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#comingsoon…..
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Tucker Sno Cat Trailer New To Me
- Thread starter Track Addict
- Start date
very Brian like to tease, tease, and tease, sounds like a very special project...Brian#
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How many trailers came with mounted shovel and axe from the factory and/or dealer?
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East Coast Preserve has found one in the wild!
One of 1 Ski Trailers known to exist in New England fitted with an original Tucker axe and shovel body mount.
One of 1 Ski Trailers known to exist in New England fitted with an original Tucker axe and shovel body mount.
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There is not a ton of information available on Tucker trailers outside of photos even though many models were produced and are pictured in early literature.
The nomenclature from I have found seems to be by weight rating (tons) and/or model no which was features and or weight rating. It is quite likely the Tucker factory (west coast dealer) and Sno Cat Corp of NH (east coast dealer) had unique variants and branding especially during the early years.
Sno Cats produced into at least the 70’s came from the factory with a dash tag that said TOW EXCESS LOADS ON SKI TRAILERS.
What’s interesting is literature and photos seem to stop around the time Ed Gil Corp became the (east coast dealer) in the late 60’s and maybe prior.
Experts surmise that trailers tended to live with Tucker Sno Cats that did not have to be trailered for use and had specific task design such as people or gear hauling. Try taking a trailer on trailer and you will agree
East Coast Preserve puts forward a hypothesis that a confluence of factors such as Tucker Sno Cat model evolution with increased gear/people capacity, ski chairlift technology advancements, and other snow vehicle/machines entering the market obsoleted the highly coveted SKI TRAILERS long before availability ended if someone truly wanted one.
The nomenclature from I have found seems to be by weight rating (tons) and/or model no which was features and or weight rating. It is quite likely the Tucker factory (west coast dealer) and Sno Cat Corp of NH (east coast dealer) had unique variants and branding especially during the early years.
Sno Cats produced into at least the 70’s came from the factory with a dash tag that said TOW EXCESS LOADS ON SKI TRAILERS.
What’s interesting is literature and photos seem to stop around the time Ed Gil Corp became the (east coast dealer) in the late 60’s and maybe prior.
Experts surmise that trailers tended to live with Tucker Sno Cats that did not have to be trailered for use and had specific task design such as people or gear hauling. Try taking a trailer on trailer and you will agree
East Coast Preserve puts forward a hypothesis that a confluence of factors such as Tucker Sno Cat model evolution with increased gear/people capacity, ski chairlift technology advancements, and other snow vehicle/machines entering the market obsoleted the highly coveted SKI TRAILERS long before availability ended if someone truly wanted one.
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The SKI TRAILERS did not have the typical Tucker serial# plates or motor serial # to reference lineage.
Any badging known was a decal or hand painted nomenclature from what I have learned. This one has none that left on the body I can find so far.
As I was cleaning up the trailer frame in preparation for preservation, I noticed a unique stamp on the pintle hitch.
Pintle hitches from what I can tell didn’t start until the heavier A model Tucker Sno Cat variants came to be in 1960’s which is about when the trailer advertising and specimens stopped. I think the fiberglass pontoons coincide with the birth of the a models which needed wider rails than the steel pontoons
This one has IDAHO stamped on the pintle and what looks to be mountains above. Clearly done by hand in Tucker fashion but very not Tucker at the same time. Don’t know of dealer/distributor in the
state so maybe this is a Model designation of sorts?
Any badging known was a decal or hand painted nomenclature from what I have learned. This one has none that left on the body I can find so far.
As I was cleaning up the trailer frame in preparation for preservation, I noticed a unique stamp on the pintle hitch.
Pintle hitches from what I can tell didn’t start until the heavier A model Tucker Sno Cat variants came to be in 1960’s which is about when the trailer advertising and specimens stopped. I think the fiberglass pontoons coincide with the birth of the a models which needed wider rails than the steel pontoons
This one has IDAHO stamped on the pintle and what looks to be mountains above. Clearly done by hand in Tucker fashion but very not Tucker at the same time. Don’t know of dealer/distributor in the
state so maybe this is a Model designation of sorts?
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East Coast Preserve looks to improve serviceability for the future while maintaining the Tucker design where possible.
The Ski Trailer hitch must rotate and pivot to follow terrain behind the Sno Cat. Machined bronze thrust washers instead of steel will reduce the hitch pivot tube wear during use. Thicker in the back where the majority of force and wear will occur.
Service schedule at 100 mile/annual intervals will be to disassemble hitch shaft, lubricate with low temp grease, and inspect bolt, nut, and front/rear bronze thrust washers for wear. Replace as needed.
The Ski Trailer hitch must rotate and pivot to follow terrain behind the Sno Cat. Machined bronze thrust washers instead of steel will reduce the hitch pivot tube wear during use. Thicker in the back where the majority of force and wear will occur.
Service schedule at 100 mile/annual intervals will be to disassemble hitch shaft, lubricate with low temp grease, and inspect bolt, nut, and front/rear bronze thrust washers for wear. Replace as needed.
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Some Ski Trailers had wheels and some did not. This seemed to depend on size/model and use case. Service life that required traversing road or low/no snow conditions would have need them where a ski resort probably would not. It is probable that the wheels were removed and lost in due to hassle or change in use.
The wheels are stowed pivoted up when not in use. Early Ski Tuckers and Trailers had various designs to stow the wheels in the up position.
This trailer has a clever dual purpose design that not only stows the tire but also converts to a table frame. It tucks out of the way when the wheels are removed or in use and the table legs stow neatly in the frame.
My guess the frame had removable wood tables and this trailer was designed for grillin and chilling!
The wheels are stowed pivoted up when not in use. Early Ski Tuckers and Trailers had various designs to stow the wheels in the up position.
This trailer has a clever dual purpose design that not only stows the tire but also converts to a table frame. It tucks out of the way when the wheels are removed or in use and the table legs stow neatly in the frame.
My guess the frame had removable wood tables and this trailer was designed for grillin and chilling!
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Digging through literature archives and I found a 1967 parts list from Ed Gill (east coast distributor at the time). Wood and fiberglass were listed for sale up though at lease 1972 documentation that came with my 1973 1443.
No literature about trailer sales in anything Ed Gil I have found so far.
Curious what a fiberglass ski looked like and what the ski wax consisted of?
No literature about trailer sales in anything Ed Gil I have found so far.
Curious what a fiberglass ski looked like and what the ski wax consisted of?
ski wax was pine tar...very black, very sticky, very thick and got on everything, truly a messy mess
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Ski Trailers had panel finishes that ranged from wood, to steel, to aluminum, and I would gamble even fiberglass.
This model was built lightweight aluminum body panels. My guess is low weight was a design factor for this mystery model.
#10 screws and nuts were what was on it before me. Stainless closed rivets will be the fastener for final assembly.
This model was built lightweight aluminum body panels. My guess is low weight was a design factor for this mystery model.
#10 screws and nuts were what was on it before me. Stainless closed rivets will be the fastener for final assembly.
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From what I have seen from Tucker, accessories such as axe/shovel holder were added after the base Sno Cat production both before and after paint. The dealer might have outfitted accessories much later in life also.
The fastener would have been a flathead/philips screw with a hex/possibly square nut depending on year and outfitter. Here we will keep that theme but upgrade to stainless philips head with acorn nuts for aesthetics safety.
The fastener would have been a flathead/philips screw with a hex/possibly square nut depending on year and outfitter. Here we will keep that theme but upgrade to stainless philips head with acorn nuts for aesthetics safety.
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Tucker Ski Trailer documentation and photos I have found so far depicts passenger bench seating facing forward or bench seating back to back sideways facing outward.
The seating arrangement on this one has a clever design that puts the seating on the outside facing in.
This unique setup creates an efficient, versatile, spacious trailer. This model had to have been built purpose designed to haul people, gear, cargo or a combination. Fun in and around SUN possibly…
The seating arrangement on this one has a clever design that puts the seating on the outside facing in.
This unique setup creates an efficient, versatile, spacious trailer. This model had to have been built purpose designed to haul people, gear, cargo or a combination. Fun in and around SUN possibly…
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Tucker mostly used plywood for Sno Cat and Trailer flooring/decking for cost and time savings. This trailer has another interesting design anomaly from traditional building.
The deck boards on this model are white ash that has wide spacing. My best guess is that this was engineered to help reduce/remove sno, ice, water, and debris encountered during service life.
There is also a cleat that runs front to back right under front edge of the seat. This creates a very useful storage space for gear of all kinds.
The deck boards on this model are white ash that has wide spacing. My best guess is that this was engineered to help reduce/remove sno, ice, water, and debris encountered during service life.
There is also a cleat that runs front to back right under front edge of the seat. This creates a very useful storage space for gear of all kinds.
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This model has additional decking tabs added to move the fasteners away from the end.
Much like plywood used in the cats that were not always fastened, the trailers were probably the same.
The frame angle iron width didn't leave much room for fastening individual deck boards my guess so these are added.
Much like plywood used in the cats that were not always fastened, the trailers were probably the same.
The frame angle iron width didn't leave much room for fastening individual deck boards my guess so these are added.
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The bench seats oriented in the fashion require a center support to carry the passenger load.
This model makes use of the upper seat slat hole and the lower gear cleat to fasten neatly and out of the way.
This model makes use of the upper seat slat hole and the lower gear cleat to fasten neatly and out of the way.
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First coats of paint going on the frame. Not sure what Tucker used be this project getting 2 part acrylic enamel applied.
In true Tucker fashion, paint is sprayed right on the steel no primer but we did address one Tucker engineering flaw.
Bare aluminum panels were fastened to bare steel frames during cat and trailer production then painted. The dissimilar metals promoted galvanic corrosion over time. In fairness to Tucker, this was only an engineering flaw because their product outlived the intended service life.
Here the steel is being painted prior to fastening the aluminum panels. Finishing coats will be applied after.
This should reduce or eliminate the problem Tucker didn’t know could exist!
In true Tucker fashion, paint is sprayed right on the steel no primer but we did address one Tucker engineering flaw.
Bare aluminum panels were fastened to bare steel frames during cat and trailer production then painted. The dissimilar metals promoted galvanic corrosion over time. In fairness to Tucker, this was only an engineering flaw because their product outlived the intended service life.
Here the steel is being painted prior to fastening the aluminum panels. Finishing coats will be applied after.
This should reduce or eliminate the problem Tucker didn’t know could exist!
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Side panels attached with closed end 3/16” stainless rivets.
Floor boards need final fitment and frame drilling next. The rivets protrude further in than screws facing outward as built so need to trim accordingly based on the rivet depth I can measure off the sides.
Floor boards need final fitment and frame drilling next. The rivets protrude further in than screws facing outward as built so need to trim accordingly based on the rivet depth I can measure off the sides.
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Floor boards spaced, aligned, and drilled through the frame.
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Front and rear panels installed. Need to trim the floorboards a bit to clear the rivets and frame variance manufactured to Tucker tolerance.
Switched over to Restoration Shop Omaha Orange for the final costs. Shot some parts to try it out.
Very pleased for a rookie learning to paint with a HTE for the first time. Spectrum Black Widow with rear fan control combined with the disposable paint cups is a game changer for the East Coast Preserve!
Switched over to Restoration Shop Omaha Orange for the final costs. Shot some parts to try it out.
Very pleased for a rookie learning to paint with a HTE for the first time. Spectrum Black Widow with rear fan control combined with the disposable paint cups is a game changer for the East Coast Preserve!
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Time to add a little color to this project!
The aluminum panels cleaned up nicely and were in remarkable shape. Used a 3M ultra fine scotch brite pad to scuff the stripped panels and stainless rivets. Prepsol wipe and it’s ready for finish painting!
The aluminum panels cleaned up nicely and were in remarkable shape. Used a 3M ultra fine scotch brite pad to scuff the stripped panels and stainless rivets. Prepsol wipe and it’s ready for finish painting!
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I think I found the remnants of a decal that might help figure out what model during panel prep.
When a vinyl decal is applied over a finish exposed to sunlight, the areas around the decal fades but the finish under is preserved. Eventually even the decal decays exposing the finish that was protected longer but even that finish disappears over enough time.
As I was cleaning up the side panels I noticed some markings in certain lights.Have a friend working on enhancing and piecing together the very faint ghost image bits using his modern artistic technology.
Here you can see a similar example more pronounced on the Mt Washington cat.
When a vinyl decal is applied over a finish exposed to sunlight, the areas around the decal fades but the finish under is preserved. Eventually even the decal decays exposing the finish that was protected longer but even that finish disappears over enough time.
As I was cleaning up the side panels I noticed some markings in certain lights.Have a friend working on enhancing and piecing together the very faint ghost image bits using his modern artistic technology.
Here you can see a similar example more pronounced on the Mt Washington cat.
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Ran out of paint. One more perfect final coat left.
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Shovel and Axe holders ready for paint. Have a great local blasting shop where a 20$ bill still does wonders.
A rare if not 1 of 1 to have this setup on a trailer.
Black Acrylic Enamel will be the finish to add some contrast to the oranged marriage on this mystery model.
A rare if not 1 of 1 to have this setup on a trailer.
Black Acrylic Enamel will be the finish to add some contrast to the oranged marriage on this mystery model.
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Interesting reflection…..
Jerry Garcia??
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Hint: you have been there
looking awesome!