FarmJeep.com

FarmJeep.com is home to the history, stories, and information about the post-WWII Willys Jeeps that were the first farm utility vehicles (FUV), changing from truck to tractor to power unit in just a few seconds. While the Farm Jeep was a specific model, we apply the term to any Jeep that performs the tasks of a tractor. For a quick overview of the Farm Jeep concept, we recommend you read “The Jeep As A Light Tractor.”

We try to post to our Blog on a regular basis. You will find the latest news and updates there. Scanning old blog posts is a great way to see how our research is paying off.

Under the Technical Info heading, you will find information on the Love, Newgren, Monroe and Stratton hydraulic 3-point lifts and other equipment that made the Jeep a true tractor. You will also find lists of websites and parts vendors under the Resources tab that we use for our Jeep projects and for our research activities. Also under the Resources tap are links to a large collection of ads and brochures and movies. These items are important sources of information on the uses of the Farm Jeep.

History is important to us and whether it is Jeeps in our family or the history of the companies that made the Farm Jeep components, we try our best to be accurate. There is still plenty to learn about the Farm Jeep and we currently have more than a dozen research projects open. Under the History tab, you will find articles we have written and published, along with notes on our current research efforts.

The Stories and Questions tab will lead you to stories about individuals who have made important contributions to the Farm Jeep story. We try to attend as many shows as we can, to both spread the Farm Jeep story and to hear the stories from people who were there. You might also want to start with a look at our FAQ section and then check out Ask Farm Jeep to find out what people want to know. Here you will also find our own Jeep projects that were the starting point for FarmJeep.com

We have also been lucky enough to uncover a 70+ year-old movie that tells the story of the Farm Jeep in an infomercial format. This movie explains the operation of the Monroe lift and how the Jeep could be used as a tractor and so much more. The 26 minute movie can be viewed here.

Be sure to contact us with thoughts, suggestions and, of course, corrections if we got it wrong.

Barry & Evan

Below are links to forums and pages that we use for research and our own education. We are often asked for where and how to find parts. We have also listed a few of the places you might find what you are looking for.

Model Specific Information
CJ-2A Identification numbers
CJ-3A Information & Identification

Forums
g503.com Message Forums: CJ’s
The CJ2A Page Message Board
The CJ-3A and CJ3B Community Forum
Early CJ5.com > Forum – Flat Fender Tech
Willys Jeep Forum at Kaiser Willys

Early Models
willys-overland.com (Todd Paisley’s Early Prototype Civilian Jeeps)
g503.com
The CJ2A Page
Herm The Overdrive Guy
The CJ3A Page
The CJ-3A Information Page
Original CJ-3A Jeep on The CJ3B Page
The CJ3B.info Page
eWillys

Farm Jeep Stuff
Farm Jeeps on The CJ3B Page
Definitely farm, sort of Jeep
Empire Tractor Club – the Empire Tractor used the Jeep mechanicals

Jeeps and Jeep parts:
Auctions and Classifieds
ebayMotor Listings
eWillys.com – best list of Jeeps across the country
Willystech Parts Board

List of hydraulic lift reproduction parts and Willys speciality tools providers

Parts Suppliers and Services
4WD.com Vintage Jeep parts
Beachwood Canvas 
Kaiser-Willys Auto Supply LLC
Midwest Willys
Walcks 4WD
Willys America
Willys-Overland Motors
Willys Acres

There are a few early civilian Jeeps known as AgriJeeps and in the early 1950s Willys officially produced a stripped-down CJ-3A as the official “Jeep Tractor,” and a slightly less stripped down “Farm Jeep” as seen the ad below from 1951. For our purposes Farm Jeeps are Willys Jeep (CJ-2As, CJ-3As, CJ-3Bs, CJ-5s, or CJ-6s) equipped with the optional power take-off (PTO) and aftermarket hydraulic implement lifts. These Jeeps are 4WD ¼ ton trucks that also perform as small farm tractors, this combination makes them Farm Jeeps.

Paul Lawson, Barry’s father-in-law and Evan’s grandfather, owned 3 “flat fender” Jeeps, including one with a 3 point hitch and PTO. When we (Barry and Evan) began restoring our 1947 Willys CJ-2A with a factory PTO, we immediately began searching and researching the necessary parts to convert our Jeep into a Farm Jeep. This website is an attempt to share the information we have gathered and document our progress in the restoration of the ’47 CJ-2A, the early (’49 or ’50) CJ-3A and the other associated Farm Jeep projects.

We are already indebted to many generous Jeepers and antique tractor lovers for their time and contributions of pictures, diagrams, information, and parts sources.

In the spring of 2017, we were asked to give a presentation on the history of the Jeep implement lifts. A summary of this presentation is presented below. For an in depth history you may wish to read these articles.

A Brief History of Jeep Implement Lifts

As soon as we acquired our first Jeep we became interested in the histories of the companies that made the “Farm Jeep” work as a tractor. This site began and remains as a place to record our adventures with projects. But over the years it has become a repository of information about the components, especially the hydraulic lifts. In May of 2017 we were asked to make a presentation on the history of Jeep implement lifts at the Spring Willys Reunion. Following that presentation we were asked to write a series of articles for the Dispatcher magazine. The Dispatcher is a print-only magazine, so we have made the five-part series available here.

Since that time, along with writer and Monroe Auto Equipment Company historian Clint Dixon, we have continued to focus more on research and expanding our “Farm Jeep” knowledge. Our plan is to share what we discover here.

The Making of the Farm Jeep (Part 1) – Love Lift

The Making of the Farm Jeep (Part 2) – Newgren Lift

The Making of the Farm Jeep (Part 3) – Monroe Lift (1)

The Making of the Farm Jeep (Part 4) – Monroe Lift (2)

The Making of the Farm Jeep – The Final Chapter – Stratton Lift

Other articles by Barry

Farm Jeeps at Work (Farm Collector magazine)

Jeeps on the Farm (Farm Collector magazine)

Other articles by Clint Dixon

Jabez Love and the Empire Tractor

Research related posts

Revolution in Farming – and in Pleasentville

Research Resources

We have relied on the work of many individuals as we have combed the Web for information about Farm Jeeps. Though not exhaustive, the resources listed below form a list of who’s who that we look to when seeking expertise. We are also adding documents and library articles to this growing list.

The CJ2A Page -This Web site combines a collection of articles and stories with a very active forum. A number of individuals that we would label “experts and historians” hang out at this site as well as early Jeep owners with a wealth of technical knowledge.

The CJ3A Information Page – Bob Westerman’s site is linked multiple times on our pages. We will feature Bob in our Friends of Farm Jeep section.

The CJ3B Page – This Web site with over 1500 pages is a gold mine of historical and technical information.

The Dispatcher Magazine – This award winning publication is filled with fascinating articles. It is a must read for those interested in Jeep history.

The Tractor Field Book – “The standard reference book of the industry for the design, production and sale of tractors and power farm equipment.”  We currently have two editions (1951 and 1955) and have scanned some relevant pages.

Maybe in the future but not now…

Our first attempt at using ChapGPT as a digital research assistant was not a big success. Maybe later.