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.