new trailer

We recently bought a decommissioned US military trailer on e-bay. We've been wanting a trailer with excellent off-roading capabilities that can be towed behind the Land Rovers. We also considered purchasing a popup camper, but most that we looked at could not handle the rough roads of our property in Canada. This trailer seemed to fit our needs. Eventually it will also house a removable tent camper conversion.





This is the "before" photo showing the trailer as we received it. In the photo below, you can see that Brad painted it to match the 109 with the appropriate British military stenciling and stickers. The 101 will also eventually be painted the same color. An American military trailer towed behind British military vehicles... well, at least we're allies, right?














We will eventually need to replace the trailer's tires and to hunt down a spare as well...













Obviously the 109 (pictured above) is fully operational. As far as the status of the rest of the antique vehicles...





Brad is waiting on a fuel filler hose and some miscellaneous parts for the 101 from the UK. In the meantime, he has begun to remove the body in preparation for some serious cleaning, painting and Wax-oyling, among other tasks.

And, yes, the exhaust system is on the list of items to be replaced. This blowout of the muffler was very interesting to see...

The MG is waiting on some parts from Moss Motors...

And the back of the 88 is serving as an impromptu tool bench right now. The 88 is fully operational, but it has taken a backseat right now to other projects.

We recently decided to remove the top of the Land Rover Series IIa 88, aka 'Spencer'. This would have been more fun a few months ago. Nevertheless, we have something to look forward to in the spring!

Land Rover - BBC greatest car of all time

This is a short video (< 5 minutes) about the Land Rover marque, and some nice footage of a vintage Series I.

The 109, 88 and MG are now under cover... 

Over the weekend, I was able to salvage some porch pillars from a house in town being renovated. These likely date from the early 20th century. Sometimes it's nice to have a Rover with a roof rack.

The exterior military conversion of the 109 is now complete, with a new canvas top!

Another view 

At the Dutot schoolhouse in Delaware Water Gap 

Brad recently purchased an inflatable raft, and we were finally able to spend some time on the Delaware River. He opted for a raft instead of a bass boat, as it will be easier to transport on our visits to Nova Scotia...

Over the weekend, we were able to take the raft out for a test run on the Delaware River. We began at the National Park Service's Kittatinny Point Visitor Center on the NJ side and motored upriver. We only made it to Schellenberger Island, as the weather was set to make a turn for the worse. It was a short trip, but enabled us to work out some kinks with the raft, and showed us that the 3HP electric motor was strong enough to withstand going against the current. Perhaps next trip we can make it to the Hialeah picnic area or Smithfield Beach...

Parking at the canoe launch. The regular boat launch was still damaged from the spring flooding of the Delaware.

Brad preparing the raft for its maiden voyage 

A view of the Delaware River from the NJ shore, looking towards PA 

Looking towards Mt. Tammany at the Gap 

The 109 has received most of its initial painting, and the military markings are beginning to be applied...

Painting the 101 is next on the list 

And Brad has been busy transforming the 1972 Land Rover Series III 109 to a Gulf War (I) configuration. The vehicle was originally painted "NATO Green" while it was in service with the British military and NATO in Belgium. When Brad had it shipped to the U.S., it was painted "Sandstone"(a tan color), and convered from a soft top to a hard top. Unfortunately this color blended too well with the sand in Florida (where the 109 was hit by a motorcyclist), and Brad decided to paint the 109 a striking "AAA Yellow". The vehicle is now returning to a military look with a new hoop set and canvas top, and will eventually be outfitted with authentic insignias, stenciled paint, etc. from the UK. Eventually the 101 will get the same cosmetic overhaul.

Part of the 109's "AAA Yellow" can be seen undernearth the gray primer

Here the front wing is still primered, while part of the vehicle has been painted in "NATO Sand/Lightstone"

And the 109 has received a new tailgate to go along with the soft top. We are still waiting on the canvas top and some parts of the hoop set.

Brad has decided to turn the 109 once again into a softtop Land Rover. Here is a 'before' shot of the 109 with hardtop, roof rack, ladder, auxiliary lighting, and limb risers. 

And now, the 109 with its top removed! I think this will be fun for driving around this summer...