Posted by Brian in Oregon on Tuesday, February 12, 2002 at 2:29PM :
In Reply to: YIKES!!! $300 Oh man I messed up!! posted by RDavis on Monday, February 11, 2002 at 0:08AM :
No kidding. At least that's what's being asked. I suppose with a wide variety of makers, some makes are quite rare. And there are two basic styles - all metal, and wood with metal reinforcing. A book could be written on the various makes and variations of Ben Hur trailers. Some Ben Hur trailers are specialized for certain jobs. Like gasoline pumpers, fire trailers, Signal Corps trailers, etc. Demand is fairly high, because they were appropriate to tow behind nearly everything larger than a Jeep. 3/4 ton Dodge Weapons Carriers, Chevy 1-1/2 tons (the Signal Corp used them behind K-51 Chevy Panel Trucks), GMC CCKW 6x6's, halftracks and even some tanks (usually light self propelled artillary).
Ben Hur's were also used quite a bit during the Korean War behind 3/4 tons, CCKW's, M15 and M16 halftracks and the M19 twin 40mm (predecessor of the M42 Duster).
Whenever one is for sale at our swap meets, it doesn't last long. A beat up, but rust free, Ben Hur went at one meet for $750. And fast, too. It needed stripping, minor repairs and new tires, plus the hitch was replaced with a ball style.