1947 Sears (David Bradley) Trailer

[2680]

I have been interested in getting a small cargo trailer for a while now. I have been going back and forth whether to scratch build or buy something and improve/upgrade it. While perusing craigslist today, I came across this trailer. It pretty much fit the bill for me and was priced right!

It has been in the same family since purchased in the late 40's. A couple generations have deceased, and they no longer have interest in it. Well, I sure do!

Here are some pics as it sits now. My immediate plans are to strip it down, clean it up, paint the body and bedline the tub.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. My biggest concerns are using good products (primer,paint,bedliner) so it will last for many more years....

 

[ZMagic97]

Sweet trailer! What are your plans for it?

 

[rat patrol]

Restore and then leave it alone or find a collector/museum.

 

[2680]

i will probably leave the basic form as is. clean it up and get it painted. any additions i do to it will be bolt-ons so i can always go back to original form. at least that's the plan for now....

 

[ZMagic97]

Nice. Seems like a perfect size and doesn't appear to be very heavy to pull around. Nice find.

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

Wow, super clean for its age. I would keep it as close to stock as possible and do like you have stated...all bolt on's and removable. That is what I did with mine, even though mine is not all that "vintage" it may be one day and it is nice to be able to weld up the holes and put it back to original MilSpec.

Nice find!!

 

[Louisd75]

View attachment 194357

I'll give you $149.50 for it, cash :sombrero:

Sweet looking little trailer

 

[2680]

i ran that price through an inflation calculator and came up with just under $1,600!

this is one sturdy trailer, weighs well more than my current 5x8, maybe twice as much.... all steel and most of the frame seems to be 1/4".

 

[2680]

started digging in tonight. all my tools are at work, but i couldn't wait so i got into taking apart the hubs. wow, very old grease!

the bearings are odd looking, but seem in good shape. the wheels are 5 on 5 1/2, 15". i plan to use the two original wheels as well as a trailer wheel for a spare. thinking of mounting underneath to keep the weight low.

 

[2680]

after alot of scraping, sanding, grinding, priming and painting, she's back upright and ready to start work on the tray.

everything was primed with red oxide primer, the bottom was painted with rubber undercoating and all suspension was painted with flat black enamel.

next up is welding on brackets for the lights and a new tongue.....

anyone have any good source for old jeep cj wheels? i am having trouble finding anything local with a 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern..... i just need one for a spare.

 

[jagular7]

What plans do you have to add shackles to the leafs?

Two rigid mounts for a leaf spring? Wow.
I do like the axle mount setup. Quite different.

 

[2680]

actaully the rear of the leaf slips btw two pins, one fixed and one with a roller sleave on it. pretty interesting, but i guess it has worked for the last 60 years.....

 

[2680]

i forgot i had some pics of the bottom before it got cleaned up. it was pretty bad. luckily i had some helpers to do the dirty work.

 

[2680]

tonight i got a chance to work on the tongue. the original was 2.5" channel and it was bent! it only extended out 32", so rather than try to straighten it, i went ahead and replaced it. the main tube is 2.5" square (3/16th) and the sides are 2" angle (1/8th). going to bolt the main tube onto the tub just like the original and plan to weld the side supports to the front and side rails. should be nice and sturdy. i went with 48" from tub to hitch which should make it easier to back up and probably pull a little nicer.

 

[Mark Harley]

Very nice Tongue extension.