Picture of the Week 2/8/2010

[Bill_Wolf]

[Ledog]

What's this?

Is it a trailer or a semi trailer + dolly?

What was it used for and wich vehicle did pull it?

[Barry Churcher]

Wow, another nice trailer. It must be in Europe.

[Karoshi]

Yes its another addition to the 514th Red Ball group.

Something of a rarity this is a 1944 Hobbs built general cargo trailer. Its a full trailer, no detachable dolly, and is officially recorded as:

5 - 6 Ton, 4 wheel Cargo Trailer (Hobbs). and is covered in TM 9-887. Interestingly the Ordnance Supply Catalog (Ord 8 NL G-537) refers to it as: TRAILER, 5- to 6-Ton Payload, 4-Wheel (4dt),Cargo, (Hobbs Model 4ws).

The stakes and side panels are missing in this shot, awaiting fitting after winter storage.

At last I will have my own "18 wheeler" when its in tow behind the 352. Anybody with information on others or any details on history I would be please to hear from you. Rumour has it that there is (was) at least one other on the military scene around California some years back, does anybody know of this?

Any information would be appreciated.

[Ledog]

Thanks for informations Karoshi.

Is it air or electric brakes? How will you brake it behind the CCKW 352?

For which vehicles was it designed originally?

[Karoshi]

TM 9-887 states " This vehicle, having a platform body with removable stake panel sides, is designed specifically to transport general cargo, and operates with any prime mover equipped with a pintle tow hook."

"It is intended primarily for travel on highways. Its cross country maneuverability depends upon the towing vehicle. The trailer lights and service brakes function electrically from any vehicle having a suitable electric outlet and controller."

Now in my case that translates to a 352 Split and a nifty over-run conversion that operates the "parking brakes" as a temporary fix until I can find a steering column "electric" kit to add to the 352.

At an empty weight of 6000 lbs those electric brakes would sure come in handy.

One interesting point is that this trailer had a dedicated battery on-board, such that in the event of break away, the safety chain would actuate the electric brakes using its own on-board power, making it fail safe. Neat eh?

If anyone knows for a steering column electric controller kit I'd be very pleased to hear.

I don't have the means to post pictures at present but if Bill would be so kind, he has some "complete" pictures that he could post.

[dr deuce]

The controllers are around.

If you are running 6v you are all set. If you are running 12v, wire the brakes on the trailer in series as opposed to the parallel way they were originally wired.

If you want/need directionals, see my conversion under the electrical section on the home page. You need 5 wires for directionals, My simple converter allows you to use the original WW2 4 pin trailer connector with brakes, directionals and running lights.

[Karoshi]

Thanks for the handy hints there Doc. My 352 runs 12v so a bit of wiring work is needed. I'll be converting the original rear end lights to super bright LED's anyway as I did with the 352. No need to panic the outside of the units still look the same, but the light output is comforting with modern highway conditions.

[dr deuce]

I have not tried my tail light converter with LEDs

[armydriver]

Nice trailer

[Bill_Wolf]

More pics....

[lacoda56]

Awesome trailer! What's the deck size? (length and width)

[Karoshi]

Bed size is 88" wide x 168" long and stands 49" high, the same as a Jimmy.