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WTB Thiokol trailer for 1967 Imp

S

Snowdancer

New member
New to the forum and brand new owner of a 1967 Thiokol Imp. I am looking to buy a Thiokol trailer for the Imp. I know it is a long shot but thought I try before buying a modern day trailer. I am located in Windsor County, Vermont 05149 The pictures below are two example I found on the internet
 

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Are you a wide track or narrow track. I have the deck over factory version and love it. I don’t think the WT will fit the smaller of the two trailers with ramps. Look for my thread about thiokol trailer mods. Good luck, I’ve seen some of the single axle deck overs pop up out west here on marketplace. One will pop up eventually the’yre a great trailer that is very well thought out.
 
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Idaho IMP said:
Are you a wide track or narrow track. I have the deck over factory version and love it. I don’t think the WT will fit the smaller of the two trailers with ramps. Look for my thread about thiokol trailer mods. Good luck, I’ve seen some of the single axle deck overs pop up out west here on marketplace. One will pop up eventually the’yre a great trailer that is very well thought out.
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Thank you for the information. My IMP is 74" wide which I believe means it has narrow track.
 
Here's a rather limited shot of my trailer and WT Imp on the day that I picked it up a couple years ago. OEM Thiokol single axle trailer.
The trailer has seen better days but is functional. The Imp now looks entirely different.
Sorry, can't let the trailer go for obvious reasons.
 

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Good Idea or modify an existing trailer. The stock trailers I am finding that are rated to cary the Imp weight (2,850 lbs) are dual axle and have decks much larger than needed. I would also like a single axle trailer with a just the right size deck. Thanks for the suggestion. I am open to all recommendations.
 
If I had the option I would go with a dual axle. Although Thiokol sold these single axles as appropriate for an Imp, I think they're on the ragged edge of capacity. Dual axle is also a lot more stable on uneven ground.
The day I drug my Imp home, one of the axle bearings got super hot and the wheel was wobbling for the entire 200 mile trip. I was sweating it all the way home. Hub temperature was 260°F when I got home.
Fast forward after Imp restoration and ahead of hauling it up to my cabin, I pulled the trailer wheel to check the bearing. Looked good visibly, I think the axle nut had not been tightened down enough which allowed the wobble and heat. 50 mile trip to my cabin...no wobble and the hub only warm to the touch. Eventually should probably replace the bearing.
 
I'm very definitely a fan of a tandem axle trailer (with a spare tire) and ideally a tilting trailer as well.

Our "TUG" project came with such a trailer, though it was missing the hydraulic cylinder that dampened the tilting action. Thus, it was like a playground teeter-totter. But once we had that squared away, it was a very nice setup.

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I have had substantially more than my fair share of trailer tire issues, and a blowout on a single axle trailer with a snowcat loaded on it wouldn't be much fun.

Case in point, this was taken less than 25 miles from where I bought TUG. Fortunately, the trailer had a spare.

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Im a tandem dually fan, after many failed tires over time i determined more tires were the answer.
But.
after many many miles of towing i have a new appreciation for *less is more*
Axle alignment and tire rolling diameter is the penultimate quest. Two duals will eat each oth very quickly with a minimal amount of pressure difference.
Overly tight turning such asTurning around on a shelf road will twist the heck out of spindles. And again 3 tires set a plane and force the bent one into submission.

So to recap this rambling mess. 2k miles or less trip? less is more. 8-10ply tires can take a pair of imps plus gear easily.
Going to alaska? More is more. And check your equipment every third tank of fuel
Never assume.
Those 8x14.5 tires that were on those oem imp trailers are amazing tires.
 
I stayed with the 14.5 rim size with 8/14.5G tire for the 3100 pound load rating per tire. Not shown here but I did have to add some short flip over ramps to the trailer because the back won't stay on the ground when tilted back and empty.
 

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vintagebike said:
What is the reasoning behind crossed tie down chains or straps?🤔
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The crossed versus straight pull is a debate, and I don’t think there’s a clear right answer. Often, the placement of tie down locations on the vehicle and the trailer dictate the method, and the length of one’s tie down straps/chains can also be a factor.

In the case of the photo on the earlier post, the previous owner loaded TUG on the trailer. It was a package deal; snowcat and trailer, and he supplied the chains and load binders. He loaded the machine so far forward on the trailer, there really wasn’t enough distance between the tie down loops on the snowcat and trailer for the load binders, so crossing the chains gave the required added length.

When Scott and I subsequently loaded it, we positioned the snowcat further aft on the trailer for more optimal weight placement (less tongue weight) and tied it down with a straight pull.

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In the case of Tuckers, the tracks extend quite a distance beyond the axles (especially with long tracks) that with typical trailer manufacturer tie down locations you have to cross the straps or you’d be putting a lot of stress on the the track belting.

(Please pardon the offensive color of the Tucker.)

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Ah kids, I just have to re-post this short video of what could have been tragic...last year about this time at final delivery to my cabin.
Three problems that neophyte-me did wrong: loaded the Imp too far back on the trailer (not enough tongue weight made for a sometimes scary trailer porpoising trip), unloading on a slight uphill incline, and having it running and out of gear when I tripped the bed lock.
I look back and laugh now, but it was pretty stupid. My friends Porsche Cayene was just a hundred feet behind. Had it kept rolling, oh boy...no bueno.
 

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BoyToys said:
Ah kids, I just have to re-post this short video of what could have been tragic...last year about this time at final delivery to my cabin.
Three problems that neophyte-me did wrong: loaded the Imp too far back on the trailer (not enough tongue weight made for a sometimes scary trailer porpoising trip), unloading on a slight uphill incline, and having it running and out of gear when I tripped the bed lock.
I look back and laugh now, but it was pretty stupid. My friends Porsche Cayene was just a hundred feet behind. Had it kept rolling, oh boy...no bueno.
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That could have been "ugly".

Does your trailer have a damping cylinder for the tilt, or is it a pure teeter-totter?

I have no experience with the single axle tilting Thiokol trailers, but after we replaced the missing damping cylinder on the trailer (tandem axle), one could release the deck latch, climb into the snowcat, start it up and back up. The trailer deck would tilt in a smooth and controlled action, and the process was pretty smooth and safe.

Loading was also smooth and controlled.
 
Blackfoot Tucker said:
That could have been "ugly".

Does your trailer have a damping cylinder for the tilt, or is it a pure teeter-totter?

I have no experience with the single axle tilting Thiokol trailers, but after we replaced the missing damping cylinder on the trailer (tandem axle), one could release the deck latch, climb into the snowcat, start it up and back up. The trailer deck would tilt in a smooth and controlled action, and the process was pretty smooth and safe.

Loading was also smooth and controlled.
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Yes it has the damping cylinder and the first time I unloaded it at home after purchasing it worked ok. Just creep along until reaching the tipping point, crank back both steering levers as brakes and ease down. Of course my ancient hydraulic cylinder is probably not quite up to spec anymore.
Had I loaded the Imp further forward on the trailer it would have just sat there until I put her in gear and started backing up.
Live and learn for next time. I usually don't make the same mistake twice....usually, but don't quote me.
redsqwrl said:
Amazing how nice they roll when you dont need them too!
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A good thing my buddy with the camera was standing to the side. I was just making chocolate in my drawers.
 
And then there is the Ballad of Jeremy Renner.

I was on my way back to Idaho and got stuck in a huge traffic backup between Truckee and Reno while he was helped by First Responders.

 
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