UPDATE: Jeep and trencher sold. Well pulling equipment still available.
“1948 Willys CJ2A Jeep with working Jeep-a-Trench option and well pulling option. Can trench about 6 feet down.
— Jeep runs well but engine does smoke… a lot out the exhaust.
— Jeep drives and shifts through the gears fine.
— No brakes
— No glass in windshield
— Fuel pump doesn’t work so currently running off a gravity feed bottle.
— Not much rust on body
— battery tray is rusted out. battery must have leaked at one point.
— Has a clean title
— Asking $4000 Joe”
Jeez! This little jeep is awesome. Do I dare say original paint. Missing a few things but looks pretty good. Check out the exhaust on the drivers side. Shameful drilling that big hole through the step. I see the gov and front weight are there. Usually trench jeeps look bent in half, but this one looks pretty straight. I like it and seems real fair on price…
Yes, This is a First Edition Auburn Jeep-A-Trench and a darned nice original example. On the dash shot you can see the governor handle and also that bar shown across the lower windshield hooks to the steering wheel to keep the trench straight. The big wheel is to lift the trencher manually. Later editions did not have this wheel, lifting was done by power. That lever on front I’m not familiar with, but may be to engage CREEP Mode. The 1960 version I had, a engagement lever was under the driver’s side. This is a PIECE of JEEP HISTORY and I sure hope a Willys Nut gets her to a Working Jeep Show. Very nice price. Idaho Todd is right, it hasn’t been used much.
Looks to be the same jeep as on this page http://elwood.longlines.com/~rlcook/ (click vehicles on the lower left). There are 6 photos, looks to have been in Iowa at some point.
You’re right Tim, looks like the same jeep. Looks pretty nice. I see from the other pictures that carriage bolts are covering spare tire holes. I go through this area this next week to get another jeep and can stop to check out. My trailer isn’t big enough…..bummer
The seller found that he also has the well casing puller option to go with this. He has included it, and raised the price $1,000, which is still fair as the puller is a rare option
I’ve been around these trenchers many years, even have the Auburn Factory Owner’s / Service Manual for a later one, and have never heard of this well casing puller option. The seller has pictures of it on the CL Ad. It is a tower / winch affair which mounts on the front. Most trenchers I’ve been around had a grader blade on front to fill in the trench. Now, This is Trick!! Anybody have any more info about this? This may be the only one extant. That front bumper handle has to do with this option. One of the pix in CL Ad shows the CREEP engage lever under driver’s side. You’ll never get another shot at Willys Special Equipment like this.
Hi Gents,
Hi Gents, Thanks for the kind words about this jeep. Yes, it is the same one that Ron Cook owned in IA. I bought off him probably 6 years ago or so. As I remember from my conversation with Ron when I purchased it, the original owner bought it new in 48 and trenched with it up until 2003. Not sure how it survived being in use all those years, but must have been taken care of by a very meticulous person. The hole in the step for the exhaust is common for the jeep a trench as the exhaust could not exit out the rear.
Hi again Joe, Enjoyed talking with you a bit ago. Welcome to the eWillys World. Dave sure provides a place for Willys Lore to surface, and this little Jeep has us hoppin’. Good Luck.
Oh, forgot to say, the bar in the front is for trenching a straight line. When trenching, the bar is rotated such that the fork on the end of it points downward. I string is tied off and the operator makes sure that the string stays in between the fork tines, thus trenching a straight line. I’ve posted a bunch more close up pics on the craigslist ad.
Joe,
I wondered if that wasn’t yours. Thanks for the additional pics and explanations.
– Dave
Is this Jeep still available?
Jeep has been sold… without the well pulling attachment. Leave a message here if interested in purchasing the well pulling attachment.
Thanks Joe. Can the well attachment be disassembled or is it one solid piece? I know someone who might be interested, but it would need disassembled enough to be put on a pallet for shipping.