USMC mobile repair trailer

[Nick Bombini]

I have passed by this trailer for years and finally stopped to take pictures. I talked to someone that lives next to the field this is in, and according to him, the owner of it would be more than happy to get rid of it. So now I just need to contact him.








The pics aren't the greatest. That is as close as I could get w/out trespassing as all of the gates were locked. I could have easily jumped the fence but didn't want to push my luck (I don't like to trespass, even if there isn't anyone around).

At first, I thought it was an Army trailer, but then I saw some USMC markings (you can't see them in the pics). The Reg # is USMC 105008. It has 8.25x20 tires and if I read the dataplate correctly, it was made by Boyertown. The dataplate says it is a mobile repair shop.

What are your thoughts? Vintage? It doesn't appear to have any air brakes and looks like it originally had the WWII style trailer socket. The guy I talked to thought it was of Korean war vintage and thought it was some kind of radar trailer (guess he never read the dataplate).

--Nick

[joel gopan]

The Army used these also. Once you find a serious collector with the deep pockets to spend $3.50- $5.00 a mile to have it delivered, height may be a factor also.

[Nick Bombini]

Joel,
what trucks would tow these? The dolly up front is built in so it can't be towed by a tractor-truck other than the normal pintle hitch. Like I said before, it also does not appear to have air brakes. There are no air lines and no normal air brakes on the axles. It seems a bit heavy for a CCKW, but hey, I guess you never know.

--Nick

[dr deuce]

Some trailers had vacume brakes back then that ran off of the booster system using a single line. If you look ad Vanderdeen's WW2 book you will see some of them.

[Nick Bombini]

I don't have that book, I guess I need to start looking. Steve, can you scan some pics and post them? I'm curious now.

--Nick

[Chris T.]

From my archives



Is that the same tire tread?

OK, I'm thinking it would make us great cook trailer for Camp Delta.

Later,

[joel gopan]

What happened is that the Services bought small quantities of commercial trailers and adapted them for various used. This one, as the data plate describes is a mobile Shop. Because of the small quantities they were not Standardized and given a G number. The type of dolley and the small tires, would put it in a class that would be hauled bya 2 1/2 Ton 6X6. Note the SWB M5H6 in the background. If it were equipped with Electric Brakes it would have the 2 1/2 ton 6X6 as its prime mover. This trailer would also be found in similarly equipped Army units . Problem is that these special adaptations will not show up in WWII TM9-2800 Military Vehicles.

[Nick Bombini]

Thanks for the pic Chris. Is that a PE95 on the front? The same thing had crossed my mind about the kitchen, only question is who would tow it? I'll see if I can contact the owner tomorrow (Tuesday). What do you think its worth?

I've already made contact w/ Boyertown, and they are going to try to get me some info from their archives.

--Nick

[Nick Bombini]

Well, I ended up getting a hold of the owner again and a deal was struck. I'll be bringing it home within the month.

The inside is in really good condition. Some plywood will need to be replaced on the interior as well as tires, lights, wiring, and paint on the exterior and it should be good to go. There is no cancer except for on little spot.

I'll get pics when I pic it up and clean it out.

--Nick

[Bill_Wolf]

Nice find and purchase Nick!

Can't wait to see pics of it.

Great tow dolly too!

Bill

[IHC NUT]

Nice trailer Nick I look forward to seeing it at Camp Delta.
Hi Chris nice shot of the USMC trailers. Where did you find this?
I have a picture of an M-5H-6 with a boyertown body on the back similar although shorter to that trailer body.

Nice Find

I have seen one like it on Highway 99

Dave

[Nick Bombini]

Well, I didn't exactly get it home within the month, but I have been preparing for the arrival. Who would have thought these big green things would require so much work, and I haven't even done anything to the trailer. Getting rid of trees, cleaning up the backyard, building new bigger gates, leveling the yard some, etc. was all in order to prep for this thing.

They aren't taken from the same place, but these before and after pics can give you an idea what I've been up to aside from work. Unfortunately, I don't have a great before pic but this one should do.



I have the bill of sale in hand and a key to the gate of the place the trailer is at, so all I have to do now is get some decent tires put on and get the trailer brought home.

Dave, I would love to see the pic you have of the M-5H-6 w/ the Boyertown body.

--Nick

[Nick Bombini]

Made some phone calls and was able to get the trailer moved very cheaply. We went and picked it up today.

Here are some pics. The lighting wasn't the best so most of the pics I took of the inside are too dark. I'll have to take some more.







--Nick

[Bill_Wolf]

Nice looking trailer Nick!

Are you going to restore it with a dual purpose so that you can stay in it at the shows?

Bill

[Nick Bombini]

I'm just going to make a kitchen trailer out of it. Once the kitchen is set up, there wont me be much room for sleeping unless I throw a cot out in the middle.

The more I look at it, the happier I am with the $500 I paid for it.

--Nick

[Nick Bombini]

Well, the trailer has been finished for almost a year, and I never posted any pics...


Here are a few






The only thing I would still like to do is find a PE95 or similar size generator to use the frame/shell to go on the front platform and mount a modern quiet gen. inside along with propane tanks, extension cords, and just misc. storage.

--Nick

[Gordon_M]

Very nice, I didn't realise how long this thread was spread over till I saw the current shot.

It certainly does need the generator up front, but I predict when you find one it will be complete, and the right price, so you wont have the heart to gut it and fit modern internals.

Gordon

[Nick Bombini]

Thanks Gordon. You're right, I don't have the heart to gut out a complete generator, that's why I was hoping to find one that is already gutted, possibly from someone that took the engine out for their jeep. For practicality reasons, I can't see running a 4cyl gas guzzling engine putting out 10kw just for a few light bulbs and small appliances. I guess the other option is to get my M7 restored with it's trailer and run our entire camp site but at 5 gallons an hour, that might get pricey .

--Nick

[Nick Bombini]

I have finally put the original markings on the trailer. Before I get any smart alecks, I know the color isn't right for marine vehicles .




Can anyone tell me what they mean or what unit this was part of?

Thanks,
Nick

[Gordon_M]

No idea about the markings, but you might be wrong about the colour.

If the trailer was made for a Marine Corps contract it would be Marine Corps green, but if it was just made on a Government contract and issued to the marines it would be OD until the Corps gave it the first repaint.

Gordon