McGrath trailer refurb

Way back in the archives of this forum in truck talk" Where do I get it', 30 /Jan/ 2010, some posts and picture's on Mcgrath Trailers.
May be some one knows how to add to this one.
LN700 :blink: :woohoo:

here u go
thiz should keep u bizzy till the cows cum home

www.hcvc.com.au/forum/search?query=McGra...ldforums=1&start=570

cya

§

thanks guys heres a few photos, i love the rear light bar, and the mud guards with hinges












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Sarge....
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no legs on trailer so pulled out the old 44 gallon drums?

Thanks for pix 67mustang, good looking unit. Worked for a livestock carrier in 65-66 in the
south west of Victoria. He had one Freighter and one McGrath 34 foot strap trailer with bush
and pin turntables, no wind down legs and vaccuum brakes. Inter AA 180 prime movers.
They were ordered as stock trailers and had 5 x 2 1/2" RSJ coaming rails. Floors were 6" x
1-1/4" hardwood with 1" gap for the droppings to fall through. Top deck of sheep plus crate is
carried on the coaming - hook bolts through the bottom flange to keep it in place. So coaming
and cross beams were heavier. Freighter bought about 1958 and McGrath 1963.
Ran heavy fully loaded on the trailer axle, around 9 ton, so had to watch out. Hard on the
9-00 rag tyres used then especially in hot weather.
Very popular trailers for the smalller trucks of the day like Inters, Dodges, Fords etc.
Strap trailers were still made in mid 60's, recall seeing 36' and longer.
Vaughan had lighter built Freighter trailers to cart mainly cubic freight. Subbies used to
take the lightest one to rego their prime mover and save a bit. Good luck, Paul.

Might add that good quality crates of the day were built in Warrnambool by Spiken Engineering.
They had a good name at the time. Main problems were tube and weld cracking. A lot of time
spent on rough gravel roads and some of the black top rough too. Empty running was hard on
the crates, lot of rattling and shaking in the rush to get back for the next load.
Post on here couple of years? back showed some of Hovey's trucks from Moriac south of
Geelong - they operated similar gear, Inter AB 180 and an Atkinson.
Your crate looks good for its age. Hope the project goes well. Paul.

Paul

See a couple photo when we bought it from Dad farm -

note the sheep loading ramps that sit under the trailer on the RHS chained up i have in my shed, they are timber with steel rails that fold up and down when used for unloading in the paddock.

I have quite a few old photos but heres a couple

Paul a few more










Thought you might like the one of Thompsons from Dubbo

cheers 67

Thanks 67, we spelled drought cattle at the Dubbo yards in 1965 and 1966, that race looks familiar.
Took hay up in the crates in 1965 and brought young cattle back to agistment in SW Victoria. When
the NSW drought broke in 1966 they went back, Spelled at Denny and Dubbo yards on the way.
That Dodge of Thompson's would be well loaded for a single drive prime mover.
My ramps were hooked on the outside of the crate, base one side and 2 sides on the other.
Boss had a heavier ramp under the trailer like yours, could run vealers up it but a 2 man lift.
Hope this is of interest as to how the job was done then. Thanks again, Paul.

Thanks Paul

Dad had stock crates at Longwarry in Gippsland, bought for JH Ralphs, Bothwicks ex Newmarket ect hence the project to restore same as his were. He ran Inters, Ford Thames and Bedfords

Cheers 67