Ben Hur trailer

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).^[a] Specialized variants were also manufactured.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The one-ton trailers were designed to be towed by vehicles rated 3⁄4-ton and upwards, like the Dodge WC series trucks, as well as 1+1⁄2-ton 4x4 trucks, and 2+1⁄2-ton 6x6 trucks,^[3] 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.^[4]^[5]

Description

The "Ben Hur" trailer was frequently mated to the Dodge WC series of trucks

The G-527 watertank version of the Ben hur trailer

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.^[6]

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", 250 US gal (946 L; 208 imp gal) capacity

Specifications

A captured Ben Hur trailer towed by U.S. Army M3 half-track follows a German Tiger Tank in Tunisia early 1943

Weight (empty): 1,300 lb (590 kg)
Weight (loaded): 3,300 lb (1,500 kg) off-road; 4,300 lb (2,000 kg) on-road
Payload: 2,000 lb (910 kg) off-road; 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) on-road
Cargo volume: 113 cu ft (3.2 m³)
Length: 145+1⁄2 in (3.70 m)
Width: 71+1⁄8 in (1.81 m)
Height: 73 in (1.9 m) with canvas top
Axles: 1, with 2 wheels
Brakes: hand, parking only

Production

G-518 trailers were manufactured by over two dozen companies:^[7]^[8]

American Bantam
Ben Hur Mfg. Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Century Boat Works
Checker Motors Corporation
Covered Wagon Co., Michigan ^[b]^[9]
Dorsey Trailer^[10]
Gerstenslager
Henney Motor Company
Hercules Body,^[11]
Highland Body & Trailer Mfg. Co, Cincinnati ^[12]
Hobbs Trailer & Equipment Inc, (then) Texas ^{[citation needed]}
Hyde,
Keystone RV,
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,^[13]
Transportation Equipment Corp, Missouri
Truck Engineering Corporation, Indiana
Willys Overland,
Winter Weiss Defense Trailers, Denver, Colorado

Notes

^ A group number for ordering parts, based on a standard nomenclature list.
^ From 1935-1945, the Covered Wagon Co. was the largest travel trailer manufacturer in the United States.

References

^ "G-518 "Ben Hur" Cargo trailer". ewarbirds.org. Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
^ "The 1-Ton Cargo Trailer G-518 known as the "Ben Hur" Trailer". cckw.org. The GMC CCKW Truck Site. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
^ ^a ^b Doyle, David (2003). Standard Catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles. Krause Publications. pp. 278–279. ISBN 0-87349-508-X.
^ "Ben Hur Trailers". www.cckw.org.
^ "G518 Production Data". www.cckw.org.
^ "TM9-883, 1 Ton 2 Wheel Cargo and Water Trailers". Department of the Army. 27 August 1943. Retrieved 11 January 2018 – via archive.org.
^ "G-518 "Ben Hur" Cargo trailer". Estrella Warbird Museum.
^ "Highland Body Manufacturing Company, Highland Body Mfg. Co., Anderson & Harris Carriage Co., Highland Buggy Co". Coachbuilt.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015.
^ "Covered Wagon Co". coachbuilt.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2019.
^ "Our History Since 1911". Dorsey Trailer.
^ "History". Hercules Manufacturing Company.
^ "Highland Body Manufacturing Company, Highland Body Mfg. Co., Anderson & Harris Carriage Co., Highland Buggy Co". coachbuilt.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015.
^ "Home". stricktrailers.com.

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

[1] A group number for ordering parts, based on a standard nomenclature list.

[10] From 1935-1945, the Covered Wagon Co. was the largest travel trailer manufacturer in the United States.

[EW-2] "G-518 "Ben Hur" Cargo trailer". ewarbirds.org. Estrella Warbirds Museum. Retrieved 10 January 2018.

[CCKW-3] "The 1-Ton Cargo Trailer G-518 known as the "Ben Hur" Trailer". cckw.org. The GMC CCKW Truck Site. Retrieved 10 January 2018.

[Doyle2003-4] Doyle, David (2003). Standard Catalog of U.S. Military Vehicles. Krause Publications. pp. 278–279. ISBN 0-87349-508-X.

[5] "Ben Hur Trailers". www.cckw.org.

[6] "G518 Production Data". www.cckw.org.

[TM9-883-7] "TM9-883, 1 Ton 2 Wheel Cargo and Water Trailers". Department of the Army. 27 August 1943. Retrieved 11 January 2018 – via archive.org.

[8] "G-518 "Ben Hur" Cargo trailer". Estrella Warbird Museum.

[9] "Highland Body Manufacturing Company, Highland Body Mfg. Co., Anderson & Harris Carriage Co., Highland Buggy Co". Coachbuilt.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015.

[11] "Covered Wagon Co". coachbuilt.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2019.

[12] "Our History Since 1911". Dorsey Trailer.

[13] "History". Hercules Manufacturing Company.

[14] "Highland Body Manufacturing Company, Highland Body Mfg. Co., Anderson & Harris Carriage Co., Highland Buggy Co". coachbuilt.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015.

[15] "Home". stricktrailers.com.

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