IF8 - Used after vehicles, the final prove!

[www]

Almost everybody who owns a KS750 also has a IF8 in the garage. But Wartime photoes gives no impression that a bike towing a IF8 was a normal view. Related to this fact many people say that this actually never happend (vehicles pulling a IF8), but last weekends big "Gold find" made by one of my friends prove something different.

I guess this original IF8 vehicles fastning system prove that the IF8 also was used after vehicles and not only by horses and humans. Enjoy:

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But what are this two for?

[wille]

The fastening is for a Protze hook, and not only for vehicles?

If 8 have not a system for rear lamp and therefor not designed for use behind vehicles?

Wilhelm

[fred]

Hello WWW,
Thank you for the photos.

To me this trailer and its tow bar are not proof of WWII use behind a motorcycle, this design of tow bar could have been added at ant time, for example 5 years after the end of WWII, and there would still be 63 years for it to get very rusty and very old looking.

Whilst there is every possibility of the Jf8 being towed by motorised vehicles, it is not designed for that, there are no electrics and no mudguards, which were a standard motorised requirement at the time.

The sKrad towbars were for the towing of small paks, flaks and artillery, but the sKrads were very much overloaded for this job, but by 1941 the Kettenkrad came into production and did this kind of work much better and easier.

I recently modified four Kettenkrad trailers, all had had their original WWII towing designs removed, and some other post war tow loops added, they were all different and came from different parts of Europe originally. now all four are as the original WWII design.

So post war changes do occur, and these were all very rusty and old also.

The extra tubular loop and clamp, assuming they are WWII even, look like they should be pointing vertically, and then could be used to hold "something" across the top of the trailer.

cheers PAUL

[www]

Hi folks. Interesting discussion this

First, Fred; mudgards was absolutely not standard eqipment.

Second; If you take a closer look at the right end of the tow bar, you will see that it is original. The original tow bars had a reinforcement inpress in the hole where the hook is. See? Reproductions of this tow bars did not have this reinforcement until only the last two-three years. (in 2007 I bought one for my ks750, and it has not the reinforcement).

The tow bar is original.

Opelbliz; your photo is showing a version of the original motorcycle trailer, also called fallschirmjägeranhänger. This trailer was made for BMW R75, Zündapp KS750 and Zündapp KS600. In the Wehrmacht description of this trailer (wich I have a bad - but still - a copy of) infact shows a KS600 with hook for this trailer.

In my private photo collection I have photos of two KS600 with hook.

Just to make my opinion about this issue clear: I have - as the rest of you - noticed that "everybody" has a hook on their KS750/R75 with an IF8 after.
Like rest of you say, this "today use"does not paint a correct pichture of how the situation was during the war time. Hook on a bike was very rare, but it happend.

It happend and that is my point. My point is also to show that the IF8 was delivered with a tow bar that maked it possible to use after a vehicle. Please note what I write; "maked it possible". I am aware that soldiers and horses most of time was the users of this trailers. But I want to show you an original tow bar for hook, because so many self educated professors say this trailer never had this tow bar. Tha same people that say ONLY KS750 and R75 had a hook. Well never say never!

WW2 trailers has for many years been one of my interesting areas, and I have monthly contact with maybe the best person in germany regarding ww2 trailers. He - like the rest of you - has never seen an IF8 with a original tow bar. But now he have! He also say this tow bar on the photo is original.

I am not saying it was driven by a KS750 or other vehicle, I am saying this tow bar maked it possible

Last point; we should not use photos from ebay to prove that something never happend. If we see photos on ebay that shows things happend, than we can accept the fact, but we can not say that if we can not find a photo on ebay or in 100 books, than it never happend! How many of you have seen photos of the IF8 with 5 MG34, or granate thrower, or IF8 with MG34 mounting for a air sight? All this was original and is described in the wehrmacht user manual of IF8 from the war. But photos of this I never see.

I am looking for a IF8 tool box, if some of you has one? Every fourth IF8 that was made, had this toolbox fastend in it. But I have never seen one. Me and my local friends has 12 original IF8 trailers, but no one still has this box.

[wille]

Hallo,

Do you have a photo of the IF8 tool box?

I do not understand why you call the tow bar an "original IF8 vehicles fastening system"? Why not for a horse drawn carriage?

Wilhelm

[tatanka]

Ciao
I am Stefano from Italy and I have bought two if8 trailers for my R 75 but I do not know what tyre could fit the wheel that you have in the pictures that you posted
I would need to find them and I would be greatful if you could help me
Thank you
Ciao
Strfano