Back in March, I found a somewhat similar vehicle and, oddly enough, it was also priced at $5,000. This one is listed as a 1953 Willys Jeep Trencher, which supposedly is a custom build according to the seller, but it’s surely based on the Go-For-Digger. It can be found on Craigslist in Amado, Arizona – between Tucson and the Mexican border.
I’m kicking myself for not grabbing that blue Go-For-Digger with the backhoe attachment a few months ago. I could have found a use for that, maybe, but I can’t think of a single use for a trencher. That doesn’t mean that I don’t love it. In reading through the comments on the Go-For-Digger post, some of you have experience with a Willys Jeep-based trencher like this. Barn Finds has such a wide variety of experienced vehicle owners! The seller explains that sometime in the early-1950s, the University of Arizona created this trencher. The seller restored it for a friend who dug his trenches and now wants to sell it. I’m not sure about the “restored” part, it sure looks like it could use a major sprucing up to me, but maybe that was quite a while ago. The Go-For-Digger had a trencher attachment that looked exactly like this one, so I’m fairly certain that this isn’t, or wasn’t, a custom build. I’m not sure where that came from, maybe a story that had been passed down through the decades?
This is one rugged-looking interior. I’m guessing that the AC needs charged.. Ha, just kidding, of course there’s no AC in this Willys trencher. There are also no engine photos but this one should have the F134 Hurricane with around 75 hp. There was a company called Auburn Machine Works, Inc. in Auburn, Nebraska who made an attachment called a Jeep-A-Trench and it looked somewhat similar to the Go-For-Digger trencher attachment, which was made by the Go For Digger Trenching Machine Company. The big visual difference between the two trenchers is that the rear portion was rounded on the Jeep-A-Trench as opposed to being angled like this one is. Here’s a YouTube video of a Jeep-A-Trench in action! It’s a mystery who made this thing, or even what year this Jeep is. My money is on this one being an actual factory-built Go-For-Digger model, not a custom trencher built by a University or even a Jeep-A-Trench, just based on the period literature that I’ve seen. Thoughts? Whatever it is, I like it, a lot. Let’s hear those stories about your experiences with these things!
I dig it…
The original utility vehicle……………..Swiss army knife.
I worked for a Case trencher dealer in the 90’s. Modern trenchers have come a long way since this came out, although the concept is the same. Still, beats a diggin’ by hand. To show you how geared down the Jeep is, it’s actually pulling against the trencher, and the person can get out and video it. ( that’s what makes the trench) Trenchers take a lot of abuse. This shown is easy going through dirt, but many are used in extreme areas, with hitting big rocks, roots, old cars, you name it, and the operator has to be buckled in, or will be thrown off. This thing should have dual wheels on the back. Looks like they singled them out. As maybe an exhibit at the “Yoopers Tourist Trap”, and I don’t know how many trenches you folks dig, but I wouldn’t put a dime into this. You can rent a small trencher at you local TrueValue, and be done with it.
It’s got duals in the rear.
It looks like only the outer dual wheel is used. No inner as there is a lot of machinery under there.
It looks like only the outer dual wheel is used. No inner as there is a lot of machinery under there. the blue one has both wheels, but I dont see the digger.
Reminds me of the Jeep posthole augers that Ma Bell used back in the 50’s – they would dig the holes, and the crew truck with the new poles would hoist the pole into the hole.. Pacific Graft & Electric had at least one Jeep with a trencher
in their local yard. Both the auger and trencher were powered off a PTO drive from the transfer case.
The Go-for-Digger setup was installed after the Jeep left the factory, but only when they were new. Here is the one that I found a few years back, it’s now on the road after a lengthy restoration. Mine dug irrigation lines for a golf course construction company, but it was in a scrap pile when I found it.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/LimeStreetCarriage/photos/?tab=album&album_id=701640703181308
Bill Reiss @ Lime Street Carriage
I’ve never been much for Jeeps, But I sure like the Tough looks of yours. Real nice.
The Jeep that is featured ‘for sale’ is listed as a 1953 model.
However, it has ’55 up CJ-5 body front section, unless it is a Military Jeep. Also, the same goes for the engine.
Front end doesn’t look like an M-38a1 … and while there are plates on the dash (can see something in front of steering column) they don’t quite look military. I don’t know where the military dash info would be on an M38a1, but I think it’s a CJ5 body, and not a 53.
Any info on whether the Army ever ordered trencher-equipped Jeeps?
The video of the old jeep digger in action is beyond cool. Built well or what, still going !!
The video is remarkable of a Jeep moving so slowly! I have a Bobcat trencher, about the same size, but it uses Hydro to control the speed of everything. You really need to go SLOW and I’m amazed the gearing works so well.
The trencher unit drives a ring gear attached to the Jeep’s parking brake (on rear of xfer case). These crawl as slow as 60’/hour if I remember correctly.
loogit the size of that hydro tank in the passenger’s seat!
I’d heard some guy(s) in WV invented the ‘ditch witch’…
Here is another one on Craigslist;
https://akroncanton.craigslist.org/pts/6164113419.html