K.A.T. Convertible Trailers

[41chevy]

The trailers were owned, and designed, by Kenosha Auto Transport, founded in the 1930s by an entrepreneur named Nick Demos. In a hugely competitive world, Demos knew how to stay alive and solvent. In the years before auto carriers became highly specialized haulers you had to hunt for business. Deadhead runs were money losers. So Demos decided to build his own haulers to maximize the opportunities for available load-outs. He called them convertibles, a name that had little to do with the soft-top automobiles that K.A.T. was contracted to deliver to dealers. "Demos designed these trailers himself, so the trucks could haul new cars going one way and other things coming back." The trailer as, essentially, two separate components: The chassis and cargo well that carries containers inside its well; and the racks on which some cars can ride. What Demos did at K.A.T. was make the racks demountable, and capable of being stored flat inside the lower part of the trailer body.

say this Nash delivery was headed to New England. Instead of heading back to Wisconsin empty, the K.A.T. rig would swing over to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where International Harvester assembled its Metro line of step vans on a dedicated line. The auto racks were removed and a pair of new delivery vans went into the trailer well. There was more, too, because the K.A.T. convertible could also be configured as a straight flatbed. Thus set up, these rigs enabled the company to do regular hauling new Elgin street sweepers east from the California plant where they were produced after the outbound load of cars were dropped off. Other K.A.T. haulers picked up loads of pleasure boats from their manufacturers and dropped them off on return journeys. All in all a pretty good idea.

[carlotpilot]

very interesting would really have liked to watch how one of these was loaded

[57 bcr]

Paul,

A buddy of mine (who is in a nursing home now),used to lease to K.A.T. back in the late '50's-early '60's. He told me stories of hauling Nash cars to the west and backhauling jet engines for points east. He started out with a snub nosed Dodge with a big V-8 gasser in it. In '60 he ordered a new B-61T with a longer wheelbase than usual,and had an aftermarket sleeper box installed.He said going from that Dodge (no sleeper,2-3mpg at best,powerless and gear bound in the hills)to that 187hp,Triplex trans,sleeper tractor,easily doubling his fuel milage. He thought he had died and gone to heaven! Sadly,he had no pictures as he was divorced several years ago and the wife kept all the pics. I can imagine he pulled one of these very wagons you are showing us here. Al

[Green Dash]

interesting setup and yet you don't see anything like it these days. Maybe it's easier logistically to deadhead the empty equipment to the next load for the outbound customer.

I know when Schneider was big into glass hauling some of their trailers were flatbeds with racks that could be disassembled as needed and stored in a similar fashion as needed.

[41chevy]

interesting setup and yet you don't see anything like it these days. Maybe it's easier logistically to deadhead the empty equipment to the next load for the outbound customer.

I know when Schneider was big into glass hauling some of their trailers were flatbeds with racks that could be disassembled as needed and stored in a similar fashion as needed.

Actually the Unions killed them off. A driver could not do the "mechanical" conversion to either configuration. Kind of like having needing a member of Electrical Workers Union member to move a box of Romex laying on your length of pipe in N.Y.C.

[Green Dash]

Actually the Unions killed them off. A driver could not do the "mechanical" conversion to either configuration. Kind of like having needing a member of Electrical Workers Union member to move a box of Romex laying on your length of pipe in N.Y.C.

I lived that life for about 7 years in the late 80's-early 90's. Some situations made sense while others were well beyond absurd.

[NY-B61]

Thanks, Paul! Another interesting piece of trucking history from your well-maintained archives.

[Joe Ditchkus]

In the 1970'S we had 5 trucks hauling cars mostly off the East Coast docks. When in Toledo Ohio we loaded Jeeps for KAT or Dallas +Mavis both were owned by Jupiter Corporation or in Kalamazoo,Michigan Checker Cabs.We would trip lease loads from them back East. When loading alongside the KAT or Dallas and Mavis Trucks loading Westbound for California with the Erector Set Trailers the Drivers said they would load 2 street sweepers back East I think they were Elgin built in California. They were good days back then as cars were set up on a rate that paid to return empty. When loaded both ways was the Bonanza. Joe D.

[RSD501]

Thats pretty neat. I googled the kenosah adress on the flyer, it is only a few miles from me. Looks like there are houses there now. Would have been a good spot to go poke around while it is slow. Is KAT gone now?

[41chevy]

I believe they went out of business in the 1980's

[Joe Ditchkus]

As Paul said out of business Bankrupt. Joe D.