COLOUR & FINISH OF PARTS-TRAILERS
If you click on the Bantam trailer data plate icon at the top right corner, you can go to a chart that tracks the features of many T3-Cs. After looking at the drawbars which have a SLANTED gusset in them rather than the WWII-style 'VEE' gusset which was used up past #10,000, I checked your data plate up close and I think I see a '2' in front of. Some Bantam's frame numbers are on the engine mounting plate. 1965-1968: The Frame numbers are usually located on the front engine mounting lug. 1968 on: Frame Number is on front engine mounting lug.
1/4TONWILLYS MBT - BANTAM T3 - M100
Thisis New, only initial details listed, other Trailers will be listed when I getinformation.
Last Update :- 7th July 2015 -This is a 'Work In Progress'
G503.com/ JeepDraw.com
:COLOUR & FINISH OF PARTS GPW - MB - GP:
: HowTo Identify Your WW2 1/4 Ton Trailer:
: OnlineRegister and database of WW2 Jeep 1/4 ton Trailers in Australia.:
Note:In the TM Trailer Photo above right, the Trailer is missing the rear crossmember.
Thismay have only happened in the first batch of trailers made by Willys. If youhave such a trailer, please contact me.
There were 12 Manufacturers of 1/4 Ton Trailers - Total Contracted 150440 Units
| MANUFACTURER | REFLECTOR LENS | ROUND METAL BEZEL MARKED | TAILIGHTS | SHOCK MOUNT | SHOCK -SPRINGS & MOUNTING | MANF. ADDRESS | MODEL | UNITS | |
1 | BANTAM | GROTELITE No 100 | CORCORAN- BROWN Late ARROW SAFETY (Not ARROW SAFETY 217) | ARROW BUCKET & DOORS | EARLY RIVETED(made by ACM) LATER BOLTED ON/THREADED SHOCK MTS | 8 LEAF Changed to 10 LEAF Approx. OCTOBER 1944 | BUTLER, PA | T3 | 77632 |
2 | WILLYS | GROTELITE No 100 | CORCORAN-BROWN PLASTIC NO 100 | CORCORAN-BROWN | RIVETED (made by ACM) COTTER PIN | 8 LEAF | TOLEDO, Ohio | MB. T | 64112 |
| 2B | SPEN | NOT KNOWN. But most likely the same as WILLYS MBT | NOT KNOWN. But most likely the same as WILLYS MBT | NOT KNOWN. But most likely the same as WILLYS MBT | NOT KNOWN. But most likely the same as WILLYS MBT | NOT KNOWN. But most likely the same as WILLYS MBT | SPEN without a tailgate is LIKELY to be a USMC contract trailer and with a tailgate and stake pockets is a postwar civilian | Modifyied Version of the WILLYS MB-T | Special Order(USMC 1944) |
3 | GEMCO | GROTELITE No 100 | CORCORAN-BROWN | CORCORAN-BROWN | RIVETED MOUNT/THREADED SHOCK MTS | - 10 LEAF | CINCINATTI, OHIO | T1 | 2938 |
4 | FRUEHAUF TRAILER CO. | BOLTED ON/THREADED SHOCK MTS | KANSAS CITY, KANSAS Serial Numbers Start with 'KC' DETROIT, MI. Need Data Plate photos to know if Serial Numbers started with 'MI' | T1 | 975 | ||||
5 | SPRINGFIELD AUTO WORKS | BOLTED ON/THREADED SHOCK MTS | FAYETTEVILLE ARKANSAS | T6 | 850 | ||||
6 | PACIFIC FABRICATING COMPANY | BOLTED ON/THREADED SHOCK MTS | HUNTINGTON PARK, CALIFORNIA Not to be confused with Pacific Car & Foundry CoRENTON, WA. who made Armor for Sherman tanks and locomotives. | T3 | 1391 | ||||
7 | UTILITY TRAILER WORKS | BOLTED ON/THREADED SHOCK MTS | City of Industry/SOUTHGATE, CA Moved to MONTGOMERY ALABAMA After WW2 | 492 A mention of 3,000 ammo trailers has been found Need More Information | |||||
8 | TRANSPORTATION EQUIP. COMPANY | BOLTED ON/THREADED SHOCK MTS | T1 | 221 | |||||
9 | CHECKER CAB CO. | *GROTELITE No 100 *Found on '45 Model | *ARROW 217 *Found on '45 Model | BOLTED ON/THREADED SHOCK MTS | KALAMAZOO, Michigan | T-1 ?? & CCM-12 | 774 | ||
10 | STRICK CORPORATION | BOLTED ON/THREADED SHOCK MTS | T3 | 518 | |||||
11 | ADAM BLACK We need a photo of a DATA PLATE Can you help ? | BOLTED ON/THREADED SHOCK MTS | T3 | 527 | |||||
12 | CONVERTO | BOLTED ON/THREADED SHOCK MTS | CAMBRIDGE CITY, IN. | T-6 Trailers & T-7 Navy Tailgate Trailers | ? |
PART | BANTAM(Army) Bantam began in Aug 1942 and ceased approximately Jul 1945. | WILLYS MBT(Army) Willys began MBTs in Jul/Aug 1942 and ceased in Feb 1944 | M100 | |
ABSORBER - SHOCK | Olive Drab Attached with Nuts | Olive Drab - Stone Shields fitted on Monroe brand Attached with Split Pins 3/16' x 1' | ||
BEAM - AXLE ASSEMBLY | Painted Olive Drab. EARLY - Welded middle seam on a solid Tube LATE - Solid Tube | Painted Olive Drab. EARLY - Cast Center Section MID - Welded middle seam on a solid Tube LATE - A solid Tube | ||
BELLCRANK - Hand Brake | Painted Olive Drab | Painted Olive Drab | ||
| BRACKET - Draw Bar | Painted Olive Drab | Painted Olive Drab | ||
| BRACKET - Support Leg | Painted Olive Drab | Painted Olive Drab | ||
| BRAKE PARTS | BRAKE ADJUSTING SCREWS - Plated DRUM - Outside painted Olive Drab. Inside natural casting BACKING PLATE - Red Primer inside, O.D. outside SPRING - Black or Dark Red | BRAKE ADJUSTING SCREWS - Plated DRUM - Outside painted Olive Drab. Inside natural casting BACKING PLATE - Red Primer inside, O.D. outside SPRING - Black or Dark Red SHOES - Unpainted mostly, sometimes steel was painted with black primer | ||
| BUMPER - Axel Rubber | Rubber left Natural, plate is Black Primer enamel Plate face attached to the side rail is black primer enamel Height is shorter than the jeep. Jeep rubber plates have elongated slots, trailer plates have 19/32' round holes | Rubber left Natural, plate is Black Primer enamel Plate face attached to the side rail is black primer enamel Height is shorter than the jeep. Jeep rubber plates have elongated slots, trailer plates have 19/32' round holes | ||
| CABLE- Electrical TOTAL LENGTH of CABLE 81½'- 2070mm TIP of the plug to | 3 Core (Red-Brown-White) Blackish Green outer Unpainted Attached to the Casting socket head with a Bolt (not cross head screw) 1/4'-20-3/8' & Lock washer 1/4' Attached to the passenger side A-frame rail with three clips. | 3 Core (Red-Brown-White) Blackish Green outer Unpainted Attached to the Casting socket head with a Bolt (not cross head screw) 1/4'-20-3/8' & Lock washer 1/4' Attached to the passenger side A-frame rail with three clips | ||
CABLE- Hand Brake Assembly | Cable- Unpainted - Natural Outer Shield - Painted O.D. | Unpainted - Natural Outer Shield - Painted O.D. | ||
CAP-Hub | Painted Olive Drab Bolt Heads Painted Olive Drab - Marked | Painted Olive Drab Bolt Heads Painted Olive Drab - Marked A | ||
CHAINS-Safety | Painted Olive Drab 11 Links top and lower Links are longer. End Casting is O.D. Marked TP-2, Hook O.D. Marked TH | Painted Olive Drab 9 Links top and lower Links are larger. End Casting is O.D. Marked. Hook O.D. Not Marked on Early MBT's | The early M100 chains are the same as the WWII chains. If there is an inch difference it may be between manufacturers. The late M100 chains are the same for the early M416. They are much longer and have longer wedges and larger hooks with the tie hole. | |
DATA PLATE | Black - *See base of Page Attached with semi-hollow rivets, heads to the inside of the tub. | Black - *See base of Page Attached with semi-hollow rivets, heads to the inside of the tub. | ||
DRAIN PLUG | Natural Rubber Seal Ring assembly O.D. Plated Screws painted | Natural Rubber Seal Ring assembly O.D. Plated Screws painted | ||
DRAWBAR -Cross Member | 'U' Brackets attached with plain, unmarked head bolts with a pal nut | |||
EQUALIZER-Hand Brake Lever Cable | Painted Olive Drab Two Nuts and Pal Nut | Painted Olive Drab Two Nuts and Pal Nut | ||
HAND BRAKE | Painted Olive Drab Pal Nuts fitted to all attaching bolts | Painted Olive Drab Bolts marked AA all attaching bolts fitted with Pal Nuts | ||
LUNETTE | Painted Olive Drab Castellated nut, spring, (two) flat-washers, (one) tongued-washer, cotter pin. All O.D. | Painted Olive Drab Castellated nut, spring, (two) flat-washers, (one) tongued-washer, cotter pin. All O.D. | ||
LEG - LANDING | Painted Olive Drab Attached to the 3 Hole Leg casting with two bolts, castellated nuts and split pin. Nuts face forward when leg is lowered. | Painted Olive Drab Attached to the 3 Hole Leg casting with two bolts, castellated nuts and split pin. Nuts face forward when leg is lowered. | ||
LIGHT SWITCH Wiring Diagram | Painted Olive Drab Back Plate - Plated Nuts & Screws - Plated Attaching Nut - Plated | Douglas Cole Hersee Inside | Painted Olive Drab Back Plate - Plated Nuts & Screws - Plated Attaching Nut - Plated | Douglas Cole Hersee |
REFLECTORS | Bezel Marked CORCORAN- BROWN Painted Olive Drab Lens - Marked GROTELITE No 100 Back Cover is usually unpainted Round Head Screw 1/4' X 1/2' Nuts & Lock washer to the outside. No Lead Washer. Traces of calking compound has been found on unrestored Bantam trailers ARROW SAFETY - DEVICE CO. MT. HOLLY, N.J. may be post-war, if they are ARROW 217 then there's a slight chance that they MAY have been used in 1945 | Bezel Marked CORCORAN-BROWN PLASTIC NO 100 Painted Olive Drab Lens - Marked GROTELITE No 100 PLUS lead Washer on the inside against the round head screw. Nut & Lock washer to the outside Lead Washer Dimensions O/D- 1/2'-12.7mm | ||
| SHOCK ABSORBER BRACKET | Early Bantam Late Bantam | |||
SPRINGS | Painted Olive Drab The change from 8-leaf to 10-leaf occurred in late 1944 (Oct.) for Bantams | Painted Olive Drab 8 Leaf Willys had ceased production of the MBT by Feb. 1944 so they were all 8-leaf from the factory. Early spring retaining straps were narrower than later straps at 1' wide Later used the 1 1/4' | ||
TAIL LIGHTS | ARROW Bucket & Doors. Painted Olive Drab | Corcoran Brown Buckets with C-B marked Doors. Painted Olive Drab Studs - Plated. Marked with a (+) Early Willys MBT has Welded on tail light brackets. | ||
TYRES (Tires) | Fitted with 6.00 - 16 6Ply NDT (Non-Directional Tread) | Fitted with 6.00 - 16 6Ply NDT (Non-Directional Tread) | ||
TUB TO FRAME WELDING | ||||
MODIFICATION TANDEM TOW | Used on Both BANTAM and WILLYS | Used on almost all Allied Forces Trailers. Predominately Canadian, Australian, British | ||
| WIRING | Cloth Covered - Harnesses Available through Ron Fitzpatrick Jeep Parts or | Cloth Covered - Harnesses Available through Ron Fitzpatrick Jeep Parts or |
TRAILERS-BANTAM-T3
With acknowledgments to Ron Fitzpatrick g503.com for all the web space.
Alasdair Brass, Sean Elliott, David Aro, Chuck Lutz, Chris Ward, Frank Berg, Joshua Roach, Bill Hollinger
*The data plates are made of zinc and are exactly the same as original,
How To Identify A Bantam T3-C Trailer - G503 Military Vehicle ...
Contact Robert de Ruyter
EARLY-LATE BANTAM EARLY-LATE WILLYS MBT
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The French army obtained most of its 1/4 ton jeep trailers, both Willys MB-T and Bantam T-3, as war surplus from the Americans. The fact that there is a relatively plentiful supply of WW2 trailers today for jeep owners that want them is due in no small measure to the French Army and the fact that they repaired and rebuilt them as they wore out and also modified and improved the overall design. Trailers, like jeeps, were maintained and modified in various workshops including a rebuilding programme by the Etablissement de Réserve Générale du Matériel Automobile (E.R.G.M) at La Maltournee.
The above photos are pre-digital and getting rather tired now but they are the only record of how it looked after the restoration where I decided to mark it as it had been during service in the 1950s / 60s with the flaming grenade. It is worth mentioning that in the French army trailers havetheir own unique registration number, a cunning idea as they were towed behind various vehicles. The trailer had been converted to 24 volts complete with additional NATO hook-up cable but still had one of the two rear light units as a blackout marker / stop light in WW2 style which had to be replaced for road legality and safety.
Bantam Trailer Serial Numbers
The lighting system on French army trailers remained pretty much unchanged from the WW2 configuration until the mid 1980s when a specification was published to modify the rear lighting systems of both jeeps and trailers to conform with civilian requirements in France. Both jeeps and trailers regularly used on the road system were fitted with pretty much the same lighting clusters fitted to the Peugeot P4 jeep and trailers also had the standard trailer reflective triangles fitted to replace the WW2 reflector discs.
As part of this upgrade the original WW2style lead with four-pole plug was finally removed leaving onlythe NATO style cable and multi-pin connector. When not in use theNATO plug was stored in a cylindrical bracket on the oppositeside to the original L shaped WW2 bracket. It is worth mentioning that only trailers and jeeps that were in regular active use on the road were modified in this way; reserve stock was not upgraded.
The photos below (from JLM) show an unusual in-house modification made at the ETAMAT workshops at Metz for 1er RHP. The mounting rack fitted inside the trailer is to carry a generator for large High Frequency transmitters used by the transmissions section of 1 RHP. The hole in the side of the trailer is for the exhaust outlet. Instructions for carrying out the modification were given in the Fiche Technique bulletin FT12179 published in 1996.
A final 'upgrade' modification to what was by now a sixty year old trailer design took the form of lifting handles fitted to the front A frame. No doubt these resulted from health and safety 'manual handling' considerations and the specifications were given in the 'Fiche Technique' publication FT12485 dated August 2000.
I don't know exactly how many trailers the army had but it was certainly a lot and they were still being sold by Domaines at auction last year (2009). There can't be many left now but the fact that they remained in service until the end of the 20th century says something about the usefulness and practicality of a design dating back to 1942! They could be used, or adapted to be used, to carry all sorts of things from chocks to shells as the photos below taken by Jean-Louis Martin at 35e RA, Tarbes in 2007 show.
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The same towing hitch was also used on a trailer converted as a 'chaudière de production d'eau chaude' (boiler to provide hot water). Photo sent by JLM.
A brief history of WW2jeep trailers
In late 1941 Willys werecommissioned to produce a dozen 'jeep' trailers for evaluation,nine conventional and three flat-bed design. They were deliveredand tested in early 1942 and from these trials the standardwelded steel amphibious trailer evolved. Orders for thestandardised trailer were quickly placed with two companies,Willys - who's product was designated MB-T, and the AmericanBantam Car Company who had failed to secure a contract forproducing the standard jeep. The Bantam made trailer wasdesignated T3 and the contract basically kept the company inbusiness. Jeep design was changed at this point to include thefamiliar electrical socket for the trailer.
The two makes of trailer were identical apartfrom the identification plates and a few basic details. EarlyBantam trailers had three chassis cross-members whereas theWillys had four and the Bantam's Gabriel shock absorbers weresecured by nuts unlike the Willys which used Munroe units securedwith split pins as found on the jeep. Bearing in mind that during1944-45 nearly 20,000 trailers were re-manufactured by twomilitary facilities at Lima & Richmond and a further eightcivilian companies, alterations occurred that mean that thesedifferences cannot be taken as definitive in the case of allgenuine WW2 trailers.
By the end of the warBantam and Willys had produced over 133,000 T3 / MB-T trailerswhich, together with orders placed with 10 other companies in1944 and delivered in 1945 produced a grand total of 143,357 WW2style jeep trailers. The basic design was so good that after thewar it evolved into the M-100 post-war US trailer for the M38-A1and was also copied by other manufacturers for armies around theworld.
Later trailers oftenmistaken for WW2 units include:
The 1950's M100 trailer for the M38-A1 jeep which was built by a number of different companies and looks almost identical to a WW2 trailer but has a different hand brake lever and the body tub is fitted with a grab handle at each corner.
The 1960's M416 trailer was built to go with the M151 Mutt jeep and has the same WW2 body tub design but with grab handles and easily distinguishable flat angular mud guards.
Trailers built in the 1950's & 60's for the French, Dutch and Swiss armies by various manufacturers in each country including some by Willys. These were very much WW2 copies but with variations to lights, brakes etc.
Bantam also produced a civilian trailer based onthe WW2 design. The example opposite is of the model T3-C and hasthe serial no. 13853. It was restored by Mark Harpootlian,Southfield, Michigan USA and he would love to hear from you ifyou can offer any further information about Bantam trailersincluding when this one would have been built. His e-mail addressis harpo@majormicro.com
You can find out moreabout trailers by
visiting the jeep trailer spotters guide
If you own a Bantamtrailer complete with original
dataplate then Chuck Lutzwould love to hear
from you. He's compiling an important database.