Canadian Army jeep trailer

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Pictured below is a trailer which is/was owned by John Marchant. Interesting to see both the CMD and census number surviving.

Does anybody have more info on the 1/4-ton Bantam BRC / Willys MBT trailer in Canadian Army service?

Thanks,
Hanno

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi Hanno,

While unfrotunately i dont have any info on the trailers, i just thougt i would point out the nomenclature you have given this trailer-

While trailers were made by Bantam, they werent BRC's (that was the protptype jeep). The model of trailer made by Bantam during the war was the T3, superceded post war by the T3C.

You got the Willys side of things correct!

As a side note, there was also a range of other manufacturers during the war who built this style of trailer (i think somewhere around about 8 more?)- so they werent all T3/MBT's. There are lists of the producers and production numbers in several posts on g503.com in the 1/4 ton trailer section if your interested.

Cheers,

Ian.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Ian Fawbert
While unfrotunately i dont have any info on the trailers, i just thougt i would point out the nomenclature you have given this trailer-

Ian, of course you are right about the nomenclature of this trailer, thanks.

Let me rephrase the question: does anybody have more info on the US-built 1/4-ton jeep trailer in Canadian Army service?

Thanks,

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here is a picture of a US-built 10-cwt trailer towed by a 15-cwt truck.

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra in wartime CMP F15A pictures
Reportedly, this is a Royal Canadian Dragoons vehicle which was pictured at a place called De Blesse. Census number seems to be CZ4256418, if I read it right.

De_Blesse.jpg

[Eric B]

Hello Hanno

We bought a large quantity of US 1/4 ton trailers. Both Bantam and Willys were used.
We modified some of these for 10cwt by changing the springs, moving the spring plates, adding handles and then also adding the extra pintle hook and plug to make a trailer train.

We had some of these modified for Mortar carriers and other specialty roles.

Usually the CMD number was removed when it was assigned to a Unit and the standard CZ number added.

I am looking for data on these as well as i wish to include trailers in my next WW2 Jeep book. I have some serial numbers as well as War Department numbers.

The Navy as well as the Airforce used these besides the army.

Thanks
Please feel free to contact me if you need more info.

Eric

[Eric B]

OOps i meant CX number

Eric

[Jason Ginn]

Well seeing as I recently bought the sad remains of a Canadian MBT I thought that I'd post a pic I found from LAC of one in service. Looks like MP use behind a CMP.

[Johan WILLAERT]

Hi all,

Bumping this back to the top with a couple of questions on a Canadian used Bantam T3 Trailer

We are just about finishing a full nut& bolt restoration of Bantam T3 #22885, DoD 29th June 1943. Body Box number is 52902.

The original dataplate clearly shows that it had been delivered to the Canadian Defence Forces (the US manual lists have been crossed out and replaced with Canandian info), and the trailer still had the longer heavy duty springs with relocated spring brackets and gussets , the tandem trailer triangle kit and the holes for the tandem trailer receptacle box at the right rear corner of the body box. So it was restored back to these Canadian specs...

Only things left to do now are new tyres, shocks, a final coat of OD on the inside of the box and applying the CX number on the rear panel.
Since there are no official lists for the CX number, we chose number CX4252902, as most numbers I see on original photos start with CX42 and added the box number 52902 to come up with something that looks good…

Now for my questions…

1. Since this trailer was delivered with a standard US Army type dataplate which was then altered to Canadian specs and not the plate with the Canadian manual numbers directly printed on the plate; would it have been delivered with a blue drab U.S.A. registration Number on the rear panel, only to be covered with the CX number?

2. When applying the 4" CX number, what would be the best location, seeing that it doesn't fit between the rear reflectors? centered on the rear panel as shown on my photo? Or should I use 3" stencils?

3. Would it have had unit markings…? Jeep which will generally tow it is marked to the RHLI, 2nd Division.

Will post more photos once all is completed!

THANKS!!

[Jack Geratic]

This may or may not be of interest:
http://wwiijeepparts.com/Archives/JeepTrailer.html

For the WD number, official dimensions were 3 1/2 inches in height, and not more than 2 1/2 inches width (per individual digit). The width of the "brushstroke" would be 5/8 inch.

oocihm.lac_reel_t10552_data_sip_data_files_0967.jpg.jpg

regards,
Jack

[Johan WILLAERT]

Thx for posting that…

Although 5th Division and relatively early war it sure helps!

Cheers,

Johan

[Hanno Spoelstra]

"A Canadian Army 10-cwt trailer, January 1949, RCAF Station Rockliffe, Ontario. Library and Archives Canada photo."

241864876_2946976948887096_721343276406405813_n.jpg

[Johan WILLAERT]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

"A Canadian Army 10-cwt trailer, January 1949, RCAF Station Rockliffe, Ontario. Library and Archives Canada photo."

Attachment 124725

Thx for posting this!

[Johan WILLAERT]

Were the towing lunettes on these modified Bantam trailer also re-inforced?
Are were the factory fitted lunettes used as is?

Thx

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Looks like this is one of them, on tow behind a Carrier.

Slag om de Schelde 4 - carrier and trailer.jpg
Source: https://youtu.be/O2Cy5Y9_M8Q?t=230