Mostly google images. Some of my neighborhood. I could have titled this a lot of different things. Too many trailers was the simplest. God’s Belly Laughs, The farmer with ADD, Lack of a plan and Clueless. Those were the titles I considered. You have probably heard it said that if you want God to have a big belly laugh just tell him your plans. The other candidates are, or will be, self explanatory.
You know how some people just never have enough shoes? Well with me it’s trailers. They represent the closest thing to a free vehicle that you can have.
I let my long time trustworthy trailer towing steed get away (goodbye old paint on this site). This is my Farrier's trailer. He quit answering his phone and the last time he did that he had been hurt by a horse. I didn’t want to just call him to borrow a trailer anyway.
I let my long time trustworthy trailer towing steed get away (goodbye old paint on this site). This is my Farrier's trailer. He quit answering his phone and the last time he did that he had been hurt by a horse. I didn’t want to just call him to borrow a trailer anyway.
Before I developed a trailer crisis I had a major crisis with tow vehicles. Still do.
I bought this Olds Bravada despite a long history of frustration with Oldsmobile. I tricked myself into thinking it was a Chevy S10 is disguise.
The first thing it did was throw a code that said the transmission was slipping.
The second thing it did was cause a Uhaul employee to almost have a heart attack. He went to back it up a ramp to install towing lights. The transmission began to shriek and then something went bang. His eyes became very large and he told me he would work on it on the floor. I discovered when I left that I no longer had a reverse gear.
Before that happened the AWD had gotten me through a tough spot in a very wet field. So, I figured that it would pay over the long haul to fix the transmission. I did.
When my mechanic went to test his work, he said he heard a lower end knock in the engine. I wish he had found that before he fixed the trannie. To be fair, with no trannie he pushed it around. It had been a month without starting. Now this Olds gets to join the 77 that caught on fire and the 72 that ate transmissions. Bad decisions have a way of compounding so right now I am between tow vehicles.
I bought this Olds Bravada despite a long history of frustration with Oldsmobile. I tricked myself into thinking it was a Chevy S10 is disguise.
The first thing it did was throw a code that said the transmission was slipping.
The second thing it did was cause a Uhaul employee to almost have a heart attack. He went to back it up a ramp to install towing lights. The transmission began to shriek and then something went bang. His eyes became very large and he told me he would work on it on the floor. I discovered when I left that I no longer had a reverse gear.
Before that happened the AWD had gotten me through a tough spot in a very wet field. So, I figured that it would pay over the long haul to fix the transmission. I did.
When my mechanic went to test his work, he said he heard a lower end knock in the engine. I wish he had found that before he fixed the trannie. To be fair, with no trannie he pushed it around. It had been a month without starting. Now this Olds gets to join the 77 that caught on fire and the 72 that ate transmissions. Bad decisions have a way of compounding so right now I am between tow vehicles.
My dilemma started when I developed a reason to convert a young donkey Jack to a young donkey Gelding.
The need for this organ donation was caused by the impending return of his mother and half sister to the property. They are currently handling the lawn maintenance duties on the property of a friend of mine. They began to sharpen their teeth on the trunks of a couple cars on his property.
This caused a great amount of unhappiness on the part of my friend. He asked me to think about how we could move them around. That set into motion the following chain of events that were vetoed by a llama who wanted to have things his way.
I thought at the time that the Olds would be coming back so I looked at what trailers I had that might allow me to carry the Jack (if referred to again his name is Cruz) in to Conroe for his surgery. I thought this one might do the job. I do not like the size because if he falls there are no partitions. I had a need though, so it was considered.
The need for this organ donation was caused by the impending return of his mother and half sister to the property. They are currently handling the lawn maintenance duties on the property of a friend of mine. They began to sharpen their teeth on the trunks of a couple cars on his property.
This caused a great amount of unhappiness on the part of my friend. He asked me to think about how we could move them around. That set into motion the following chain of events that were vetoed by a llama who wanted to have things his way.
I thought at the time that the Olds would be coming back so I looked at what trailers I had that might allow me to carry the Jack (if referred to again his name is Cruz) in to Conroe for his surgery. I thought this one might do the job. I do not like the size because if he falls there are no partitions. I had a need though, so it was considered.
When these needs first came about, this trailer was actively involved in it’s primary function.
This mess used to be a large and proud round bale of coastal hay. it was pretty well eaten down but the part that was remaining had to go somewhere.
There was also about half a ton of dirt in front of the hay. I had left it there on a bed liner from an old Ford. It balanced the load when the roll was loaded. The liner also had to go. Plastic is slippery for hoofed animals.
This mess used to be a large and proud round bale of coastal hay. it was pretty well eaten down but the part that was remaining had to go somewhere.
There was also about half a ton of dirt in front of the hay. I had left it there on a bed liner from an old Ford. It balanced the load when the roll was loaded. The liner also had to go. Plastic is slippery for hoofed animals.
This flexible piece of welded wire is called a hog panel. When I got the smaller rolls of hay I frequently used it to encircle the hay. This prevented waste. The large rolls I bought the last two times would not have fit here.
When you fill the hog panel with the remaining hay it looks like this. This job would not have been needed if the Donkeys had behaved, if the Olds had behaved, and if the farrier had kept coming around. The donkeys would have emptied the trailer without all that much delay.
They are pretty pleased with themselves in this picture. Probably because I was in the pipeline right of way and working with a pitchfork. Ever hear a donkey laugh? Cruz is the gray one on your left.
He is laughing because he doesn't know what's coming.
At this point we were ok. This amount of hay took about a week to eat. When it was done I started buying the small rectangular bales. One weekend I ran out and on that Monday the Llama decided to take things into his own hands (hooves). He jumped the fence and was eating the grass in the neighbors yard. I got him back into the pasture and borrowed a truck to go get some hay.Two days later I wound up with this again (below).
I think I’m ok for a while. My friend hasn’t shot the other three donkeys or he didn’t tell me anyway. Need to get to work.
They are pretty pleased with themselves in this picture. Probably because I was in the pipeline right of way and working with a pitchfork. Ever hear a donkey laugh? Cruz is the gray one on your left.
He is laughing because he doesn't know what's coming.
At this point we were ok. This amount of hay took about a week to eat. When it was done I started buying the small rectangular bales. One weekend I ran out and on that Monday the Llama decided to take things into his own hands (hooves). He jumped the fence and was eating the grass in the neighbors yard. I got him back into the pasture and borrowed a truck to go get some hay.Two days later I wound up with this again (below).
I think I’m ok for a while. My friend hasn’t shot the other three donkeys or he didn’t tell me anyway. Need to get to work.
This will keep them happy for about two months. It's setting here all pretty with it's little rain hat. It will actually be dryer than before. The bed liner held water. The wooden floor will not. The rebar pieces in the side keep the critters from dragging everything out at one time. It works well.
It leaves me back where I started though. It was right about then that I swear I heard some very loud belly laughs. I guess it might have been thunder.
I have other trailers but not all are suitable for conversion to stock trailers.
It leaves me back where I started though. It was right about then that I swear I heard some very loud belly laughs. I guess it might have been thunder.
I have other trailers but not all are suitable for conversion to stock trailers.
I'm not sure you can really call this a trailer. Got it when I traded a big trailer for it. Considering that it can dump and has a 4,000 lb. axle made me consider it.
This brought our 57 chevy wagon down from Kansas without whimpering a bit. Have had it for 10 years, at least. Probably should do something with it or sell it.
This brought our 57 chevy wagon down from Kansas without whimpering a bit. Have had it for 10 years, at least. Probably should do something with it or sell it.
The next one is what I use to haul dirt around. It is too high to serve as a base for a stock trailer. It has a future that I am not prepared to discuss. I don't mind talking about it's past.
Once this was a seventy something Ford courier. Once I was teaching Industrial Arts to emotionally disturbed kids.
I purchased the Ford (Mazda) for $200. We took it apart. We also put dents in it and learned to Bondo. In fact, I don't remember all the Special Ed requireents we satisfied with that truck.
When we were done disassembling all that we safely could, I took it to a junkyard I knew. I gave the guy the front half which included a functioning engine and transmission. He turned the back into a trailer.
It has toted tool boxes and ladder racks. It has done chimney sweeps and AC work and has worked behind my 85 Lincoln Town Car like a pickup truck. One year the bed rusted almost completely away. I removed it, sold it for scrap, and made a wooden bed. The wooden bed has just about completed it's tour of duty and I'm not ready to discuss the next one.
Once this was a seventy something Ford courier. Once I was teaching Industrial Arts to emotionally disturbed kids.
I purchased the Ford (Mazda) for $200. We took it apart. We also put dents in it and learned to Bondo. In fact, I don't remember all the Special Ed requireents we satisfied with that truck.
When we were done disassembling all that we safely could, I took it to a junkyard I knew. I gave the guy the front half which included a functioning engine and transmission. He turned the back into a trailer.
It has toted tool boxes and ladder racks. It has done chimney sweeps and AC work and has worked behind my 85 Lincoln Town Car like a pickup truck. One year the bed rusted almost completely away. I removed it, sold it for scrap, and made a wooden bed. The wooden bed has just about completed it's tour of duty and I'm not ready to discuss the next one.
If you have difficulty bringing that genre to mind (because the majority of them have disappeared) this seventy something Datsun with the small ladder rack will remind you.
This still has bias ply tires and original Datsun hubcaps. Had to talk to the owner.
This still has bias ply tires and original Datsun hubcaps. Had to talk to the owner.
I tried something that didn’t work here. I welded two together expecting to make one that was very heavy duty. That worked and I have a tractor capable of hauling it around the property. The wheels are too far apart for the street. If it had coil springs it would have worked.
It does have a future. On this little spread the water and the sunshine are not at the same places. By spring my intention is that this be my patio gardening vehicle. I have been derailed quite a bit lately (as explained). I intend to load it with containers and park it in the sunshine protected from the birds and critters with poultry netting.
The back half is a seventies Datsun Pickup that was virtually identical to the one above. It was the first trailer I used like the Ford described above.Then I picked up another and couldn't resist using my welder to make a frankentrailer.
It does have a future. On this little spread the water and the sunshine are not at the same places. By spring my intention is that this be my patio gardening vehicle. I have been derailed quite a bit lately (as explained). I intend to load it with containers and park it in the sunshine protected from the birds and critters with poultry netting.
The back half is a seventies Datsun Pickup that was virtually identical to the one above. It was the first trailer I used like the Ford described above.Then I picked up another and couldn't resist using my welder to make a frankentrailer.
I took this in as trade when I sold my 59 Chevy school bus. I decided it held the most promise. It is low and has a loading ramp already installed. I can see some promise here but it’s awful cold and wet to be outside welding. I like the basic premise of being low and with a tailgate/ramp. Not much else is necessary except for something to tow with. Next week I hope.
34 degrees and raining yesterday. I picked some dry times and got started. This is my redneck welder. Works fine even if it is ugly. If I can get some rebar I think I’ll be done soon.
When I bought the welder it looked good. We started an industrial arts program where I worked. Then I was transferred so I donated the welder. I came back to visit a year or so later. The guy running the program was gone and they asked me if I had come for my junk. He had taken it apart and didn't know how to put it back together. Some industrial arts teacher.
Every year it gets heavier so I altered a derelict lawnmower and now it moves easily. I made a lid from an abandoned barrel to serve as an umbrella and this rig goes wherever I want.
When I bought the welder it looked good. We started an industrial arts program where I worked. Then I was transferred so I donated the welder. I came back to visit a year or so later. The guy running the program was gone and they asked me if I had come for my junk. He had taken it apart and didn't know how to put it back together. Some industrial arts teacher.
Every year it gets heavier so I altered a derelict lawnmower and now it moves easily. I made a lid from an abandoned barrel to serve as an umbrella and this rig goes wherever I want.
Easier to hitch now with the center upright piece in the front.
Will make a story on this when I’m pretty well done.
Almost hate to say this is my future stock trailer. God may be looking for another belly laugh. When it's done I will write it up.
Will make a story on this when I’m pretty well done.
Almost hate to say this is my future stock trailer. God may be looking for another belly laugh. When it's done I will write it up.
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