Way back in the 1970’s (I can’t remember which exact year) I was still completing my university degree and living at home in Melbourne. My father bought a second hand box trailer that consisted of a steel frame and timber bed and sides. It was quite a good looking trailer, but also quite light, so easy to pull with with a small car.
I decided to test my welding skills by making a tent-like frame to go on the top of the trailer to enable it to be covered.
Fast forward to the year 2000, and as part of my father’s estate, I inherited the trailer. I was living in Wollongong and the trailer was put to good use transporting tools and other items from my father’s house to mine. The first trip encountered some rain and the tarpaulin tied over the frame proved not to be water-tight. Before the next trip, I took the trailer to a canvas tarpaulin supplier who made a custom cover to go over the frame.
After that, the trailer got plenty of use but in recent years it has become more of a storage container on wheels. To actually use the trailer, it had to wheeled out of the garage and emptied of it’s contents, subsequently it’s use became less and less frequent. Also, I now have a dual-cab ute with canopy, so am able to do things with it where I would previously have used the trailer.
At one time when I put new tyres on it, it was pointed out that the wheels came of a Ford Zephr, which were produced in the early 60’s – so my guess is that the trailer was made in the late 60’s or early 70’s. it is not suprising then that the timber bed and sides of the trailer were showing signs of their age and needed replacing.
Having decided that my garage space could be better used and that I had better woodworking projects for my time than replacing the timber in the trailer – I made the decision to sell it.
An ad on Gumtree resulted in my phone running hot within half an hour of the ad going up (maybe my price was too low?). I had someone come down from the Southern Highlands who committed to buying it without even seeing it. So my trailer is gone – the new owner was really happy as he was after a light trailer and the custom cover was an added bonus.
