The Sears David Bradley Trailer

[optimisticjeepr]

 

[optimisticjeepr]

I'll get the S/N info tonight.

 

[optimisticjeepr]

The day I brought it home. I rescued Model 231-246, Serial # 3813 from the scrap heap. I purchased it for $200 from a gentleman who's wife wanted him to scrap it.

 

[dobl_D]

Here are a few pictures of my trailer the day that I brought it home - a few months ago. Since then, I've been on the hunt looking for replacement fenders. It looks to be an early Ben Hur based on the numbers shown on the data plate.

One think I can say for sure... these things are built solid!

 

[jossar]

View attachment 34763

The day I brought it home. I rescued Model 231-246, Serial # 3813 from the scrap heap. I purchased it for $200 from a gentleman who's wife wanted him to scrap it.

Nice find! I cant tell from the pictures but are you using the original hitch?
Joe

 

[fhoehle]

Here's another example of a David Bradley trailer:

The owner stated in the forum post I found it on that the wheels on this trailer are 16". They're a different design than the 15" David Bradley wheels, but like those, these rims have four evenly spaced holes around the outer edge. When these wheels were mounted on a David Bradley tractor, those holes allowed the attachment of inertial wheel weights to increase traction and pulling force.

I believe the wheels on this trailer are examples of the original 16" wheels which could be requested as an option from Sears - see the excerpt from the 1955 catalog shown in the original post in this thread. Here are photos comparing the wheel in that catalog picture to the one on this trailer:

Though the factory ball coupler has been changed out for a pintle hitch, this trailer still has the original parking leg, another option pictured in the 1955 and 1958 catalogs:

On my Sears Roebuck hay wagon, I have those same 16 inch wheels!!

 

[SKT]

The day I brought it home. I rescued Model 231-246, Serial # 3813 from the scrap heap. I purchased it for $200 from a gentleman who's wife wanted him to scrap it.

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Great job saving/refreshing this one - it looks really good painted to match your Jeep!

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[xayer]

I finally got around to digging my grandfather's old "Ben-Hur" out of the barn. It has short straps, center reflector on the tailgate, flat top axle so I'm guessing its an early 47 (the plate is missing.) First thing on the list was new tires. Turns out I'm going to need at least one new wheel. I know they are 5 on 5.5 with 670 x 16 tires. Anyone have a lead on the wheels that fit?

 

[maurywhurt]

The original 5 on 5.5 wheels from the mid 40s - mid 80s CJs will fit the David Bradley trailers. There are also certain Ford truck wheels that will fit them as well, though I'm not sure about the specific models or year ranges. The David Bradley trailers originally came with 15" standard wheels (which in some cases were manufactured by International Harvester), but 16" wheels were optional during certain years.

 

[CAMERON D'AVIS]

Picked up one of these trailers and started digging around for info and Wow! It had the Jeep fender style fenders when I bought it, no data plate.

 

[CAMERON D'AVIS]

Here she is now..

 

[SKT]

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Such a shame that Photobuckets greed caused all of these photos to be unviewable, as this thread is the best collection of info on these trailers.

Anyone else have new pics/info to share?

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[Tom_Hartz]

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Such a shame that Photobuckets greed caused all of these photos to be unviewable, as this thread is the best collection of info on these trailers.

Anyone else have new pics/info to share?

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Photobucket has destroyed a ton of threads and information. So sad.

 

[BobH]

PhotoBucket=RansomWare

 

[XJSuperman]

Howdy folks, first post on the site. I have been lurking in this thread on and off for a couple years now. I acquired what I believe (thanks to this thread) to be a 1948 Sears & Roebuck trailer. I believe mine was made by David Bradley, but I suppose that is up for debate. Everything was intact on the trailer when I got it, however, one of the roadster fenders was rotted out, and both fenders were full of bondo in an awful attempt at repair somewhere along its history.
Im unfortunately at work at the moment, but I can post more details tonight. I did attempt emailing Maury when I first began researching the trailer but Im afraid I didn't get through. Thats ok, Im on here now.
Attached are the links to my two build threads for it on my other forums, (hopefully that's welcome), there are a vast amount of pictures in both threads:
ECJ5
XJSuperman's Sears&Roebuck Trailer - Expedition Portal

Specs and details:
Serial number: 3348 Model#: 231.246
-Sears and Roebuck serial tag centered on lower edge of front face (just above the tongue)
-flat floor
-square axle
-Roadster fenders
-16" rims (not the David Bradley bolt hole style) and I didn't blast the wheels so I didn't catch any numbers there, they had good paint on them.
-tailgate hinges are interlocking type with rebar and cotterpins holding them in place
-the original green was visible under the layers of pink, red, and black paint, also inside the hitch mechanisms




-I made the taillight brackets after basing them off the homemade one that was there when I got it
-I had it sandblasted, and then I coated it in POR15 and Magnet Paints chassis saver, followed by Monstaliner, black parts are POR15 Topcoat.
-currently building a removable rack for it
-mounted jerry can brackets
-will be mounting 81mm ammo cans underneath in the future for storage




Also, within the last 2 weeks I got my hands on another one of these, this one a BenHur model, from a local friend. It is amazingly original, except for the axle and wheels that are missing.
I am an alumni of Iowa State University, so this one means a little something because it appears this one was owned by them before they were a university. Hence the painted I.S.C (Iowa State College) with the numbers 125389 below it, and the state of Iowa plate on the tailgate.
Specs and details:
-Showing original green color
-BenHur visible on tailgate
-tailgate hinges are short backstrap with bolt-in pieces on the tub side
-missing a couple stake pocket sleeves
-missing axle and wheels
-flat floor (no DP)
-standard fenders
-missing serial tag (location noted on front face, right side if being viewed from front)
-tongue mount is different than my Sears model (its much wider across front of the tub)
-clevis type hitch (appears original, but Im not sure)

 

[Dustoff]

I bought this old trailer about 4 years ago, rusting away in a backyard. It was titled “home made trailer 1976”. The Owner had no additional information. I completely restored it and built it into an Off-Road trailer. During my restoration when sanding the paint and rusted tail gate. It was green paint with yellow letters BEN - HUR. I had no idea the history of the trailer until now. Here’s the final pic. Still looking for the old pics when I bought it. I did all the work so ask anything about it.

 

[Kris Smith]

I just became the owner of what I believe after reading this thread to be a 47-48 Bradley. Its frame is rusted out and will need to be replaced along with some of the sheet metal. It’s got the square axle round fenders long welded double knuckle hinges and a plate on the left lower section of the frame front next to the tongue that may be the data tag. It’s got the two bolt tongue mounting on it and the nut style hitch fastener on a 1 7/8” ball.

 

[XJSuperman]

I did all the work so ask anything about it.View attachment 40007

How do you have those eyebolts mounted? Did you drill through the rail and add a large washer or? Im needing to do the same thing for my rack mounts

 

[used assassin]

Picked this up the other week, and this is a great site for all the info thats here, this is a 1947, Ben Hur

 

[Nathan David Nitz]

are replacement hubs available for our trailers?
Thanks!