Bought a new stude..well..half of one.. Question added (springs)

[tutone63]

I just purchased this trailer the other day (it was an auction. bid fever, what can I say?)...my second official "studebaker" Well..half of one, anyway. I paid 90 bucks for it...I hope I didn't overpay. I didn't have a chance to look at it before I bid, and I didn't even realize it was a studebaker til the bidding started. I am glad I got it, though. It has the original rear end still in it, but the rest of is is really rough. the springs are shot, totally. The lever action shocks are there, but are disconected and mushy. The box sides and back look okay, but the tailgate and fenders are rough. My question is: what should I do with it? Part it out? fix it and use it? I dunno, I guess it is a matter of opinion. I won't send it to the crusher, anyway. Thoughts are appreciated.

Here are some pics:

[jclary]

Great find! I have bought a couple of trailers that had car rear ends for axles. They make good rear ends but lousy axles. Why drag all that extra weight around?

On both trailers, I have replaced the rear end axles with straight axles. One is a C-cab truck bed I rescued from the weeds. On that one, I went to a junk yard, bought the front spindles and wheels from an AMC Pacer (remember those?). Those spindles unbolt with a neat four bolt flange that is perfect for welding to a straight pipe. Made a great axle.

For the other trailer, I bought a "store-bought" axle from Northern Tool. You just don't know if the old car axle has been treated properly and kept lubricated. You can't imagine how helpless you can be if the old rear end goes haywire and locks up on you late at night in the middle of nowhere with a load of your valuable "junk" in the trailer and you have to abandon it and go for help.

By the way...I'd like to have that old cast iron implement seat on the front.

[tutone63]

Ha! I wondered if anyone would comment of that seat! Unfortunatly for you guys, that seat is attatched to a cast Iron farm empement (I believe it is a horse drawn planter) that my father bought at the same auction. In order for us to fit both the trailer and the planters (He got two) we had to butt them up end to end, with the tongue of my trailer sitting under the rear axle of the planter. sorry!

Thanks for the advice about the axle, I never would have thought of that!

[cycledog]

Get some square tubeing and build your self a frame. Find a cab of any make and build yourself a truck.

[BobGlasscock]

If you want to just send the trailer to me, that would be easier than building a truck on the front. Yup, it would be.

And I don't see how you can overpay for something that says Studebaker. (Keep your thoughts to yourself, JDP).

[StudeRich]

Well it does have an upgraded axle, not a Stude. maybe you could find out what kind of Flanged axle it is (maybe Ford/Chev.) and then you could buy the right parts (bearings) to service it properly, and change the oil and seals and be good to go.

[tutone63]

Thanks! I guess I didn't realize the rear end had been changed out. Bad observation skills on my part (That and I have a very limited knowledge of M series trucks.) I think I may do the whole "fix up the rear end and use it" thing, along with the rest of the body of the trailer. at least as best I can. I won't go too deep with it, just enough to make it usable, and have character. It may end up as the box for a beat-up homemade truck someday...but I don't know if I have the ambition for that! Either way its cool, and it will be kept and used. However, I do have a question if anyone would be able to help me:

What do I do about the shot springs? I looked up SI and they don't carry the ones I need. Is there anyone who knows where I could procure some, or if there is an available part from elswhere? From what I can tell, the springs are original, based on pictures and parts manuals I have looked at, but I am not sure. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

[silverhawk]

You might be able to find someone with a parts truck, with a useable set. Another idea is to put "helper" springs and leaves in there, seeing how it's a trailer and not a complete truck.

[oldguy]

Not sure what "springs are shot" means, but, if they are not broken, they can be fixed. A good spring shop can replace bushings, re-arch them, add more if needed. much cheaper than replacements.