Tows like a dream.....

[GLTHFJ60]

I picked up this M416 a month or so ago for $350 and it sat for a while till I got my hitch mounted and wired up. This past weekend I took it to Dave's Place ( GCLCNY Event ) and then down to LI to pick up some parts for my cruiser. I gotta say that I LOVE this trailer and am so glad I bought it.

Plans:

Break it down, fab up tailgate, remove paint and rust, paint, re-assemble.

First task, precious cargo:

[GLTHFJ60]

Now a tech question:

Where do I get 6 lug hubs for this trailer? I am pretty sure that they are out there, I just don't know where to look.

Keeping one spare around will be great.

[titanpat57]

Nice find fellow NYer'.....Does it tow better with weight than without, got a tent going on top after the tailgate fab? I think you may find the hubs at ABC Trailer Supply.

Good Luck, Pat

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by titanpat57

Nice find fellow NYer'.....Does it tow better with weight than without, got a tent going on top after the tailgate fab? I think you may find the hubs at ABC Trailer Supply.

Good Luck, Pat

Pat, do you go to any events up here? If not, you should check out GCLCNY, the TLCA chapter for ny, nj, etc. Awesome people and awesome trails.

Anyway, it tows much better with weight in it. Empty it bounces around like crazy and feels somewhat unsafe unless I ran 5psi in my tires. Weighted up with 15psi, it barely moved at all.

[titanpat57]

Good deal GLTHFJ60....... Nope, I don't belong to that club, although it sounds fun as hell. No matter how nice the peeps are I bet theyd' tar and feather my ass if I showed up with a Nissan Titan...lololol...besides, I have a parade wagon and you real men have War Horses!!

Just a side bar...I work in Rockland co. everyday and put about 85 miles driving to and from ...got off the exit on the Palisades the yesterday and heard a boomp...didn't think to much of it, and noticed the truck leaning a bit to one side when I got out. Crawled under it and the whole damn shackle blew apart and damn near went through the bed....lol...if I drove this POS on a trail I'd spend more time glueing it back together than riding

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by titanpat57

Good deal GLTHFJ60....... Nope, I don't belong to that club, although it sounds fun as hell. No matter how nice the peeps are I bet theyd' tar and feather my ass if I showed up with a Nissan Titan...lololol...besides, I have a parade wagon and you real men have War Horses!!

Just a side bar...I work in Rockland co. everyday and put about 85 miles driving to and from ...got off the exit on the Palisades the yesterday and heard a boomp...didn't think to much of it, and noticed the truck leaning a bit to one side when I got out. Crawled under it and the whole damn shackle blew apart and damn near went through the bed....lol...if I drove this POS on a trail I'd spend more time glueing it back together than riding

Not all of us have war horses though. My rig is an almost stock FJ60 with 33's. Mark and Jon and them have massive trucks, but I go with mine and have an amazing time anyway. You should come at least once, and ride shotgun if you would like. It's so much fun!

Now, what cruiser do you have? Did the frame collapse or did the shackle fall apart?

[KY854RUN]

Originally Posted by GLTHFJ60

Now a tech question:

Where do I get 6 lug hubs for this trailer? I am pretty sure that they are out there, I just don't know where to look.

I have been looking for 6 lug hubs for my trailer and have not been able to find any. If the inner and outer wheel bearings are the same, then there doesn't seem to be a replacement 6 lug hub available. If the outer wheel bearing is smaller than the inner wheel bearing, then you should be able to find the hubs you want.

If you find some 6 lug hubs for your trailer, please let me know where you got them and the part number.

[titanpat57]

Originally Posted by GLTHFJ60

Not all of us have war horses though. My rig is an almost stock FJ60 with 33's. Mark and Jon and them have massive trucks, but I go with mine and have an amazing time anyway. You should come at least once, and ride shotgun if you would like. It's so much fun!

Now, what cruiser do you have? Did the frame collapse or did the shackle fall apart?

I have a Nissan Titan...(shhhhhh, don't tell the other guys,...they'll shoot me here sure as hell) and the whole friggin shackle blew apart like tissue paper, what a croc of s***. I'm a member over at Titantalk and just as I suspected...it seems to be an issue, and as expected, Nissan has it's head in the sand. I could see if I off road alot...or carry / tow a ton, but to go around a off ramp and break it..man. I take great care of my truck and have NEVER in the 30 years I've owned trucks had a shackle blow apart. I had an 82" Cheby C35 that had 7,065 lbs. in the back and the fine reciept form NY's Finest (Troopers) to prove it....lol...and never broke a spring!. I filled out a US DOT compliant against them, as the dealer said "tough luck". I say "up yours" Nissan !

[Brian in Oregon]

I'd like to see some closeups of the tailgate.

[cruzzer]

6 lug hubs are available for the 416's that were built later,, like in the late 70's into the 80's,, they had more "normal" hubs,, in other words they didn't match the tow vehicle.. I'd recommend getting a good 3500# axle with the right hubs. if you go to one of the better places online you can have it shipped to you for about $125,, now that you have a nissan,, you don't have that goofy 6 bolt pattern do you? 6x4.5? That I haven't seen yet.. Also,, nice score on the trailer.. For that $ you did good. If its bouncing around empty check the tires,, might have a bad one.. I have a 416 with 225/70-16 good years pos tires and empty it was solid up to 85.. I didn't mean to hit 85,, just forgot it was there.. Tailgate looks neat,, how bout some pics up and down of it??
Steve

[Jason YY]

After searhing prior to posting a question about converting to 6 lug. I will just ask the question on this thread.

What about haveing the hubs drilled out and new studs rather than spacers or adapters. I called the local axle fab guy. His phone quote was 110.00 with new studs. Any input?

[cruzzer]

I have a drum off one now,, I'll check to see if there is space to drill out or if there are veins..
Steve

[Jason YY]

Originally Posted by cruzzer

I have a drum off one now,, I'll check to see if there is space to drill out or if there are veins..
Steve

I "talked" to the guy on the phone and he said no problem bring them in. Even went as far as to walk me through removing the hubs over the phone. Mine is different than the one shown. It looks more like a "full floater"

[sseaman]

it is probably easier to buy a new axle with new hubs

[GLTHFJ60]

Originally Posted by sseaman

it is probably easier to buy a new axle with new hubs

I totally agree. Then when you have it out, you can do a SO, and run cruiser wheels. However, the trailer that is rated for 1/4 ton probably shouldn't have 3000 lbs in it, so is it possible to get a lower rated axle, or is there no point?

[cruzzer]

If you change axles you should stay with a 3500# axle,, the $ difference is very little,, but its not the weight in the trailer,, its the tires.. If you have tall heavy tires the 2000# axles have a tendency to bend.. the taller the tire the more leverage they have on the axle.. And that is why you dont want torsion arm axles with tires over 33".. dexter told me in an email that it would be too much side loading and risk catastrophic failure.. That the torsionflex axles were never designed for that much side loading.. I'll stay with leafs and straight axle.. or a trailing arm setup like on the AT trailers..

[REZARF]

Originally Posted by cruzzer

If you change axles you should stay with a 3500# axle,, the $ difference is very little,, but its not the weight in the trailer,, its the tires.. If you have tall heavy tires the 2000# axles have a tendency to bend.. the taller the tire the more leverage they have on the axle.. And that is why you dont want torsion arm axles with tires over 33".. dexter told me in an email that it would be too much side loading and risk catastrophic failure.. That the torsionflex axles were never designed for that much side loading.. I'll stay with leafs and straight axle.. or a trailing arm setup like on the AT trailers..

Yup... x2. Go for the beefier axle and forget it, you are adding hardly any weight over a lighter duty axle, so go for it!

[cruzzer]

Strangely enough,, a very nice trailer over on the expo forum has a perfect example of the 2k axle issue with tall tires.. link here,,The "Off Road 'Kinda-Sorta' Teardrop" build. - Page 11 - Expedition Portal Forums
I hate to see any trailer fail,, but the pics came at a perfect time for an example,, I was searching the old teardrop forum for the same thing as several have found out the hard way there..

[KY854RUN]

To get the Toyota 6 on 5.5" lug pattern, you have to go with the 3500# axle because it is not offered on anything lighter than that.

As for having the hubs drilled, I looked closely at mine during my rebuild and there are veins in the hub casting that support the 5 lugs. So, this leaves voids were you would have to put the new lugs for the 6 lug pattern. Your machinist will have to weld up these areas and machine them down before he can drill the new pattern in the hub. This will add to the over all cost and a new axle will most likely be cheaper.

But, if you find a easier way or one that is inexpensive, please let me know about it.