Trailer ID anyone?

Hi Marc & Jarred,

Hello Ryan_M

Chuck's the man on these military MBTs and T3s if you can give him an ACMor USA number

I spent the afternoon lying on the garage floor inhaling lead paint dust.....and then I decided to work on the trailer . Here are a few more pics and a little more info:

1) Data Plate: If yours is present, what is the info stamped on it? How many "fields" are available for stamping info?
No data plate
2) USA Number: Wet sand an upper corner area to see how many coats of paint are on the rear panel. Then SLOWLY wet sand right under the rear top hook to find the "USA", in doing that you will now know what to look for when you sand just above the lower frame rail looking for the eight numbers usually found on the rear panel...you may find White or Blue paint used here.
Rear panel not present
3) ACM Number: American Central MFG. made the tub/frame assembly. They put a number on the gusset plate under the left front spring hanger so remove it and wire-wheel the gusset looking for numbers about 7/16" in height. You may find a "B" or "W" in front, behind or below the number.
W 4011
4) Upper Shock Mount: Is it threaded or cotter-pin type? Is it RIVETED or BOLTED to the frame?
Cotter Pin, Bolted to frame
Is the LOWER shock mount threaded or cotter-pin?
Cotter Pin
5) Is the axel a straight tube, with a welded seam in the middle or does it have a center cast section?
Has center cast section which is stamped "3"
6) Springs: How many leaves in the springs? Eight or ten? Standard FLAT Willys type or a flattened "U" shape? Are the spring clips with the closure on the top or the bottom?
8 leaves. I think they are U shaped. They are flat but the bottom edges are beveled. Is that a "U"?
7) Taillights & Reflectors: What is the mfg of the taillight buckets and doors?
Can't find any marking on the buckets. The smaller light in each one is marked "ARROW, USA, MEDFORD NJ".
What about the reflector bezels?
Bezels stamped "BROWN" and "No 100 CIN". Lens are "GROTELITE"
Check to see if the reflectors have the bolt HEADS inside the tub. See if they have any lead washers on them.
Yes, lead washers are present
Taillight Mounts: Standard "L" brackets bolted to the tub or welded on?
Drivers side welded, passenger side bolted. I think it was originally welded though.
9) Numbers: Look on the top or sides of the drawbars, check the edge of the front of the tub where the handbrake is bolted and look on the left side of the frame near the front of the trailer frame. Any numbers stamped there?
Couldn't find anything but not exactly sure where to look and any markings could be covered by multiple coats of paint.
10) Bolts: Check the markings (if any) on the bolt heads on the fenders or other bolts on the trailer. (A, AA, EC, BC or others or none?)
Fender bolt heads marked "A"
11) Unit Numbers: Most outfits did NOT mark the rear frame beneath the tub with the unit info but some did. Wet sand this area carefully also, there may be several coats of paint and several units markings!
Did not sand to try and find these numbers.









Edited by Ryan_M - 03 May 2012 at 12:08am

hillbilly21 wrote: DID YOU GUYS CONSIDER EARLY M 100 ...???

Have to agree Chad, one of the better looking bubba mods if it can be classified as such.

Here's a link to the thread Art is referring to. http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=72809&start=105

ndrtkr wrote:   ...check to see if the reflectors have lead washers.  They were used to seal the drilled holes, as the MBT/T3 trailers were designed to float across streams, etc. in combat.

I just checked and yes, the reflectors have lead washers. Did the Bantams have lead washers too? How to tell for certain an MBT from a T-3?

Yes, the number 72624 means that the tailgate is likely off a very late '46 or very early '47 cj2a.

The hook may or may not be original after all, but you never know.

I agree with you on the use it "as is" philosophy, these trailers are a heck of a lot more handy with a tailgate in back, and  they are a heck of a lot more fun when you don't have to worry about scratching up a fresh restoration!

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Daniel