Ww2 jeep trailer

[Mike Cecil]

Tony,

I've checked and its 'Trailer, 2 wheel, 8 cwt, (Aust) No.4'. I'm also pretty sure the hand book included 'GS' in the nomenclature as well.

A couple of points: your image shows a flat plate and bracket inside the right hand front drawbar: this is for holding the 'spacer' insert for the towing eye when not in use. The towing eye on the No.4 was large enough to fit the pintle hook on CMPs and USMP vehicles, so to reduce the ring size for the jeep pintle hook, an insert spacer, consisting of an upper and lower half, bolted together, was inserted in to the towing ring. When not in use, the same connecting bolt was screwed into the hole in the flat plate shwon in your image, with the 'u' of the spacer against the short bracket visible on the flat plate, above the bolt hole.

The towing ring had a spring and collar arrangement, and was mounted within the draw bar (ie between the arms of the drawbar), rather than above it as on the No.3 and 3A trailer.

The original wheels for the No.4 trailer were Australian manufactured wheels, not two-piece 'jeep' wheels. Stud pattern was the same. Axle was tubular.

Mike C

[Little Jo]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Tony,

I've checked and its 'Trailer, 2 wheel, 8 cwt, (Aust) No.4'. I'm also pretty sure the hand book included 'GS' in the nomenclature as well.

A couple of points: your image shows a flat plate and bracket inside the right hand front drawbar: this is for holding the 'spacer' insert for the towing eye when not in use. The towing eye on the No.4 was large enough to fit the pintle hook on CMPs and USMP vehicles, so to reduce the ring size for the jeep pintle hook, an insert spacer, consisting of an upper and lower half, bolted together, was inserted in to the towing ring. When not in use, the same connecting bolt was screwed into the hole in the flat plate shwon in your image, with the 'u' of the spacer against the short bracket visible on the flat plate, above the bolt hole.

The towing ring had a spring and collar arrangement, and was mounted within the draw bar (ie between the arms of the drawbar), rather than above it as on the No.3 and 3A trailer.

The original wheels for the No.4 trailer were Australian manufactured wheels, not two-piece 'jeep' wheels. Stud pattern was the same. Axle was tubular.

Mike C

Mike

Thank you for the updated information. Yes I am very happy with the trailer, it is in fantastic condition. I propose bringing it back to the original standard when it left the factory. It still has the cast nomenclature plate on the rear (see attached photo). The plate shows it as a Ford built No 4 trailer, however I can not find a number on the plate. I am now confused with the number 86586 on the draw bar. I also noted different colours of paint as I started to rub it back. I appreciate you finding time to bring me up to date.

Cheers

Tony

[Mike K]

Tony ,

It's a rare happening , but Jeep trailers have been known to flip over . A club member here was on his way to Corowa years ago, as he approached the crest of Mt Slide, up on the Melba Hwy, the trailer suddenly flipped over.. all of his camping gear was spread out on the road verge .

I witnessed it also. I was following a Jeep up to Barooga years ago and the trailer , without any warning, jumped up and almpost went over . The road was perfect , about 40mph speed. We stopped and checked it but nothing was found . It didn't do it again .

The pintle, I believe, can rotate 360 degrees ....

Mike