The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

I have a very old two wheel trailer I purchased recently from an orchard farm in Herefordshire. The axle is from a Ford AA truck and, judging by the red paint underneath what is on now, was used by the GPO in the UK. The truck would have been a 1930 0r 1931 model and I reckon the trailer was put together in the early 40s by a local blacksmith. I have sourced one new tyre and a new set of wheel bearings, so its time to do the woodwork.

While the front, back and sides are OK the wood of the buck is pretty well shot but is good enough to be used for a pattern. It seems to be ordinary deal, and I am wodnering whether to replace the edge pieces (Which hold the iron sockets for the sides and ends) with something stronger, like beech or elm, Does anyone know what traditional woods were used for wagon or truck bucks?

We use to build our wooden wagon bodys from Oak. Dandy Dave!

Keruing is the standard timber for trailer beds. It has good rot and impact resistance. It is not cheap though. It cost me £170 to redeck my Bamford 3 ton trailer (10 feet by 6 feet) using unplained 30 mm boards and this was by far he best deal I could find.

Sadly cost has been a major factor.

I'm going to use oak for the side beams that hold the side boards in steel sockets, and tanalised softwood for the rest. Originally the trailer was all softwood (now very soft wood as far as the main structure of the buck is concerned!), but has lasted 70 years or so. What I build will be an improvement in that all the softwood wood except the floorboards of the buck itself will be tanalised and the original sides and ends are in good enough order to use as they are. I will creasote the floor boards when I fit them, top and bottom, and give them a coat every year, keeping the trailer sheeted when not in use.

The tyres are 600 x 20 and a shocking price. Luckily I ony needed one and managed to find it at a specialised online firm (Big Tyres) at a very much better price than the rest of the old fashioned tyre sellers. Likewise only one side needed new wheel bearings.

The chassis is away being rescued by the local blacksmith/engineering company, who declared is savable with some repair and replacement.
All I need to buy now is paint.

More as we go. Here are some photos of the cart as bought.



cartasbought by CraigWales, on Flickr


cartasbought3 by CraigWales, on Flickr


cartasbought2 by CraigWales, on Flickr

hi
if u can get propper old fashioned creasote ( not creatreat ) and slap it on yearly it will prob last forever , some people mix it with sump oil too.

i have a old 5 ltr knapsack sprayer just for the job , u have to thin the propper stuff a bit or it wont spray .

createet is like water and nothing like the propper stuff, but there are some health warnings with creasote so read the label .

i know of a few wooden fences that r 50 years old + still in perfect order that are regularly treated.

They outlawed the real stuff over here years ago. I can still remember the smell on a hot summers day. When I think about it, it still makes my eyes water. Dandy Dave!

it's bloomin horid stuff

but a very good preserver

local builders merchant isn't allowed to stock /sell it in 5 ltrs but will sell it in 20 ltr drums ???????
not every were stocks it .

Got some good tanalised timber for frame and some 18mm floorboarding (untreated). Then creasoted ALL the soft wood. Got some oak for the side beams. Replaced the rotten planks in the sides today and have started painting.

Trailer now completed. Side rails in oak, complete new floor, sides and ends repaired and all painted. Chassis straightened and strenghtened by local agricultural engineer. Wheel bearings checked and two replaced. One new tyre. Overall cost under £400, and should be good for another 50 years.


trailer rebuild 001 by CraigWales, on Flickr


trailer rebuild 002 by CraigWales, on Flickr


trailer rebuild 004 by CraigWales, on Flickr


trailer rebuild 005 by CraigWales, on Flickr


3 Counties Tractor World by CraigWales, on Flickr
Just starting out on the road run at Tractor World 2013, at Malvern UK. And yes, it was cold!

Very nice result.

very nice you must be very pleased

Good Job Old Boy. If you park out of the weather it will last longer than 50 years. Dandy Dave!