Unknown military trailer with only one wheel.

Does anyone out there have any idea what trailer this is? My main problem is that I have only one wheel but I have bodged one up so I can move it around. It is a 16" 5 stud wheel, made by Dunlop, made in England. There are a few other markings on the rim, DRC 3.00, which I presume is Dunlop Rubber Co 3" rim, LR or possibly LP followed by 567 & also G13. The PCD is approx. 187mm & the hole in the centre is approx. 150mm. The brakes are Girling with 9" drums. It was originally finished in RAF blue & may have come from RAF Halton which is nearby as I frustratingly saw an identical one pass me by one day whilst driving locally. I'm new on this and not particularly good on computers so I hope this works. Thanks for looking.

The trailer was used to carry the PALOUSTE gas turbine air starter for V Bombers, buccaneers and a handful of other RAF aircraft. As far as we were concerned it is not a roadgoing trailer but for slow towing on camp roads , flightlines taxiways etc; I will try and find a picture of one in its original form.

If I'd seen that in long grass somewhere I wouldn't of given it a second glance. Not wanting to be disrespectful but the style of it looks like an old Chevvy truck with the cab cut off.:shocked:

The trailer was used to carry the PALOUSTE gas turbine air starter for V Bombers, buccaneers and a handful of other RAF aircraft. As far as we were concerned it is not a roadgoing trailer but for slow towing on camp roads , flightlines taxiways etc; I will try and find a picture of one in its original form.

I have been removing some of the paint today & have found some signwriting over the original blue. There is some gross weight and I think unladen weight lettering in about 1" tall plain font & 'prime mover lead inside'. Also a further sign in red lettering on a white background 'Danger keep clear - hot?- exhaust'.

The rim looks like that from an Austin Gipsy. Five stud 16 inch and the pointed domes to hold on the hub caps identify the type.

An early Landrover rim is the same stud pattern and will fit the hub.

Doug

I have been removing some of the paint today & have found some signwriting over the original blue. There is some gross weight and I think unladen weight lettering in about 1" tall plain font & 'prime mover lead inside'. Also a further sign in red lettering on a white background 'Danger keep clear - hot?- exhaust'.

Oh yes the exhaust got HOT !! still looking for a picture for you

I've found a site that discusses the engine.

http://www.gasturbine.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/palouste.htm

There a few pictures of the underwing pod but nothing so far regarding the trailer

The rim looks like that from an Austin Gipsy. Five stud 16 inch and the pointed domes to hold on the hub caps identify the type.

An early Landrover rim is the same stud pattern and will fit the hub.

Doug

Looks maybe a bit narrow & too much inset for a Gipsy rim? There were a lot of caravan / trailer rims about in the UK that were like that, as well.

The rim looks like that from an Austin Gipsy. Five stud 16 inch and the pointed domes to hold on the hub caps identify the type.

An early Landrover rim is the same stud pattern and will fit the hub.

Doug

When I bought this 7 or 8 years ago I investigated the Gypsy, Champ, Land Rover & also looked at a Willys but they all turned out to be a different stud pattern so I put it to one side until now. This wheel is very narrow at 3" and the stud pattern is very wide with a pcd of about 190mm or 7.48" but many thanks for your help.

Early Rice?

...This wheel is very narrow at 3" and the stud pattern is very wide with a pcd of about 190mm or 7.48"...

That's quite common for these '50s and '60s wheels used on caravans and trailers. Unfortunately doesn't make them any easier to find.

there's a picture of one of these trailers in use on the flightline at RAF Valley with a line-up of Gnats in the book "Wheels of the RAF" published by Patrick Stevens Limited. It is referred to as a "Bristol Siddeley" trailer

there's a picture of one of these trailers in use on the flightline at RAF Valley with a line-up of Gnats in the book "Wheels of the RAF" published by Patrick Stevens Limited. It is referred to as a "Bristol Siddeley" trailer

Thanks for that- I will investigate.

there's a picture of one of these trailers in use on the flightline at RAF Valley ... referred to as a "Bristol Siddeley" trailer

Didn't Bristol-Siddeley make the Palouste under licence?

Blackburn originally.

Presumably Bristol Siddley inherited the license when they acquired Blackburn in 1961ish.

This is what I was thinking of. Knew I'd seen something Bristol-Siddeley related somewhere:

http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1965/1965%20-%200841.PDF

If I'd seen that in long grass somewhere I wouldn't of given it a second glance. Not wanting to be disrespectful but the style of it looks like an old Chevvy truck with the cab cut off.:shocked:

.....and WHAT ....Mr Hair Bear ....may I perchance inquire..... would be wrong with an old Chevy truck?....

even if the cab had been cut off ???? :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

OOeerr!!! Why can't I ever find long grass when I need to hide???:red:

there's a picture of one of these trailers in use on the flightline at RAF Valley with a line-up of Gnats in the book "Wheels of the RAF" published by Patrick Stevens Limited. It is referred to as a "Bristol Siddeley" trailer

Thanks, I've managed to get a copy of this book from the local library & there on p.172 is a picture of the very same trailer as mine. The caption to the picture says 'Bristol Siddeley turbo starter unit as used in 1964 for starting the Bristol Siddeley Orpheus engines of the Gnats at No 4 Flying Training School, Valley (Bristol Siddeley).

I have a niggling memory, which suggests I did a gas turbine test using a Palouste engine while I was at Loughborough university. I remember noise and impressive fuel consumption.

trevor