Trailers and Tow Vehicles

It would be interesting to view trailers and tow vehicles. Over many years I have witnessed some very interesting combos!
Should have created an album and/or book(best sellers list)!!!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Randy Dersham on February 12, 2009 at 6:50pm


This will be fun.

This boat is owned by Ed Portz of Eugene. It is the only original trailer from the 40's that I know of that uses a Model A axle that was popular at the time. I hope the Roger Fletcher will chime in here about some of the trailer origin from that era. The rumor I've heard is the "rub rails" as they are most often called here on the McKenzie were first put on the boat to prevent the wheel with no fender from damaging the boat.
Permalink Reply by Dave Z on February 13, 2009 at 6:21am
Wow Randy! I lust after the whole setup! A true double ender on a vintique trailer! love it! Do you have more pics of this particular boat and its origins?

Thanks!
Permalink Reply by Roger Fletcher on March 17, 2009 at 4:13pm
Yes, Randy. You are correct. The origins of rub rails are tied to tire rub on the early trailers, many of which were configured using Model T axels. Suspension was stiff, and as the early boats were towed over rough roads and trails the boat would bounce from side to side, rest against a rotating tire, and bingo - tire rub. In fact, it wasn't uncommon for boats to receive more damage from transportation to and from the river than on the river itself.. Securing the boat as tight as possible was a common practice to avoid the problem, but it didn't always work. The earliest rub rails were therefore installed to protect the boat's side strakes, or panels. Rub rail value today is probably more ited to aesthetics of the boat than functional protection on the river. It was also common to stack boats on heavier duty trailers. The attached photo is Larry Lucas, Willard Lucas's dad, chating with a couple of his guides before a launch on the Rogue. Larry originated Lucas Lodge at Agness. You can get a partial view of boats and trailers on page 30 in my book, Drift Boats and River Dories.
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Permalink Reply by Dave Z on March 17, 2009 at 6:52pm
Holy Moly Roger! Thats a a four stack of Drifties!!!!! Pulled by a sweet Olds or Pontiac, haha! Amazing stuff.

You will always surprise me with your endless stash of pics from the past.
Permalink Reply by Jonathan Clarke on February 13, 2009 at 6:40am
I think Greg's FJ40 is the most soulful tow vehicle I've seen. My tow vehicles have been dead conventional, but my trailer has a history. It started life as a trailer for a jon boat or something. The fellow who had it before me had bent the tongue severely and had shortened it a few feet. That made backing it a twitchy affair, especially since I didn't have much experience! I added the roller and brackets at the back of it, then realized that the bed was too long, so I cut the frame short and re-attached the roller. Then the whole thing looked rusty and beat up, so I spent last spring stripping it apart and "restoring" it. It's not as heavy duty a trailer as the Bakers, etc. but it seems to work ok for me.
Permalink Reply by Jason Knight on February 13, 2009 at 7:16am
This reminds me that I need a trailer! haha
Permalink Reply by mitchell on February 13, 2009 at 5:07pm


the trailer in the photo is from 1968 I believe. It's been with the boat since that same year. Last year in 3 straights trips I had 3 straight mishaps.

The first one, I lost a hub, wheel and tire on a gravel road in the middle of nowwhere. I'm in deep debt to a farmer and his tractor.

The second mishap happened the day I got the trailer back after having a new axel,wheel and tire put on. After a quick (i thought) trip to do some salmon trolling I loaded up the boat and headed home. The tire and wheel fell off...in the middle of nowhere. I'm in deep dept to a logger.

The next trip out fishing I went to float the Siletz River by myself on a late afternoon drift. I finished up the drift near sundown, put the boat on the trailer and started up the ramp. Ripped the new axel right off the frame of the trailer. I'm in deep debt to a retired fisherman who happened upon me in the middle of nowhere.

I drove to Spingfield the next day and bought a new trailer

Believe it or not that old trailer is still hauling a boat...just not mine....ever
Permalink Reply by Greg Hatten on February 14, 2009 at 7:32am
Hey Jonathan... thanks for the compliment on the FJ. It's a fun combination - the boat and the Land Cruiser. As much as I "obsessed" about building the boat, I may have been even a little more "over the top" in restoring the green Cruiser. I'm clearly "not right in the head".
It's a 1983 - the last year they were made and only 300 were sent to the U.S. that year. After that, Toyota switched to the FJ60. Very challenging getting parts... one of them came from as far away as Australia (the digital clock).
I never even thought about getting a vintage trailer to "round it out"... could be a project to "obsess" over next winter!!! My wife will be so happy... another "project".
Permalink Reply by Jonathan Clarke on February 14, 2009 at 11:47am
The funny thing is, I had discovered FJs just a few weeks before I joined this board and had thought they were way cool. I was intrigued enough to do a little Ebay snooping, where I discovered that there's a real cult around them. Research indicated that they were tough as nails mechanically, but tended to fall victim to corrosion easily, like many vehicles of their time, but something that really seemed to plague the Japanese manufacturers. Was that your experience?
Permalink Reply by Greg Hatten on February 15, 2009 at 8:53am
I was originally on a quest to restore a Scout until I started researching... found the FJ as the one I really wanted because of the history and the fact that they are tough as nails & easy to work on. It took me over a year to find the one I wanted - corrosion around the wheel well and in the corners of the ambulance doors in the back are the two most common places for rust on those. The one I found spent most of it's life in AZ and is as rust free as any I looked at.
There is quite a following for the FJ and several "clubs" out there. Usually lots of listings on EBay of used vehicles and you can probably pick one up pretty cheap right now....
Good luck... if you find one you like, send me a pic...
Permalink Reply by lhedrick on April 14, 2009 at 4:01pm
Mitchell,

I had a trailer like that for a while. I could never keep the boat securely fastened. I always had trouble with it sliding to the side. One time I had a strap come loose. The boat came off the trailer on a dirt road and I drug it on the chine for a while before I noticed. I ground almost all the way through the chine.

When I got home I just glassed it up and it was as good as new. That was the last time. The next week I got drift boat torsion bar trailer.

Larry
Permalink Reply by Mike Dearing on February 15, 2009 at 10:14am


This is how I used to haul mine till I bought my willie boat that came with a trailer. Its just a snowmobile trailer I put a cradle on then picked up an old winch from the local marina. Ugly but it worked. This same trailer now serves as my raft trailer, sans winch and cradle.

Mike

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