New trailer project

Want an M416 style trailer, small, light, able to go done rough dirt roads, mainly to add pickup ability to my cruiser as I sold my truck, lumber, rocks, furniture etc, but also so I can pack for a camping trip and leave all the camping gear, does not need to follow me anywhere just to the camp site and left during adventures


Found this cheap



It used to be a welders trailer had a large too box and a gas powered mig welder on that, the springs are supposedly "1 ton", the next owner converted it into an ATV trailer, adding aluminum diamond plate floor and a bunch of tie-down points, the fenders are kind of neat they are attacked to the axle instead of the bed so they travel with the wheels, unfortunately they are not strong enough to stand on but that can be fixed

So far the plan is first sides and front to make a box of sorts, later a tailgate possibly a tailgate that makes a ramp and eventually a removable top of some sort to keep out water and to help keep the honest people honest, but that will likely never progress past a tarp

Unfortunately my welding buddy is moving to Wisconsin so I will have to buy a welder and then learn how to use it, lots of safe practice here on this trailer before I screw up something important

Unfortunately my welding buddy is moving to Wisconsin so I will have to buy a welder and then learn how to use it, lots of safe practice here on this trailer before I screw up something important[/QUOTE]


Nice little trailer! That will be a real nice project to learn how to weld on.

Does it have bearing buddies? If not, that's cheap insurance.

Nick

Are bearing buddy's needed for on-land trailers? I know they work very well for boat trailers, I am just afraid they will stick out to far and get knocked off, this one does have to potential to be used for river crossings, :\


Took the hubs apart Sunday all was well except for the grease seals witch were cracked up with dry-rot, have to wait for them to come in (no available locally as usual )

RavenTai said:

Are bearing buddy's needed for on-land trailers?

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I don't think they are real necessary, but I like the added insurance. They don't stick out too much... On mine, I have had the grease caps get knocked off, but not the brg buddies yet. (they seem to fit a little tighter than the regular old caps did)

I also like being able to pull the little (cover) off and you can see where the plunger is so you know there is grease in it.

Make sure you put those hub seals in real good I put mine in a little crooked, and the brg buddy pushes grease by the seal on that side.

I'm also thinking about converting mine over to pintle.. Better off road, and nobody can borrow it. I don't mind loaning it out, but nobody treats borrowed trailers as they would treat their own.

Later,
Nick

I would think about some snow plow markers on the back corners so that you can tell if it's still back there or not (or back up).

Anyway, that's a nice trailer. Looks pretty heavy duty.

For a land trailer bearing buddies are no more necessary than for a land cruiser.

valentine said:

I don't think they are real necessary, but I like the added insurance. They don't stick out too much... .

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Talked to a coworker that works on trailers on the side, he said about the same thing,

Went looking for some this morning saw both "Bearing Buddy" brand and the Valley version

FWIW they were both the same price w/ covers ($17), the "BB" is stainless (this model anyway) slightly better build and stuck out about 1/4" less so that is what I got,

I'm also thinking about converting mine over to pintle.. Better off road, and nobody can borrow it. I don't mind loaning it out, but nobody treats borrowed trailers as they would treat their own.

Later,
Nick

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Pintle would be nice, noisy but neat for this use

Steve C said:

I would think about some snow plow markers on the back corners so that you can tell if it's still back there or not (or back up).

Anyway, that's a nice trailer. Looks pretty heavy duty.

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Yea as it sits backing up is interesting if I can’t see it I am ok until it shows up in a mirror then I am already in trouble

It is sturdy for its size, has most trailers this size are on 10” tires and very little frame, this one actually sits much higher than my 80, I am going to have to flip my hitch to pull it level, and has a lot of metal on it,

I have some take-off factory shocks from my old ¾-ton Chevy, are shocks useful on a trailer?

Still waiting for seals to get here hopefully it will be together for next week need to haul tool box and other crap to Florida next week, it still needs 2 main tires and a spare rim and tire, when I took off the originals the insides were all cracked up, still holding air but no good for an out of state trip

RavenTai said:

Pintle would be nice, noisy but neat for this use

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I have a 360 degree pintle hitch on my OR trailer. It is NOT noisy on the highway, only when you are on a trail. Not a problem, and VERY secure. I recommend it.

Mike S

Don't mean to hi-jack but where do you find a 360° rotating pintle. I have been looking but can only find rigids...

are shocks useful on a trailer?

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YES!!! Definitely put shocks on, especially if you're going to be loading it up. They really help control the rocking.