]

Darren the trailer had vacuum brakes not air

[cliff]

here is 3 pics for you. I'll look to see what else I've got later

[cliff]

some more pics of Inter semi's & trailers

[cliff]

pics again from AWM and other places

[Ken Smith]

Hi Darren
The number on the plate at the rear of the trailer 3888 is the chassis number of the trailer.The wheels were from the factory fitted with 7.50-20 tyres,on the North South road the tyres failed because of the pounding and the heat,the trucks and the trailers were changed to 8.25-20 I have this size on my Ford truck and trailer and they look the part.The wheels on the trailer are 5 stud Ford or International rims.You have done well getting the landing wheels,spare tyre carrier and turntable.There is a heavier trailer that had spoked wheels but it was usually towed by the bigger K7 International.Cheers Ken

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Hi Darren
The wheels were from the factory fitted with 7.50-20 tyres,on the North South road the tyres failed because of the pounding and the heat,the trucks and the trailers were changed to 8.25-20 I have this size on my Ford truck and trailer and they look the part.

Hi Ken


I always thought the wheel size on these trailers is 18" .. nearly all of the Aust. pattern trailers I've seen have split 18" wheels.... all types of trailers .. compressor.. generator etc and the semi's.

Mike

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all - the tyre size on the trailer I depicted earlier is 8.25x20.

Bob

[Lang]

Darren,

If you want any info on the trailers I have the parts and identification manuals for them. "Semi-Trailers 7-Ton GS (AUST). Nos 1, 2, 2A, 3, 4 4A 1945"

The round front trailers were only the early models (No 2) but because they are so distinctive they remain in people's minds as THE army trailer. The more useful square front trailers No2A, 3, 4, 4A would have been sold off the same but just blended into all the civilian trailers out there. Looking at the manual it seems a lot more square trailers were built than round ones.

Standard for all was 8.25 X 20 tyres but there were adaptors for fitment of singles. The folding dolly was available as an extra as was the dolly to turn them into a dog trailer to be towed by any truck.

Lang

[Ryan]

Were these trailers towed by Blitz's? I see there is no pics of one behind a Blitz in the above responses. I ask as there is one coming up in a clearing sale. I don't have a pic of it.