, Have you ever heard of a 1970s Montgomery Ward Trailmaster? It is a three-wheeler, and normally when you find one it is buried in a shed or barn under a foot of dust, blankets, and old car parts. That is exactly where we found this one. The owner told us that if we could get it running, we could have it, because all he wanted was for somebody to enjoy it again. We fell in love with the thing immediately, so we took it home, fixed it up, and turned this into a full modern hot rod trike. Here is the complete story of our Montgomery Ward T555 Trailmaster trike build, from the rusty starting point to the finished machine with a JW Speaker LED headlight and Vision X off-road light.
What Is the Montgomery Ward T555 Trailmaster?
This trike is officially called the Montgomery Ward T555, also known as the Trailmaster. Built in the 1970s in Nebraska by Montgomery Ward, it has a distinctive tubular frame, big knobby tires, and a seat sitting right next to the engine. It is a wild, unique little machine, and that is exactly what drew us to it. When we brought it to a local shop called Tint Masters Off-Road, we knew we wanted to keep as much of the original character as possible while dragging it into the modern era.
When you go looking for one of these, they almost always look rough. Rusty frame, busted parts, and years of neglect. Ours was no different when we first pulled it out.
We tried to keep a lot of it as original as possible. The original knobby tires, the original wheels, the entire frame, and the front fender are all original pieces. We simply upgraded and modified them. The wheels and the frame got powder coated, and we had the front fender and the footwell covered in Linex for durability. It was important to us that this stayed a genuine T555 while becoming something completely custom.
The JW Speaker LED Headlight Conversion
Here is one of the coolest parts of the whole project. The headlight pod is actually original. The bucket is original, and the brackets are original, though we did swap in new stainless hardware. When we pulled the old light, we noticed the rubber retainer said “Speaker” on it. It turned out the original piece was made by JW Speaker, which is funny because that is a brand we already sell.
The original headlight was a 4.5 inch round halogen light tied into the factory wiring on this thing. Since we recognized the brand, we contacted JW Speaker directly, and they set us up with a brand new bucket and the new upgraded LED version of the stock headlight. We even had the original stickers reproduced so the finished pod looks period correct while packing modern LED performance. If you are curious about a similar custom trike headlight upgrade, this is about as clean as it gets.
Using the original bucket, brackets, and reproduction rubber retainer meant the swap looked totally at home on the vintage frame. This is the same kind of thinking that goes into any good JW Speaker LED headlight retrofit, keeping the housing you love while dramatically improving the light output. If you want to learn more about the brand itself, you can browse JW Speaker options as well.
Adding a Vision X LED Off-Road Light
Up at the handlebars, we added a super bright Vision X LED off-road light. It is mounted using a pair of Vision X tube mounts, which clamp cleanly onto the bars. This gives the trike a serious punch of light for when you take it off the beaten path after dark.
While we were up front, we also swapped the original rubber handlebars for these black metal hot rod, Harley-Davidson style handlebar grips with pointed ends. We upgraded to a twist throttle and a dirt bike style kill switch. The braking was simplified by moving from a lever on each side to a single brake lever. We kept the original spirit, but we made it custom and wild. If you are into this kind of hot rod trike build, the details are what make it.
Controlling the Lights with GTR Lighting Halo Switches
To power up the new headlight and the Vision X LED off-road light, we installed a couple of GTR Lighting stainless steel LED halo switches. You push the switch, it lights up red, and the corresponding light turns on. It is a simple, durable setup that looks great on the frame and matches the tough theme of the rest of the trike.
Right on the frame we also added a reproduction of the original sticker. We wanted to keep things as nostalgic and original as possible while still upgrading everything and making it custom. Little touches like that reproduction decal go a long way toward keeping the Trailmaster identity intact.
Frame Work and Custom Molle Saddle Bags
In the center of the trike, we removed the flange that held the two halves of the frame together and welded it shut, adding structural bracing for strength. To cover that up and give the middle of the machine some visual mass (it used to just be a bare tube) we worked with a company in Idaho to create a custom Molle saddle bag system. Now there are pouches for a water bottle, a cell phone, and a wallet, so you can ride this thing and not lose all your stuff along the way.
A local company redid our seat in waterproof vinyl, so it is a completely new seat built off the original design. It looks stock but is 100 percent brand new. We also moved the seat back about 5 inches because everybody’s knees were hitting the handlebars. There was plenty of room to spare, so scooting it back was an easy fix that made the trike far more comfortable to ride.
The Engine, Drivetrain, and Top Speed
We wanted to keep the same original engine style, so this runs a Tecumseh HM80. It is a variation of the original 8 horsepower engine, but instead of the early 1970s version, we sourced one from the late 1980s out of a snowblower. That gives us a carburetor primer that did not exist on the original engine, plus an electric start setup. You hook an extension cord up to it, push the button, and it fires right up.
If you prefer to start it the old fashioned way, we kept a pull cord, but instead of the original rubber handle we fitted a custom Tricked Toys brand billet aluminum pull cord handle that matches the tough look of the handlebar grips. To restore it and not just modify it, we replaced the axle bearings with new ones, installed all new brake pads, and built custom brake cables. It rolls smooth and stops well.
On the right side of the engine sits our custom built aluminum intake with a K&N filter and a shield, an aftermarket adjustable carburetor for fine-tuning performance, and a wild hand-built tubular exhaust with a minibike muffler. On top of the engine we mounted a hand-built gas tank that really nails the hot rod look. Finally, we ordered a custom-spec torque converter clutch to run the belt drive. With that clutch and belt drive, this trike will do about 35 mph down a straight stretch on a tar road.
Under-Engine LED Strips and Battery Power
On the left side of the engine, we added a Vision X brand battery to power all the new lights, and we built a custom battery box to hold it securely over even the roughest terrain. On the bottom side of the engine, we mounted a couple of custom LED strips. These are wired into the same circuit as our headlight, so when we flip the headlight on, we also get LED red driving lights glowing underneath. It is a subtle but awesome touch that ties the whole lighting package together.
The Finishing Touch: Monster Hooks Tow Hook
The crown jewel on the back end of this hot rod trike is a super heavy-duty swivel style tow hook from Monster Hooks. It is obviously overkill, and that is exactly the look we were going for. It looks fantastic with the big tires and the small frame.
You might wonder why a trike needs a hook. We usually carry a rubber tow rope wrapped around the front, so we can hook it to the rear and connect our rope to just about anything, or even try to pull another vehicle out of the mud. It rounds out the build perfectly and keeps this little machine as functional as it is fun.
Final Thoughts on the Trailmaster Build
This project was one of our favorites because it blends genuine restoration with wild customization. We kept the original frame, wheels, knobby tires, and front fender while adding a JW Speaker LED headlight in the original bucket, a Vision X off-road light on the bars, GTR Lighting halo switches, and under-engine LED strips wired to the headlight circuit. Whether you have small toys or big toys, the same lighting principles apply, and we love helping people bring old machines back to life with modern light.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Montgomery Ward T555?
It is a three wheeled trike, also called the Trailmaster, built by Montgomery Ward in Nebraska in the 1970s.
What headlight upgrade was used on the trike?
The original 4.5 inch round halogen headlight was replaced with a new JW Speaker bucket and an upgraded LED version of the same stock style light, using the original bracket and a reproduction rubber retainer.
What other lighting was added to the build?
A Vision X LED off-road light was mounted on the handlebars using Vision X tube mounts, and small LED strips were added under the engine that are wired into the same circuit as the headlight to act as red driving lights.
What powers the new lighting on the trike?
A Vision X battery was added along with a custom built battery box to power the new headlight and off-road light, and GTR Lighting stainless steel LED halo switches are used to turn the lights on.
What engine and top speed does the trike have?
It uses a Tecumseh HM80 engine, an 8 horsepower variant sourced from a late 1980s snowblower, and with the custom torque converter clutch and belt drive it can reach about 35 mph on a flat road.
Meet the Experts Behind Headlight Revolution
Chris Nelson – Founder
Before founding Headlight Revolution in 2011, Chris worked as an automotive install technician specializing in lighting, sound systems, and engine performance parts. He has personally tested thousands of lighting products and works directly with lighting engineers to evaluate the technical performance behind every recommendation.
Josh Beberg – Content Production Manager
Josh leads hands-on testing and content production at Headlight Revolution. From beam pattern comparisons to real-world installations, he works directly with lighting engineers to ensure every review is grounded in measured results, not marketing specs.
