Aust. One Ton trailer info. required

[Mike Cecil]

Dianna

I think it's a bit more complicated than just using a Pan Brake: the square guards require cutting the blank, punch the mounting holes, press the ribs in the top (using a die in a press), notch the fold points, fold and flatten raw edges, fold edges at right angles, fold guards and weld, most of which are manual operations. For 1000 plus guards (for 500 trailers plus spares/replacement parts) that's a lot of time/labour. I don't doubt that the set-up costs of large blanking, forming and trimming dies for a double-acting press are something to consider, but I'm just not sure that it is the main driving force behind the square versus round design in this case. Same for the thousands of Aust jeep trailers: I think the main driving force in all these cases was access/mud clearance, rather than the economics of pressed versus folded guards. The Aust Army already had considerable experience with the Bantam trailer before the Aust No.3 & 4 were designed, and it is probably the reason why the No.4 trailer guard was mounted even higher on the body than the No.3: to provide maximum clearance.

Mike C

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Tony, heaven forbid Corowa Should have a "Year of Everything Must Be Perfectly Correct".

In the same era the Austin Champ had the round front mudgaurds replaced with the square ones after the proto-type (Mudlark) stage. Unfortunatley the round guards on the back remain, they leave very little room around the wheel/tyre and could become mud bound quite easily.


Rich.

[lynx42]

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

Tony, heaven forbid Corowa Should have a "Year of Everything Must Be Perfectly Correct".

Rich.

Great thread Rich. The above quote won't happen with me. I have a Corio trailer which I tow behind the White Scout Car. I modified the stud patten to 6 studs and fitted M3A1 wheels. That way I only have 1 spare wheel to worry about. The spare is mounted where the missing front box usually is. To balance the trailer more, I have fitted a jerry can holder on each side at the rear and across the tailgate is mounted the roller clamp which clamps to the roller at the front of the Ws/c and the ex-British 'A' frame. The 'A' frame mounts underneath at the back. We have had to be towed home about 3 times, so the clamp and 'A' frame are a necessary piece of equipment.

It is good to see that there are a few people planning to bring their trailer to Corowa. Get your entry in now,please, if you haven't entered yet.

Regards Rick.

[Mike Cecil]

'MGB'? ...

Mike C

[Mike Cecil]

So all you need now is the bridge! Or maybe that would be ....

'A Bridge Too Far' ..... (with apologies to C Ryan!)

Mike C

[Ganmain Tony]

"Year of Everything must be perfectly correct" thats got to get an award at Corowa...

Well done Mr Farrant - thats the angle I'm hoping we'll take on this thread..no pun intended.

Perhaps we should "guard" this topic carefully (pun intended)

[Richard Farrant]

What is interesting about Tony's trailer, is that the mounting holes for round guards (as the FV design) are present, see the photo on his post. Why were these mountings put in if the more angular guards were to be fitted from the start?
Has anyone got an original parts list or user manual? Might offer up a few clues.