71 CJ5 with a Trencher and a Half Hard top

I have the oppurtunity to purchase a 71 cj5 with a trencher on the back that a friend's family used to tile the farmfields around the family homestead. Has the four cylinder F head I believe, hurricane engine? It has around 35,000 original miles that my friend witnessed while using it his whole life. In fairly good condition, barn kept. He said going down the road from field to field it could or you would only want to go about 40-45 Mph because of the trencher in the upright position wobbling around. The trencher has a chain and little teeth that rotate around a bar, similar to the rear end of a ditch witch. Not the bucket type. Anyways, i'm wanting advice on what I should pay? if I should remove the trencher? What about the four cylinder F head hurricane? Was/is that a good motor? IF by removing the trencher, will the vehicle operate normally. I like the half hard top, I'm pretty sure it was an aftermarket thing, but I'm really a fan of the scramblers (CJ-8) with the longer box and with the half hard top! Someday. Any Advice, I currently own a 1976 Postal DJ-5d with a 232 straight / 727 tranny that is so far unbreakable. Love the thing, just two wheel drive would like to get a four wheel drive. Thanks in advance.

 

So I guess you don't necessarily want it for the trencher? The trencher is cool. Does it have a big rear axle and dual wheels?

Jeeps with the F134 aren't very speedy. If you want to drive around town, they are fine, but top speed is still going to be 50ish even without the trencher. Most of them have a 5.38:1 axle ratio, though they can be fitted with an overdrive that improves top speed some. But if you bring the revs down, you start being power limited to 60-ish highway speeds.

We need pictures to say much about price. A lot depends on where in the country you are too. More then $500 and less than $5000.

 

:iagree::uwop:

 

The trencher is neat as piece of history, and if functional as a trencher Jeep. Any Jeep with that unit on the back has had a hard life. Then trencher weighs around 1800 lbs. almost as much as the Jeep it self. The weight often humped the body up in the middle and broke the sheet metal on the sides. What is it worth? well that depends on condition and what your willing to pay. my first guess would be 500-1500 range. I have a '71 as well, would love to see some pics!

 

It does not have the dual rear wheels or the dozer blade, or hydraulics. Just basically looks like a big chainsaw bar sticking out the back of the jeep. I'll try to get pics from my buddy, might go see him this weekend. I believe it uses a pto somehow off of the rear differential. I never looked under the jeep, but from research on the internet, I've only seen a few CJ5's with the ditch witch/chainsaw blade sticking out the back. I've seen CJ3's that had these ditch witch blade trenchers on the back.
Windyhill do you have any pics of the trencher jeeps that you have listed below your username? Or does anyone on here have pictures of the trencher blades that I speak of? I wonder how this thing would work as a stump grinder?

 

Similar to this.
http://www.film.queensu.ca/cj3B/Photos/Literature/SpecEquip/SpecTrencher.JPG

 

I suspect one could sell the trencher to a die hard Jeep restoration fanatic that would give you the Jeep for free. Just a thought, but, the agri-Jeep attachments seem to be prized posessions due to their rarity and the cool factor.

Where is this gem located?

 

My buddy recently used the trencher to trench in water lines to his familys new machine shed on the farm, so I know it currently works. He said he is having trouble finding parts for the trencher though and doesn't think he'll use it much anymore. It is located in...... Wait.... not sure that is a good idea. Rural America, USA How's that sound?

 

IMO, if you want something to go wheeling in, don't tear up a functional trencher. Let this JEEP go to someone who will use it for what it is. There are plenty of regular old JEEPs around for use off road. It will be less troublesome for you to start with a plain old JEEP and better for the trencher if someone who can use it were to end up with it.