XJSuperman's Jeep Trailer

32048 Views 236 Replies 18 Participants Last post by Gluckmysock, Feb 1, 2021

XJSuperman

Discussion Starter · Sep 15, 2015

5

Well fellas and gals,

I have been given a 1948 Sears and Roebuck utility trailer as a college graduation gift. I will be restoring/restomodding/building it into a jeeping camping trailer. I want to be able to go camping in it, take it on adventures, and yet still be able to get an atv or lawnmower or a load of firewood in it when Im not having fun camping.

History:
This is a 1948 model according to the serial number and approx year assigned. It was sold by Sears and Roebuck but was most likely built by David Bradley or Dunbar Kappel for them. The story with these trailers originates from WWII and the little jeep trailers and with the need for a civilian model for after the war. These resemble the military trailers but were built for civy life. BenHur made trailers for the war, and later Dunbar Kappel, and then David Bradley, along with another possible few that all get roped in together for sales at Sears and other competitive stores of the time.
http://www.earlycj5.net/forums/showthread.php?74865-The-Sears-David-Bradley-Trailer

The first pics are original literature, the following are my new old trailer.

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XJSuperman

Discussion Starter · #2 · Sep 15, 2015

Yes, my trailer is pink and black. Im not sure if it was painted pink, or painted red and faded.....BUT the original nasty green is underneath, and thats good.

Current plans are as follows, but I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ANY SUGGESTIONS you may have.

-sandblast
-fix dents, replace rotted metal (including left fender, which Ill get to later...)
-rust preventative and paint
-bedline inner tub (THOUGHTS ON WHICH BEDLINER?)
-install the included new safety chains, wiring, lights, and tailgate chains
-mount 2 ammo cans underneath up front for gear storage
-81mm cans look best. Tall, narrow, and wide, which allows them to be mounted laid down under the trailer tub, lids out to each side.
-Im gonna use old school jerry cans, because I hate the new safety spouts and I don't like paying out the *** for fancy rotopax cans. Thoughts?
-I need tool storage, camping gear storage, and fuel storage, along with water totes. What else do I need? Gas? Food storage? what else?
- I plan on building some sort of rack (see first pic below) so I can mount a rooftop tent on in the future, and it will allow me to tarp or enclose the trailer somehow. Plus, I can mount stuff on the sides.
-All of this needs to be removable and re-configurable if at all possible. I want to build the trailer as I need it, but I want to revert back to original later if I so desire. So bolting things is best, ideally drilling minimal holes, and not welding if I can avoid it.
-I will add a spare wheel/tire. Maybe under the rear of the trailer, or on the outside. BTW, they are 16" rims (kinda rare on these) and are 5x5.5" pattern.

What do you guys think? Suggestions, thoughts, and recommendations are welcome.
I need to know where I can get what I will need cheapest, and what works, for those of you that camp regularly. I have regular tents until I can get a RTT (topic for later).

Thanks guys.

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Reactions: 1

XJSuperman

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 15, 2015

TOpics to return to:
-left fender
-RoofTopTents
-Utility rack designs

1. Fender: The fenders on this trailer are the "Roadster" fenders and are not readily available for replacement. They have fancy little rolled lips in them that would be hard to reproduce, and arent like the basic fenders on today's utility trailers.

I need to fix or replace my left fender because it is rotted on the top part. It has been fixed in the past and has more than a 1/4" of bondo already on it. Anyone able to use an english wheel? lol I might have to learn....

2. Roof Top Tents: this is officially open to discussion. I need suggestions on makers and models. Cheap vs good. ARB, Smittybilt, BigFoot, CVT, and more....

3. My rack idea is a stolen one. It comes from https://www.allprooffroad.com/05tacomatrailarmor/tacomabedracks , and http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...xpedition-trailer-build-1953-bradley-4x6.html

Bent tube welded to angle iron style rails that would allow it to be slid in and out of the trailer for when Im camping or need it enclosed, and when Im hauling brush or other larger items.

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XJSuperman

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 15, 2015

Brief shopping list and things I need to acquire:

--Jerry cans (3)
-Jerry can holders/brackets
--Spare wheel and tire
-make bracket for it
--Toolbox of some sort.....prob approx 48" wide, top lid, latch accessible from front or sides, preferably metal, watertight, and lockable. Toolbox/fueltank combos are being looked at as well.
--propane tank?
--water totes
--fender
--rack
--tent possibly

wjlizard

· #5 · Sep 15, 2015

How about a truck box of some sort for large weather proof/waterproof mounted on the toung for storage. Could aways step it up a knoch and find a pick-up camper to slide in and out of there. Would be warm and dry no matter the weather and still retain plenty of storage. Sorry just my sinister ******* mind at work . I'll digress.

4.3L XJ

· #6 · Sep 15, 2015

I like it. Nice find. There are some good rust options available to take care of that fender

XJSuperman

Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 15, 2015

wjlizard said:
How about a truck box of some sort for large weather proof/waterproof mounted on the toung for storage. Could aways step it up a knoch and find a pick-up camper to slide in and out of there. Would be warm and dry no matter the weather and still retain plenty of storage. Sorry just my sinister ******* mind at work . I'll digress.

Im thinking along the same lines as you buddy. Looking at truck boxes for small pickups and sideboxes. I don't want it on the tongue though, cause its already short, and I can mount smaller items there. I might put the toolbox at the front though for ease of access and to retain use of the tailgate.

The trailer box is only roughly 4x6'

XJSuperman

Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 15, 2015 (Edited)

4.3L XJ said:
I like it. Nice find. There are some good rust options available to take care of that fender

The problem is that its rusted through now, and when the bondo is gone and its blasted clean, I dont know what will be left. Either way, it needs more metal...

More pics of the trailer...

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4.3L XJ

· #9 · Sep 15, 2015

Depending on the hole, the usual is to use metal screen behind it and then the right type of bondo after treating all the rust. Some of the rust treatments react with the rust and then form a really nice platform for further body work. Check with the street rod guys or you can look at places like the POR15 site for stuff on this

XJSuperman

Discussion Starter · #10 · Sep 15, 2015

3

pics...

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4.3L XJ

· #11 · Sep 15, 2015

Very nice. Between that and your luggage rack, you will have it covered

muddeprived

· #12 · Sep 15, 2015

You could mount the spare on front (vertically), resting on the tow bar or you could do a willy's setup and mount it on the side in front of the tire.

I like that trailer.....alot.

XJSuperman

Discussion Starter · #13 · Sep 15, 2015

muddeprived said:
You could mount the spare on front (vertically), resting on the tow bar or you could do a willy's setup and mount it on the side in front of the tire.

I like that trailer.....alot.

Good ideas, thanks man.

93_cherokee

· #14 · Sep 16, 2015

For fenders I would go with trailer fenders. Auto safety house sells trailer fenders and they aren't too expensive. Not sure if there is one of those near you but I'm sure you could find some online. In my minitrucker days I bought some and used them as inner fenders on an s10 I had

Cajun

· #15 · Sep 16, 2015

Nice trailer! It's not cheap but it could be an all in one replacement fender.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...ci_sku=24558&gclid=CL-OkMjo-8cCFY-FaQodlfcNSw

XJSuperman

Discussion Starter · #16 · Sep 16, 2015

Thanks fellas. I want to try and keep the original style fenders, just because they are so unique. So I'm probably fix it, just so I'm not throwing universal fenders on it...I think it'll change the look too much.

Appreciate the suggestions though. Keep them coming.

Gluckmysock

· #17 · Sep 16, 2015

You need to get one of these! for the trailer, that is!

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93_cherokee

· #18 · Sep 17, 2015

They sell those trailer fenders in like 10 different sizes and styles

XJSuperman

Discussion Starter · #19 · Oct 10, 2015

While I still havent found any fenders that match, Im looking (sorta) for someone good with an English wheel so make me a patch for the main top part of the fender. Thats the current plan for now.

Looking for and inquiring on a metal toolbox of dimensions: 46"x16x16" Yes, 46, not 48.....danngit.

XJSuperman

Discussion Starter · #20 · Nov 17, 2015

Talked to a guy with a trailer forsale who thought he only had one fender left, but he is seemingly useless when it comes to memory, phone calls, pictures, or anything related to selling an item. So thats a scratch.

Back to plan A

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