Ben Hur trailer was the nickname of the World War II U.S. Army Trailer, 1-ton payload, 2-wheel, cargo, and the Trailer, 1-ton payload, 2-wheel, water tank, 250 gallon ( U.S. Army Ordnance Corps Supply catalogue designations G-518 and G-527 respectively). Specialized variants were also manufactured.
The one-ton trailers were designed to be towed by vehicles rated -ton and upwards, like the Dodge WC series trucks, as well as -ton 4x4 trucks, and -ton 6x6 trucks, such as the Chevrolet G506 and the much used GMC CCKW trucks.
The G-518 trailers were among the Allies' most built and used models with a total of 259,064 units made.
Description
The Ben Hur trailer was nicknamed after its major manufacturer, the Ben–Hur Mfg. Co., although there were many other companies that produced it between 1941 and 1945. Its primary purpose was to transport general cargo; the Signal Corps modified it to carry several different generators.
Variants K-52 equipped with a PE-95 generator K-63 equipped with a PE-99 generator K-63A equipped with a PE-197 generator V-15 used for the AN/TPQ-2 radar M24 ammunition trailer (used with M15 multiple gun motor carriage, auto 37mm & two .50 BMG) M25 A-load carried a 25KW generator for the tire repair truck M25 B-load carried spares and fuel for the tire repair truck G527 water carrier, nicknamed "water buffalo", capacity
Specifications
Weight (empty): Weight (loaded): off-road; on-road Payload: off-road; on-road Cargo volume: Length: Width: Height: with canvas top Axles: 1, with 2 wheels Brakes: hand, parking only
Production G-518 trailers were manufactured by over two dozen companies:
American Bantam Ben Hur Mfg. Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin Century Boat Works Checker Motors Corporation Covered Wagon Co., Michigan Dorsey Trailer Gerstenslager Henney Motor Company Hercules Body, Highland Body & Trailer Mfg. Co, Cincinnati Hobbs Trailer & Equipment Inc, (then) Texas Hyde, Keystone RV, Levine Gear Co Mifflinburg Body Company, (were in) Pennsylvania Naburs, Nash-Kelvinator, Omaha Standard Body, Pke, Queen City, Redman's Trailers, Connecticut, Steel Products, Streich, Strick Trailers, Indiana, Transportation Equipment Corp, Missouri Truck Engineering Corporation, Indiana Willys Overland, Winter Weiss Defense Trailers, Denver, Colorado
See also List of U.S. Signal Corps Vehicles
Notes
References
General references TM 9-883 1-Ton, 2-Wheel, Cargo and Water Trailers, 1943 TM 10-1395 TM 9-2800 Standard Military Motor Vehicles. dated 1 sept. 1943 TM 9-2800 Military vehicles dated Oct. 1947 TM 11-227 Signal Communication Directory. dated 10 April 1944 TM 11-487 Electrical Communication systems Equipment. dated 2 Oct. 1944
External links GMC CCKW website, G-518 trailer page LIFE: Side view of cargo trailer for general u... - Hosted by Google LIFE: Front view of cargo trailer for general ... - Hosted by Google