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Saw a question on the net on the originof the name "Ben Hur" used on the G-518 1 Ton Cargo Trailer.
"Ben Hur" has been used generically to identify all of the 25 different brand names of the G-518 series. "Ben Hur" was the name of one of the manufactuers, they were located in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Kind of a catchy name to use. "Ben Hur" was the midevil character famous for driving two chariots at once.

When I opened this I wasn't sure if it was going to be a promo for some Hollywood epic. But that probably is Ben-Hur Trailer.

In the movie, Charlton Heston was not happy with his part in the filming of the Chariot Race. The Director had to remind him that no matter what, they would make sure he won the race.

yea but information about the company, is perty sparce,
doesent even show up on the wikipedia.
BB

What were the years of manufacture to make a 1 ton trailer a "Ben Hur".

The SNL G-518 series of 1 Ton Cargo trailers from 41-45 are generically called Ben Hur by most. When it all started, I have no idea, you will not find in printed WWII technical reference, they are just called "1 Ton Cargo Trailer".

Thank you, Ranger.

Awhile back, when I first bought my Ben Hur trailer, I did a little research on Ben Hur as a company, and found, as Ranger stated, that they were in Milwaukee, WI. I also found that after WW2 they manufactured food freezers for homes, at least into the 1950's. I actually found a really nice Ben Hur logo emblem from one of the freezers on ebay and bought it (not sure why). It's pretty large, made of plastic with a bright gold chariot as part of the logo. It looks like something off of a glitzy '50's American automobile. Apparently the company went out of business years ago, or was perhaps absorbed in some corporate merger.

Len

All of the brands have a mixture of each other in them, the castings for the drawbars, and spring hangers are I believe, Willys and checker Cab origin. There were many sub contractors, Rogers, made some of the axles< Saginaw made the landing dolley. No big deal though, one is lucky to just find a nice trailer.

Good point, Ranger. My landing dolley has "Saginaw Stamping and Tool Co." stamped in a circular logo on the outer face. I'm assuming this was an independent company from GM's Saginaw Division.

Len

Same manufacturer.

link to a list of companies who produced Ben Hur's
http://www.jedsite.info/trailers/bravo/ ... eries.html

abn deuce wrote:link to a list of companies who produced Ben Hur's
http://www.jedsite.info/trailers/bravo/ ... eries.html

They are also listed on the SNL G-518 Covers. Many are long gone. There are variations between manufacturers on steel bodies and tailgate, rope tie down types, hinges, reflectors, etc, I doubt that anyone will be able to make a list of the differences.

No big deal tho, just coming up with a clean complete example is difficult enough.

Very true after so many years I m sure there are very few which have not been altered in one or many more ways .

In civilian use the first thing to go are the wood racks and usually the lunette, many were re-axled with automobile axles to lower them or get rid of the big wheels.