I had a small Jackson utility trailer that I used to haul stuff around the yard behind the tractor. My brother and I bought it for our Dad for Father's back in 1979. Between my parents' house and now mine, I worked that little trailer half to death, hauling gravel, sand, bricks, firewood and huge stones, overloading it almost every time. It was rebuilt a couple of times, went through several sets of tires, and even got converted into a full box lawn vacuum for a while, and then back again.
About ten years ago, I cleared an area in the woods behind the house and parked it out there next to the lawn thatcher.
In 2012 (I think), we had a big snow storm in October, and a massive tree came down. It was almost impossible to see the trailer under the tree, but it appeared to be a perfect bullseye down the midline of my little workhorse.
That part of the woods gets pretty wet for a few months out of the year. In the summer, the poison ivy is in full bloom and there are nasty pricker bushes everywhere. As a bonus, we're not far from where Lyme disease was invented, so deer ticks are always a concern. Over the past few years, the whole area has grown out of control. I had another big tree come down last year and they were becoming an eyesore every time I looked out the back windows.
We've finally had enough cold weather (teens and twenties) for the ground to freeze and keep the ticks away. I bought a new chainsaw before Christmas, and I've spent the past few weeks clearing away the brush and fallen trees.
Today I finally saw the trailer again for the first time in eight years.
I think it’s a goner...
a goner...? Nah, a lil paint, some air (inside the tires), maybe unfold the license plate and yer golden.
It's still frozen into the ground.
Woody said:
It's still frozen into the ground.
Did you ever hear of a Neanderthal complain about their Woolly Mammoth being frozen to the ground? No
I'm positive you will find a way and I'm behind you on this.
If that were the carcass of an air-cooled Porsche there would already be a bidding war raging!
In reply to L5wolvesf :
Oh, I promise to get it out, but I won't be restoring it. It was pretty well shot when I parked it there. There's also an old thatcher under there that may have fared a little better, but I have a new one that works better. I think I was just saving the old one as a metal donor.
Woody said:
In reply to L5wolvesf :
Oh, I promise to get it out, but I won't be restoring it.
Imagine yourself as an, no THE, Immortal God on GRM. Restore it. I have faith in you
ManhattanM (fka NY535iManual) said:
If that were the carcass of an air-cooled Porsche there would already be a bidding war raging!
If it were an old Porsche, I'd be restoring it already!
It was a really big tree.
Woody said:
Here’s the thatcher:
Woody, have you ever taken one of those Roarshark (sp) tests?
OK, I'll play along. Is the thacher (that really isn't there) named Margaret?
This is a cool thread about wood. ;)
I think I would have just built a privacy fence on that side of the yard :)
I'm having a hard time seeing the thatcher for all the...thatch.
In reply to EastCoastMojo :
You can see part of a wheel down in the lower right corner.
GRM challenge epic trailer build, go!
Which crappy $200 (2 grand is too much for budget trailers) will get dragged around the autocross the fastest?
Everyone's talking about that new trailer race, the GRM Trailer Challenge! Coming soon to a parking lot near you!
slowbird said:
GRM challenge epic trailer build, go!
Which crappy $200 (2 grand is too much for budget trailers) will get dragged around the autocross the fastest?
Everyone's talking about that new trailer race, the GRM Trailer Challenge! Coming soon to a parking lot near you!
If the builder has to ride in said trailer, I'm driving down from Michigan this year.
It's clear that you don't have termites up there- that wood was cut, near ground level and is still wood and not hundreds of new termites running around.
What kind of wood is it? The combination of lighter colored new growth and darker heartwood seems to be a kick ass combination for knife and tool handles if it's shaped correctly.
If you have a local knife maker, see if you can trade some wood for a knife. Bonus points for donating the springs on the trailer to make the knife out of. You may also be able to use the thatcher blades.
In reply to Brett_Murphy :
No springs on the trailer or blades on the thatcher.
The trailer started life looking like a blue version of this:
And the thatcher was a heavier duty version of this:
L5wolvesf said:
Woody said:
It's still frozen into the ground.
Did you ever hear of a Neanderthal complain about their Woolly Mammoth being frozen to the ground? No
I'm positive you will find a way and I'm behind you on this.
No guarantees of success, but I’m on my way out to pursue the mammoth.
*Note to self:
Next time, bring wet boots inside to dry overnight.
Brother Dustin had a similar thing happen to his trailer. 18 inch trunk, straight down the middle.
I bet him 5 bucks he couldn't fix it.
His version was held together with bolts. He took it apart, straightened whathe could by running over it with his truck, beating with three pound hammer, etc
He only had to find a new axle. Rest was mint.
Bet you 5 bucks you can't fix It.....
Woody said:
L5wolvesf said:
Woody said:
It's still frozen into the ground.
Did you ever hear of a Neanderthal complain about their Woolly Mammoth being frozen to the ground? No
I'm positive you will find a way and I'm behind you on this.
No guarantees of success, but I’m on my way out to pursue the mammoth.
Woody, your frozen in tundra Neanderthal ancestors would be proud of you. Fetch that Mammoth trailer and restore it to its former glory.
Suggestion: For inspiration grab a big pair of speakers and aim them toward the frozen tundra. Then put on Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" 
Have you ever heard the term "let sleeping dogs lie?"
