Unable to upload a tongue pic. Not sure if we have a limit to what we can post for newbs...
Willys Utility Trailer (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter JohnnyC
- Start date
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JohnnyC
Long ago TLCA# 2231
- Thread starter
- #22
The trailers were made by two divisions of one parent company.... American marsh pumps.
Yours must have been the American Fire Apparatus Company of Battle Creek, Michigan in the USA... The other was Sterling in Canada. It seems that the Canadian versions had vin plates and the American AFA did not.
Yours must have been the American Fire Apparatus Company of Battle Creek, Michigan in the USA... The other was Sterling in Canada. It seems that the Canadian versions had vin plates and the American AFA did not.
Love these old ads. Very cool.
The trailer that you posted is virtually identical to one that I picked up and redid. It is a Converto model TC. Mine has a small brass tag on the front on the passenger side frame. Mine is about a 1948 model and apparently was sold as an accessory through truck and willys dealerships at the time.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech/609144-my-converto-trailer.html
https://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech/609144-my-converto-trailer.html
My Converto TC
Here is mine as it sits now.
Here is mine as it sits now.
Wow that came out nice alstaz! I wish the sides were a little taller but overall very sturdy trailer. I was thinking of what to do with mine, original or off road style lol. I like the larger tires and lift. Did you change the leaf spring hangers or put blocks in it? Also, if I add larger tires and rims will I have to use wheel spacers to make room? I followed your other link as well. Cool pics. Hopefully there will be more of these in the future that will pop up.
alstaz, That is a cool trailer.
Like the lift, stake sides and vintage steel Coleman cooler.
Very nice!
Like the lift, stake sides and vintage steel Coleman cooler.
Very nice!
JohnnyC
Long ago TLCA# 2231
- Thread starter
- #28
Thanks all for these posts... This is a lot more cool information...
The key is to find out WHO had the plans that were leased to create these trailers... They all are in the same time frame.... And all by right could have had been the initiator of the design as they all have patents on various things.
Similarly I own a David Bradley trailer built for Sears built by Dunbar Kappel that is essentially a "Ben Hur" trailer and the Ben Hur trailers were designed and marketed for civy use thru Montgomery Wards.
The key players in this senario are:
American Fire Apparatus Company of Battle Creek, Michigan
American Marsh Pumps of Battle Creek, Michigan ( http://www.american-marsh.com/ )
Sterling Machine & MFG Co LTD, Owen Sound Ontario, Canada
Converto Mfg. Co, Cambridge City, Indiana ( http://www.convertomfg.com/default.html )
incidently Converto and AFA co. are 3 1/2hrs appart...relativly close
The key is to find out WHO had the plans that were leased to create these trailers... They all are in the same time frame.... And all by right could have had been the initiator of the design as they all have patents on various things.
Similarly I own a David Bradley trailer built for Sears built by Dunbar Kappel that is essentially a "Ben Hur" trailer and the Ben Hur trailers were designed and marketed for civy use thru Montgomery Wards.
The key players in this senario are:
American Fire Apparatus Company of Battle Creek, Michigan
American Marsh Pumps of Battle Creek, Michigan ( http://www.american-marsh.com/ )
Sterling Machine & MFG Co LTD, Owen Sound Ontario, Canada
Converto Mfg. Co, Cambridge City, Indiana ( http://www.convertomfg.com/default.html )
incidently Converto and AFA co. are 3 1/2hrs appart...relativly close
fyi there is a trailer on the san diego craigslist for sale. Looks like it might be a spen??
Thanks Bellworx! I went the easy route and just moved the axle below the springs instead of on top. this netted me a few inches and the clearance to run the 31 x 10.5" tires on it. Springs are still stock from what I can tell. I removed them and cleaned them up along with the shackles and pins and reused them as well. The rims I am using are from one of my cruisers (a 60 series) and I am not running any spacers, but they are tight.
Just in case anyone is interested. Looks like a possible spen trailer?? $200
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/pts/3309183721.html
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/pts/3309183721.html
For some reason I was thinking these already had the axles below. My bad! Either way, thats the route Im going to go. Ill probably blast the springs, shackles etc myself and have somebody do the frame and bed. My 2012 FJ is black so I might go that color. Who knows. Either way these are pretty cool trailers. Im not too fond of the 1 7/8" tongue they have. All my other trailers are 2". Seems I read they are rated at 1000 lbs? Im really digging the red color btw
The owner I bought the trailer from had the original paperwork from the original owner but he either tossed them out or lost them
. I wonder if it would have had any info on it as far as maker/plant etc with it.So far these are the only numbers I have been able to find on the trailer.
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Living in the Past
SILVER Star
I know this old post might I should point out comparing these to the military 1/4 ton is not apples to apples. The 1/4 ton rating is how much cargo it can carry and still float. These civilian trailer didn't float like the military version. There isn't any only rating on my 1/4 ton trailers but if they are like other military trailers the on road use was double what they were rated for off road. Curious if this had a heavier axle then the military 1/4 ton trailers.
Advertise it on Expo and here first. Ebays fees are through the roof!
