Member III
- 2,827
- First Name
- Jim
- Last Name
- covey sr
- Member #
-
16986
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- none - BREAKER BREAKER HAND HELD CB AND WALKIE TALKIE
The funny thing about the plywood is that they didn't use plywood in the 30's, 40's or 50"s, they used T&G flooring with metal dividers. I don't think plywood was invented until the late 50's or early 60's.Some one may have used the plywood to support the steel plate floor while welding it in and for a sound deadener. Probably the floor was added in the 60's or 70's.@Lanlubber thanks for the story. That idea of turning it into an A-frame shelter got some ideas going around in my head. I was able to learn a little history about the trailer. I acquired it from my brother-in-law who inherited it with his family's mountain property. His dad purchased the trailer from a local miner decades ago.
Apparently International commissioned Knox to make these truck beds because the Knox box had wood floors and steel was hard to get around WWII. So originally, I would say this trailer was much lighter duty than any military trailer. However, this bed was converted into a trailer to be used around the gold mines of Jamestown, CO; likely hauling rock, lumber, and heavy tools/equipment. Today I noticed a plywood layer, I'm guessing that's where the original wood floor was, and I'm guessing that means the steel floor was welded in by the miner. I need to take a look under it and see what kind of axle he put on there and what other reinforcements might have been done. I expect this thing can handle a beating.
It has been fun learning about the history of Knox and of the trailer itself. I should get it weighed. Who wants to bet the over/under? haha
For the past couple of years I've been using a hitch rack and it has been enough to keep me comfortable on the road for 1-2 weeks at a time easily. The hitch rack is just incredibly inconvenient. Two boxes of assorted camping gear and a cooler, plus 10 gallons of gas, 10 gallons of water, 5 or 10 gallons of propane, 2 bundles of firewood, a lid, and a couple of kayaks (35lbs each) will easily keep my payload under 500lbs. This will probably be the easiest work in this trailer's life.
The classic look of the fenders is growing on me, but I will most likely remove them. They are in bad shape and I am leaning towards fitting 35" tires on there so the Jeep's spare is interchangeable. @Road Those flat fenders do look really useful. I'll be mounting a propane tank, so building a cooking area utilizing a fender could be a good way to do it.
Here is a close-up of the plywood layer I found under the steel bed
View attachment 115680
Anyway I like it and am anxious to find out if it has an axle or a differential under it. International have a large 6 bolt pattern on the 3/4 ton axles and a 5 on
5 1/2" bolt circle Ford bolt pattern on the 1/2 ton axles. BTW Ford and international shared a lot of parts and those fenders may be late 1930 ford fenders. Either way they are worth a couple of hundred a piece to the rat rod or restore crowd so don't toss them. They will buy you a bunch of new stuff for you trailer.