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Subject: Tim: M5 bomb trailer wheels?

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Paladin (Bob In PA)    Posted 07-15-2010 at 11:59:22 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [Email]  
  • Tim: M5 bomb trailer wheels?
  • Last night I was up way too late checking out a tip that I got from another Moto-Tug nut. During WW2 the gov't purchased a bunch of M5 bomb trailers. These things were about 16 feet long and had detachable racks for carrying different types of bombs from the magazines out to the aircraft. They were what strikes me as an odd design, riding on two truck wheels in the back and a pair of small dolly wheels up front (actually, a tricycle setup). A lot of them survive today and some still turn up on military disposal lists as military bases kept them to use as garbage trailers and general purpose totes.

    Long story short, the front dolly wheels look identical to the Moto Tug front wheels. I am going to log onto a military vehicle website or two and see if somebody can give me the size of the wheels.

    The trailers were built by the Saginaw Stamping Tool Company. Since Ford "farmed out" the tugs, I wonder if they sourced wheels from Saginaw, or if Saginaw sourced Ford auto hubs (which is what they appear to be on the bomb trailers) from 'ol Henry and paid Henry back with wheels?

    I wonder if the author of "Ford at War" ran into any incidences of Ford and Saginaw buying from or selling to each other?

    There IS a reprint of the bomb trailer maintenance manual available which would give the size, also. Hate to spend the bucks, though.

    lonestarjeff    Posted 07-24-2010 at 13:38:47 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [Email]  
  • Re: Tim: M5 bomb trailer wheels?
  • Thanks for that link, Bob. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

    I'm not a big collector like you & Larry, but I do love the old military stuff.

    Jeff

    Larry (TX)    Posted 07-16-2010 at 22:05:55 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [No Email]  
  • Re: Tim: M5 bomb trailer wheels?
  • Bob,

    I think you're aware that in addition to vintage tractors, I also collect and restore vintage military vehicles (jeeps, trucks, trailers, etc.), so this article was a most interesting read as I was never aware of such a large bomb trailer, and I thank you for posting it.

    One of our MV club members has a much smaller bomb trailer that I'm thinking has the same size tires and rims (four of them) as the front crazy wheel set-up on this trailer. If you'd like, I can ask Bobby what size they are, along with the lug pattern, and get back to you. He's also mentioned just recently that he may sell the little trailer.

    Larry S.

    Paladin (Bob In PA)    Posted 07-17-2010 at 13:47:23 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [Email]  
  • Re: Tim: M5 bomb trailer wheels?
  • Thanks, Larry. Every little bit of info helps!

    I was able to track down the guy who restored one of these trailers for the Yankee Air Museum in Willow Run. I am going to send him pics of the Moto-Tug front wheels and copies of the data pages from the Ford Civilian Tug Sales Parts manual. He promised to compare them to his M-5 and let me know if we have a match.

    I have struck out completely in finding any Navy or USAAF manuals. There must be copies in the Library of Congress, but I am told that their search fees and copying fees can run into hundreds of bucks.

    Thanks again. My right front tire looks IDENTICAL to the one on the M-5 bomb trailer. My left front is a much newer replacement.

    The Lutheran summer camp where I sometimes volunteer got rid of a very early civilian Jeep - pre 1950. I had thought that a collector would want it but it would up becoming somebody's rat rod. We also had a WW2 deuce and a half but had no luck in getting a local collector interested. The original body was long gone, replaced by a big tank for wetting or oiling down roads. Maybe the local guy was scared off by what might be in the tank. Nobody really knew. Once upon a time the camp used donated crankcase drainings but the truck hadn't moved in 20 years and nobody remembered.

    Larry (TX)    Posted 07-17-2010 at 19:02:30 [URL] [DELETE]        [Reply] [No Email]  
  • Re: Tim: M5 bomb trailer wheels?
  • Bob,

    Bobby just e-mailed me and says the tires on his smaller bomb trailer are 6.5 X 10. Is that anywhere close to size you're thinking they are, or are the MOTOTUG front tires and rims larger?


    Larry

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