Trailer - Mobilizer, Craig, M832

lynx42 · #1 20-01-13, 10:58

The Corowa Swim-In in Australia is on again this March. Each year the KVE Inc. Committee who oversea the Largest Ex-Military Vehicle event in the Southern Hemisphere come up with a different theme. This year the theme is "The Year of the Towed Equipment and Armour". This should see a diverse and interesting set of trailed equipment.

One of the unusual trailer we hope to see is this Dolly Set.

Dolly Set, Lift, Transportable Shelter 5.25 ton CRAIG, Model M832.

Not much is known about this trailer and I have not been able to find any photos of them in actual use. There are quite a few which have come up for sale in the USA over the past few years, but no photos of them doing the job they were built to do.

I have ideas of using this to build an open container type platform to carry my LP2A Bren Gun Carrier, as you can place the platform on the ground and drive the carrier into it. The platform is then jacked up to the carrying position and off you go.

If you have any photos, please let me know.

Regards Rick.

rob love · #2 20-01-13, 15:18

Here are a couple shots of the dolly trailer on it's intended role. It would be used to transport the shelters normally mounted on the back of the cargo trucks and drop them into position in the field.

Kind of a neat item. Here in Canada, we just use the truck......I have never seen anything as extravagant in our service. If the first truck were to break, we would just move the shelter onto another truck.

lynx42 · #3 21-01-13, 12:14

Well, that was quick. Thanks Rob. First time I have seen a photo of the unit doing what it was designed to do.

Regards Rick.

Robin Craig · #4 21-01-13, 13:08

Rob,

I hate to contradict you as I respect your knowledge.

Something tells me that somewhere I have pictures of this kind of rig in Canadian service.

My dim memory thinks it may have been at Trenton or photos of the DART kit from Trenton set up once, likely 15 plus years ago.

I recall that upon questioning it was told to me that it was the only way to get their kit into a Hercules.

I think it was the mob who provided temporary airfield traffic control kit / services. They were also the same people with the Ford greenhouse 4 X 4 that couldn't fit into the Hercs.

R

rob love · #5 21-01-13, 13:22

Robin
You may be right. Both in Bosnia, and Afghanistan, I saw a number of specialized sea container handling equipments (most US based, but some were European) in use that would not normally be found in field units. There was also a lot of equipment types that would not make it to the first line units or bases with which I had my limited experience. I could check our system to see if these trailers are or were in service, but overall, they played such a small part in the big scheme that I believe their contributions were not widespread. What I could find on the US sites indicated that these trailers sat empty far more than they ever saw use.

All the shelters I have seen in Cdn service were truck mounted. There was no need for trailers of this type in the front line units I worked with. And most specialized shelters that I have seen these days are given the interface of the sea cans, so a PLS would handle them.

lynx42 · #6 23-01-13, 23:14

Thanks Rob and Robin for your imput. I thought that there might be a few more photos out there some where.

The Australian Army must have had a few of these as the chap I purchased it from on Ebay said that he had bought 5 or 6 from disposals at Bandianna. The mud guards are one of the Australian modifications.

I am having trouble with the rear jack which is seized up. so:-

WANTED, 1 Jack for a Dolly Set, Lift, Transportable Shelter 5.25 ton CRAIG, Model M832. Fingers crossed, someone must have one somewhere.

Any more photos out there? Use in Australia would be good. "MikeC"

Regards Rick.

Robin Craig · #7 24-01-13, 00:14

Rick,

Why don't you post a picture of the aforesaid pesky jack.

As we all know us males are more visual . . .

I would be surprised if it could not be torn apart and rebuilt.

The pair of those dollies have interested me for a while.

I have eyed them as a way to make a good ground level trailer.

My thought was a deck with lattice sides like a Queen Mary trailer with attachment points at the ends. One could then lower the deck to the ground, drive on, tie down, jack it up and drive away.

R

rob love · #8 24-01-13, 02:52

Rick
Just google M832 and go to images. There are plenty of photos there (at least there are on google.com).

We had trouble getting jack legs for some of the European sea can trailers when I was in KAF. We had them made up in the welding shop and they worked out just fine.

If you can find the NSN of the jacks either through an online manual or off one of the jacks, then most likely they are available on the surplus market somewhere.

Robin Craig · #9 24-01-13, 13:31

While wombling around the great world wide web I found this site.

http://www.cdkmobile.com/products%20full.htm

I know it is not the M832 model but a similar one, of note is the cab over vehicle that looks a lot like a Canadian HLVW.

R

Mike Cecil · #10 24-02-13, 20:00

I remember those: a chap in Quinn Street, Preston (a sort-of dealer) had a heap of them from disposals back in the 1980s? All appeared brand new. He wanted too much for me to indulge in something that 'weird'.

I was led to understand they were for either standard shelters or sea containers, but have not investigated same. I think they were registered as trailers, but again, it's a stretch: I'll have to take a look at what I have (if anything).

Mike C

lynx42 · #11 24-02-13, 22:33

Thanks Mike, any info would be good.

I also have a smaller one.

A Gichner Mobilizer Model 4003. GMS Part No. 7400040-501.

It is fitted with, I think, 7.50 x 16 tyres. It would have been used for gensets etc I guess. Photos to come. The chap I got it from bought it from Disposals, still in the box and assembled it and left it under a pine tree with the inevitable rust results to the rams. There were also two of the three volumes of the Technical Manual with it, but I am missing Volume I.

I haven't come across any photos of this model either.

So over to the MLU experts.

Regards Rick.

lynx42 · #12 21-03-13, 08:46

Corowa Swim-In saw a trailer behind approx. one in four vehicles. My M832 arrived behind the RAF lookalike 1977 Leyland Super Comet. 5 months ago it was a wreck with a completely rusted out cabin and much mechanical work to do. Photo 1 is the inspiration for the rebuild we undertook.

These photos were take between Mt.Hotham and Harrietville. The road at Mt.Hotham is 1842 metres above sea level and in the 30km. from Mt.Hotham to Harrietville there are 269 full corners, dropping down to 510metres at Harrietville. this area has just been burnt out in a massive bushfire covering 72,000HA. The road is only open for a short 2 hour period each morning as bushfire recovery work is carried out. We were lucky both going to Corowa and coming home again that the road was open. During winter the road is often closed by snow.

The M832 certainly created a great deal of interest. One person from Queensland has one as well, but has never towed it.

How did it tow? Well, apart from the extra weight, I hardly knew it was there. Not the easiest thing to reverse though. I was glad of the hitch on the front bumper for maneuvering it in close quarters.

There were 4 British Leyland vehicles at Corowa. My Super Comet and 3 ex-Australian Army Mokes, each with their correct trailers.

The final photo is at home again after a great Swim-In once again.

Regards Rick.