Quad 50 M-7 Trailer

Half-ton trailer series and larger, Wanted, For Sale(NO EBAY ITEMS), and Knowledge Base
Post Reply
70th Division
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5638
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
Location:

Quad 50 M-7 Trailer

Post by 70th Division » Tue Feb 09, 2021 8:19 pm

Hello,

Since this weekend turned out to be a trailer rescue weekend :D , with 3 rough but complete m416 trailers recovered, I had to get this M-7 Quad mount trailer.
I am assuming that this is what type trailer this is, it certainly is very heavy duty !!
quad 50   26.jpg
The data plate has rusted off the front panel.
quad 50 4.jpg
Here are some additional pictures.
I am amazed that original markings are still present on the trailer, and someone garage kept this trailer since the end of it WW2 and post war military service !!!
It was recently scheduled to be converted, and used as a restaurant grease recovery trailer, but was put up for sale instead.
Quad 50 1.jpg
quad 50 3.jpg
It still has its US Army license plate on the back :D
quad 50 2.jpg
quad 50 9.jpg
quad 50 7.jpg


It also has these indents on the bed side, both sides of the trailer.
quad 50 24.jpg

quad 50 25.jpg

If anyone knows if this is an M7 Quad 50 trailer, please let me know !!
I haven't really even seen one of these trailers in person with any detail.
Years ago, one rough one was at DRMO, and a few years ago I saw one in Arizona on a desert project that I was looking at for the BLM, at a gold mine clean up location. But I didn't get the winning bid on the project, so no trailer from there.


Best Regards,
Ray
Last edited by 70th Division on Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:13 pm, edited 4 times in total.


70th Division
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5638
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
Location:

Re: Quad 50 M-7 Trailer

Post by 70th Division » Tue Feb 09, 2021 8:38 pm

Hello,
Here are some more pictures of this trailer.
You can see 2 rail beams on the floor of the trailer.
I assume these are for the Quad 50 mounting ?
If you know please let me know !!
quad 50 6.jpg
quad 50 5.jpg
It also has an electric brake system that is pretty nice to have on any trailer !!
This is the controller lever I think.
quad 50 20.jpg
A trailer light plug assembly on the front tow hitch area .
quad 50 21.jpg
It also has a push/pull light switch like on early jeeps, but at the front end of the trailer.
quad 50 18.jpg
It has a big hand crank on the front as well, for brakes in a stationary set up ??
quad 50 17.jpg
It appears to have an AAA marking on the front wall, for an Anti-Aircraft Unit. The unit markings are still on it, but I will have to get it cleaned and oiled up to see what they are .
quad 50 16.jpg
Best Regards,
Ray
Last edited by 70th Division on Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

70th Division
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5638
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
Location:

Re: Quad 50 M-7 Trailer

Post by 70th Division » Tue Feb 09, 2021 8:51 pm

Hello,

Here are some more pictures of this nice trailer :D :D :D

The one Military tire is a " Pacific" brand tire, dated 1959.
I never heard of the brand, but they made good tires as this one is still going :D :D
quad 50 11.jpg
quad 50 15.jpg
quad 50 12.jpg
quad 50 14.jpg
The trailer also has a 4 corner leveling system.
The hand cranks topside are damaged, or broken off.
The underside of the jack has a dish shaped foot.
quad 50 8.jpg
quad 50 10.jpg
Plenty of armored cable all over the trailer.
quad 50 23.jpg
Actually all the wiring is protected like this.

I have to get cranking on the next barn project planned for May !!!

I always thought this was an interesting type trailer, and have wanted one for a long time.
Now I have one :D :D :D
I have no plans for a quad mount though !!!

My father also served in the 463rd AAA Anti-Aircraft Unit in Southern California, but fired a 40 MM Gun, on a four wheel trailer, out in the Mojave Desert training area. They were based out of Camp Haan.
He said he enjoyed his time there, and liked seeing the 40 MM rounds fired at night ricocheting of the mountains , before going into the ASTP program at BYU, before next going into the Infantry as a Machine Gunner with the 70th Infantry Division, fighting in France.
The 463rd AAA was credited for shooting down the first German plane by an AAA unit after landing in Normandy . They went ashore on Utah beach about a week after the Invasion.

The next time my buddy calls me to see if I have a trailer to move a Bull, I will tell him I have one now :D :D :D
Super heavy duty !!

Best Regards,
Ray

halifaxgroup
G-Captain
G-Captain
Posts: 739
Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2004 5:12 am
Location: Texas

Re: Quad 50 M-7 Trailer

Post by halifaxgroup » Wed Feb 10, 2021 5:00 am

You have an original M-17 Fruehauf trailer. They are G-217. When coupled with the quad mount its designation is M-51. I have one as well. They are heavier than they look!
1944 WC51
1944 WC62
1943 M-20
1943 Ben Hur
1943 Water Ben Hur
1944 M51 Quad Mount Trailer
1944 M5A1 Stuart
1943 352 CCKW
1944 Corbitt 6 Ton
1944 M16 Halftrack

70th Division
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5638
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
Location:

Re: Quad 50 M-17 Trailer

Post by 70th Division » Wed Feb 10, 2021 7:52 am

Hello Halifax Group,

Thank you so much for your information about this big trailer !!!
I greatly appreciate it, and knowing who the maker is as well.
I will correct the title of the post to M-17 :D :D
It certainly is a heavy duty trailer, sort of built like a Halftrack :D :D
It helped to have a Warn winch on the gooseneck trailer to pull her up !!

This trailer is a certain survivor over all these years, I am amazed it hadn't been used and abused and repainted !

I am looking forward to a picture of your Quad 50 M-51 trailer, to show what this trailer combo should actually look like, and what this one used to look like !!

What do you use to pull your M-51 Quad 50 trailer ?


Best Regards,
Ray

User avatar
W. Winget
LTC, U.S. Army
LTC, U.S. Army
Posts: 4446
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 10:37 am
Location: USA, Virginia, Carrollton
Contact:

Re: Quad 50 M-7 Trailer

Post by W. Winget » Wed Feb 10, 2021 8:22 am

Just asking, could it be a searchlight trailer as well? Cutouts for the rotation of the light which are bigger than the base?
V/R W. Winget
Looking for 1918 Standard B 'Liberty' truck parts

70th Division
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5638
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
Location:

Re: Quad 50 M-7 Trailer

Post by 70th Division » Wed Feb 10, 2021 8:54 am

Hello W. Winget,


I don't know if this could also be a search light trailer, as the data plate is gone, but
Halifax Group has one of these trailers, and he says it is a Fruehauf built M-17,
built for the Quad 50 gun assembly to be installed.

My friend, G member, Thierry B in France told me that the search light trailers had a ramp system for the search light to ramp into the trailer.
Thierry had a search light trailer version, that he sold to a buyer in the US a few years ago.
I wonder who has that ETO veteran trailer today ?

I am looking forward to some pictures, that I will post, of Halifax's M-51 Quad Mount trailer .
There is not too much direct information out there on these trailers, and restored ones, that I can discover. I have no idea what the indents were designed for, but did see someone else had a trailer with similar indentations, maybe larger even.
Maybe they are for the ammo drums and quad to clear when turning ?

Hopefully someone will add any additional information that they can on these trailers, and we can have a little data base built up here :D :D :D

If anybody has one of these trailers, please post pictures right here on this post !!

Best Regards,
Ray
Last edited by 70th Division on Wed Feb 10, 2021 10:04 am, edited 1 time in total.

halifaxgroup
G-Captain
G-Captain
Posts: 739
Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2004 5:12 am
Location: Texas

Re: Quad 50 M-7 Trailer

Post by halifaxgroup » Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:03 am

The trailer used for the search light is the M1. It has a landing wheel up front and a hand winch. It is also about 4 inches taller and has stake pockets to put a canvas top on to cover the entire trailer like a tarpaulin of a CCKW.

The prime mover for all Director Trailers is the CCKW. Anything less is NOT strong enough.
1944 WC51
1944 WC62
1943 M-20
1943 Ben Hur
1943 Water Ben Hur
1944 M51 Quad Mount Trailer
1944 M5A1 Stuart
1943 352 CCKW
1944 Corbitt 6 Ton
1944 M16 Halftrack

70th Division
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5638
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
Location:

Re: Quad 50 M-7 Trailer

Post by 70th Division » Wed Feb 10, 2021 10:01 am

Hello,

Wow :D :D :D !!!!!
Here is the answer to our questions !!
Here is what this type trailer once did look like !!!
G member Halifax Group was kind enough to share pictures of his perfectly restored M-17 trailer, combined with his Quad 50 set , to create the M-51 combined Quad Mount Trailer Unit.

Thanks you so much, you did an incredible job and have an incredible collection of WW2
Vehicles and American Heritage !!!
M51 2.jpg
M51 Quad 1.jpg
M51 Quad 3.jpg

Very impressive M-17 to M-51 Trailer unit, a dream of some distant day :D :D :D

Beautiful restoration, and collection , Thank You !!!

Could you tell us the purpose of the indentations over the wheel wells ??

Best Regards,
Ray

D.R.H.
G-Major General
G-Major General
Posts: 3472
Joined: Sat Jun 05, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Evergreen State

Re: Quad 50 M-7 Trailer

Post by D.R.H. » Wed Feb 10, 2021 10:31 am

Great find Ray!! Thanks for the photos. :)
In Loving Memoriam: George R. Hancock. 20 Mar. 1938 - 11 Jan. 2017. U.S.A.F. 1956 - 1962. R.I.P. Dad.
In Loving Memoriam: Ann Hancock, 08 Mar. 1934 - 25 Sept. 2021. R.N. 1960 - 2005. R.I.P. Mom.
Thank You BOTH for always being there.

My YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaMKEv ... M3g/videos.

halifaxgroup
G-Captain
G-Captain
Posts: 739
Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2004 5:12 am
Location: Texas

Re: Quad 50 M-7 Trailer

Post by halifaxgroup » Wed Feb 10, 2021 10:31 am

When the turret traverses it just barely clears the indented part of the trailer body.
1944 WC51
1944 WC62
1943 M-20
1943 Ben Hur
1943 Water Ben Hur
1944 M51 Quad Mount Trailer
1944 M5A1 Stuart
1943 352 CCKW
1944 Corbitt 6 Ton
1944 M16 Halftrack

70th Division
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 5638
Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
Location:

Re: Quad 50 M-7 Trailer

Post by 70th Division » Wed Feb 10, 2021 12:35 pm

Hello,

Thanks DRH,
and many thanks to Halifax Group for his photos !!!
Now we know what the indents were used for, for the turret to clear when turning :D :D

I am always amazed at what treasures people have in their collections, and the level of skill and investment that has gone into saving and preserving these wonderful pieces of equipment for future generations, as a tribute to the Greatest Generation and those who have followed them !!

I will post more pictures when I get the extra tires out , that came with it in the back.
Too bad they were not CCKW rims, that these trailers also share.

I will have to find a data plate,if any even exist out there , I wonder if dataplates4u makes them ?

Best Regards,
Ray

wolves8
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Jun 27, 2020 11:27 am
Location:

Re: Quad 50 M-7 Trailer

Post by wolves8 » Sun Apr 11, 2021 12:56 am

Hi
Just wondering are these trailers around in the U.K./Europe
as I am looking for one as a project to tow behind a GMC 353

Regards Mark


Post Reply

Return to “Trailers 1/2 ton +”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 48 guests