MCGRATH Semi trailer

[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.

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Were these trailers towed by Blitz's?

Yes they were Ryan. The AIF used 134in WB Blitz's as tractor units.

[Ryan]

Thanks Cliff. I'll try and make it to the sale. If it looks like the trailers in the above photos I'll have a crack at it. It's listed as an old mcgrath farm trailer.

[Luke R]

Ryan, you should take a few photos of the stuff at the clearing sale for those who cant attend?

Luke