Army No.5 Trailer rescued from a farm shed

[Dordie]

I found a Army No. 5 for sale at a farm clearing sale.

To my utter surprise, but great delight, I won the trailer at auction for a very low price. A nice Christmas present to myself.

Transported it home from central NSW on my car trailer for assessment and repairs.

Trailer was filled with blow up pool toys and a wool pack stencil from the wool shed + lots of wasp nests.

First assessment is pretty good.

Trailer was last registered in NSW in 2015 and hasn't been altered in any way.

The original 12 pin NATO plug is still installed, as are the original lights, reflectors and blackout flag under the trailer.

Tyres are Olympic's, not Michelin and one of the wheel's had an awful amount of play.

Overall, pretty chuffed.

[Dordie]

Having got the trailer home, I decided to assess any damage and start the repairs.

The front wall of the trailer tub had coped a hit and had a nice bend in it.

So, the first job was to straighten this.

A 20 ton hydraulic jack and some timber made short work of the dent. It straightened out beautifully.

[Dordie]

Next job was to fix the banana trailer stand.

Not sure how it got so bent, but my OCD wouldn't let it stay that way.

A bit of setup on the press and viola - pretty straight again. Not perfect, but very serviceable.

[4bee]

Having got the trailer home, I decided to assess any damage and start the repairs.

The front wall of the trailer tub had coped a hit and had a nice bend in it.

So, the first job was to straighten this.

A 20 ton hydraulic jack and some timber made short work of the dent. It straightened out beautifully.


That'll teach it not to buggerise you around next time.:Rolling:

[Dordie]

One of the wheels had way too much play.

So, I pulled the hub to see what was going on.

Removed the seal and wheel bearings and cleaned them. The seal was damaged, although fortunately, the bearings and races were fine.

Checked through my spares collection and I didn't have a new seal, so will buy some new one's when the shops reopen after Christmas.

I re-greased the bearings and refitted and re-installed the seal as a temporary fix.

When I get 2 new seals, I service both sides.

The pintle hook ring didn't swivel, so I removed it to see what was going on.

It's been welded so it remains fixed. I could fix it, but decided not too as I have a swivel pintle hook anyway.

So, refitted the ring.

Onto the next job.

[4bee]

One of the wheels had way too much play.

So, I pulled the hib to see what was going on.

Removed the seal and wheel bearings and cleaned them. The seal was damaged, although fortunately, the bearings and races were fine.

Checked through my spares collection and I didn't have a new seal, so will buy some new one's when the shops reopen after Christmas.

I re-greased the bearings and refitted and re-installed the seal as a temporary fix.

When I get 2 new seals, I service both sides.

The pintle hook ring didn't swivel, so I removed it to see what was going on.

It's been welded so it remains fixed. I could fix it, but decided not too as I have a swivel pintle hook anyway.

So, refitted the ring.

Onto the next job.


You were very fortunate that it was in such good nick & complete to start with, so what you are doing is a nice restoration. & I know how important that can be. Case in point if you will pardon the change of topic..[bighmmm]
When I moved to this property there was an old engine in the pump shed & I hadn't a clue what it was or anything about it until a Farrier filled me in. It was complete with the exception of a fuel nozzle jet. The cast iron drip pan was here, (amazing) one glass of 1 of 2 Lubricators was smashed but the important item was the vertical blowlamp used to pre-heat the hot bulb prior to starting which just needed a piece of heavy walled steel tube to replace the piece that had melted a & apart from a good cleanup I was able to get this 1908 Hornsby Hot Bulb Oil Engine running with the temporary loan of a jet until my friend was able to make me up a new/old one which worked perfectly I did mean to ask him how the hell he was able to "drill" a couple of thou" orifice in it. Obviously the skill was there back in 1908. Maybe he magicked it in?[bigrolf]


Surprising, because since 1926 (when the mains power came) many people, Linesmen etc had used the shed for a Lunch shed but no-one had stolen any brass components or the above items or damaged anything that wasn't already damaged while it was in service. back then & that was very minimal.


Anyway back to you, yours should be a doddle seeing how it is all there & you have made a good start.

[Dordie]

Hi 4bee. Yes, I was chuffed when I won the auction. Looks like it was bought from disposals, barely used then parked up. It should come up a treat with a bit of love.
Will look good on the rear of my Series 3 GS too [smilebigeye]

I also won 2 Range Rover Classic's from the same auction. Not quite sure what I'll do with them as they were parked up for a resto by an elderly farmer who has since passed. They're both early model 4 doors. One, is a 1982 4 door, the first year of the 4 doors. Both are manuals. Gotta pick them up some time. I love road trips

[W&KO]

Sounds one you know your way around a no. 5

Just checking if the stand has the little tang on it that ensure it doesn’t drop if the clamp comes undone??

Cannot see it in the pics…although it probably on the other side.

[W&KO]

Sounds one you know your way around a no. 5

Just checking if the stand has the little tang on it that ensure it doesn’t drop if the clamp comes undone??

Cannot see it in the pics…although it probably on the other side.

Edit….spotted it in the press pic.

I don’t think most know about the ‘safety tang’

[Dordie]

Edit….spotted it in the press pic.

I don’t think most know about the ‘safety tang’

Hi W&KO, Yes, the safety tang is welded on the shaft. The shaft is pretty straight now. I was just worried about making the tube an oval shape at the bend point, and therefore it wouldn't slide in the draw bar clamp properly. It did oval a little, but a few taps with a big hammer on an anvil sorted that. Now it can be clamped at the upper most position so that it's well out of the way when under tow.

[Dordie]

Had a few minutes spare from eating Christmas left overs so decided to have a go at fixing the hood bow.

It has a big bend in the top bar, that looks stock, but makes it impossible to fit and tie off the canvas cover properly.

The canvas cover has damage where it looks like someone tried to reef it down and ripped a few eyelets out. Bummer.

I bounced around on top of the bar hoping my body weight would straighten it out. That didn't worry the bar at all.

So, pulled out a ratchet strap and secured it to each side of the axle, just inside the wheels.

After a bit of ratcheting, releasing, readjusting then ratcheting I got the bar sort of straight. It does have a bit of a wave in the bar, but it's much better. I may take a little more of the bend out, but I quite like the peaked look.

The canvas cover sits much better on the tub now.

Will look around for a better cover and / or fix my one.

[4bee]

Had a few minutes spare from eating Christmas left overs so decided to have a go at fixing the hood bow.

It has a big bend in the top bar, that looks stock, but makes it impossible to fit and tie off the canvas cover properly.

The canvas cover has damage where it looks like someone tried to reef it down and ripped a few eyelets out. Bummer.

I bounced around on top of the bar hoping my body weight would straighten it out. That didn't worry the bar at all.

So, pulled out a ratchet strap and secured it to each side of the axle, just inside the wheels.

After a bit of ratcheting, releasing, readjusting then ratcheting I got the bar sort of straight. It does have a bit of a wave in the bar, but it's much better. I may take a little more of the bend out, but I quite like the peaked look.

The canvas cover sits much better on the tub now.

Will look around for a better cover and / or fix my one.


With all your straightening, pushing, pulling, winching etc I reckon you could have taught the Romans a lot.

[4bee]

Hi 4bee. Yes, I was chuffed when I won the auction. Looks like it was bought from disposals, barely used then parked up. It should come up a treat with a bit of love.
Will look good on the rear of my Series 3 GS too [smilebigeye]

I also won 2 Range Rover Classic's from the same auction. Not quite sure what I'll do with them as they were parked up for a resto by an elderly farmer who has since passed. They're both early model 4 doors. One, is a 1982 4 door, the first year of the 4 doors. Both are manuals. Gotta pick them up some time. I love road trips


One wonders whether the pool toys were army issue.[bigrolf]

[Dordie]

With all your straightening, pushing, pulling, winching etc I reckon you could have taught the Romans a lot.

[thumbsupbig] Thanks 4bee, just using what's lying around to get the job done. Bush mechanic skills come in handy[wink11]

[4bee]

[thumbsupbig] Thanks 4bee, just using what's lying around to get the job done. Bush mechanic skills come in handy[wink11]

Indeed & thank God for the existence of Bush Mechanics.[happycry]

EDIT. Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't a #5 have a strong push/pull spring behind the Pintle ring to take up jarring along the tube line? I can't see any evidence of it at this late hour. so maybe the welded bit was removed together with said spring when it was modified by Army a few years before.????

[Tins]

One wonders whether the pool toys were army issue.[bigrolf]

Pool toys?? Device, Flotation, FD10101 for the use of.

[4bee]

Pool toys?? Device, Flotation, FD10101 for the use of.


Children for the use of, Shirley. That RAF Blue is a bit of a puzzle. Cammo maybe? Tail Cammo for a C130/C17??
EDIT.
From his original Post.

Trailer was filled with blow up pool toys and a wool pack stencil from the wool shed + lots of wasp nests.


[bigrolf]


Did it still have it's chain connected drain plug?


I was told years ago they could also transport Water, never saw that but it could have been Bull****, or not.


A bit hard to imagine it not sloshing water around on the move although I have seen In Service Mil ones with a brass tap screwed in the rear so who knows? May have been a Unit Mod.?

[Tins]

That RAF Blue is a bit of a puzzle. Cammo maybe?

The sky is blue, Shirley?

[4bee]

The sky is blue, Shirley?


Geroff. You for real? [bigrolf]