Got a line in a M416 trailer, another hole to dump money into?

[Mtbcoach]

I made the mistake of looking through some "expedition" websites since I was looking for other options for "tripping" with the family. In as much as I liked the convenience of rooftop tents, I hate making my FJC that much more top heavy. Looking at the various expedition trailers had me seeing the benefit of them but the finished cost of them is CRAZY.

So, started looking at the threads of the home built trailers on ih8mud as well as other sites. Seeing those that started from scratch and those that used the various military trailers as a base. Clearly, for my rig, the M416 or canadian M100 seem to be the right choice. But, the M416's are difficult to find while getting the canadian versions require some travel to find.

So, somehow, through my searching, I find an M416 in Chattanooga that is in decent shape to build off of. Here are some pics the owner sent me...

He originally was asking $400 and is willing to drop the price to $300 + $275 for delivery to me in Cary. Seems like a decent deal to me since I don't have an pintle (not sure it would make the trip even if I did) or trailer to get it. I found a couple others in PA for $500-600 not counting delivery. I haven't made the commitment yet but I'm about to pull the trigger.

Pull me off the fence before I do, OR, push me over and convince me how much more fun it will be to go to Cullowhee dragging it along with a nice RTT...

 

[fj40z]

Hey Jerry, about a month ago there was one on craigslist for $125. I cant remember where it was but it looked to be in pretty good shape, I'll search around a little bit and see if I can find it. If that one in Chattanooga works out let me know, my dad lives there and I plan on going to see him pretty soon. If the trailer is road worthy I will be glad to bring it back for you.

 

[little_joe]

Just get an 80.

/me runs

 

[Mtbcoach]

Hey Jerry, about a month ago there was one on craigslist for $125. I cant remember where it was but it looked to be in pretty good shape, I'll search around a little bit and see if I can find it. If that one in Chattanooga works out let me know, my dad lives there and I plan on going to see him pretty soon. If the trailer is road worthy I will be glad to bring it back for you.

I've searched a bunch on craig's list, expedition forums, and finally found this one on G503.com forum. There was one down in Kinston but it didn't have tires and the lunette was missing. The owner is delivering another trailer to Greenville SC so I might as well take advantage of his offer to deliver here.

I appreciate you offering to bring it in for me though. He "thinks" it would be fine but I'd hate for it to have an issue on your trip back.

Just get an 80.

/me runs

Its worth a thought but I'm not sure I'd want to put a load of mulch in the back of an 80...

 

[fj40z]

If the bearings are OK and the tires are good it should be alright, let me know.

 

[Mtbcoach]

If the bearings are OK and the tires are good it should be alright, let me know.

Do you have a way to tow w/the lunette? I'll give the guy a call to see if he can give some more details on the towability of it. He said he has been using it for the past 3 years but running round town is a lot different than driving ~260 miles or so....

 

[fj40z]

Do you have a way to tow w/the lunette? I'll give the guy a call to see if he can give some more details on the towability of it. He said he has been using it for the past 3 years but running round town is a lot different than driving ~260 miles or so....

I would drive my Tacoma out there, it has a hitch and I think you can get a pintle hook that will slide into an existing reciever. From my front door here in Greensboro to my dads house in Chattanooga it is around 325 miles. I will probably go out there just after Christmas or just after new years.

 

[fj40z]

Here it is, alot more costly than I would have imagined though

 

[Mtbcoach]

I would drive my Tacoma out there, it has a hitch and I think you can get a pintle hook that will slide into an existing reciever. From my front door here in Greensboro to my dads house in Chattanooga it is around 325 miles. I will probably go out there just after Christmas or just after new years.

Yeah, my mistake, I meant ~360, good catch on that. The guy is in Whitwell TN, don't know if its anywhere near you Dad's place...

Here it is, alot more costly than I would have imagined though

Crazy huh! I've been advised against those also, at least for off-road use. I'll do some more research and look for more reasonable options that I would buy to use on my FJC anyway...

 

[fj40z]

Yeah, my mistake, I meant ~360, good catch on that. The guy is in Whitwell TN, don't know if its anywhere near you Dad's place...



Crazy huh! I've been advised against those also, at least for off-road use. I'll do some more research and look for more reasonable options that I would buy to use on my FJC anyway...

Sounds good just let me know

 

[Mtbcoach]

Sounds good just let me know

I found a cheaper alternative at Northern Tool for ~$100

You do have a 2" receiver on your Taco, right?

 

[fj40z]

Yeah, Its a 2" reciever.

 

[S4Cruiser]

I found a cheaper alternative at Northern Tool for ~$100

You do have a 2" receiver on your Taco, right?

I've got a Northern Tool store less than a mile from my house in Burlington. It has to be one of the coolest 'man' stores. I can spend hours in there just walking around and checking out all the stuff they have.

 

[BigRed08]

i've been pondering the same idea.

even been thinking about those slide in campers that go in the bed of a truck. i wonder if that would fit into an M416.

and Delks Army Surplus in Asheboro usually has a few on hand.

 

[96Cruiser13]

I've got a Northern Tool store less than a mile from my house in Burlington. It has to be one of the coolest 'man' stores. I can spend hours in there just walking around and checking out all the stuff they have.

dude you could walk there... haha

and X2.. Great store

 

[mtweller]

I enjoy going there and Agrisupply in Garner!

 

[GarnerFJ40]

Ditto on the Agrisupply, it's just around the corner for me. There are multiple options (new technology) for getting a better off road couping system for those trailers some are based on ball joints and have more articulation.

Look on the governmentliquidation website. Lejune and Bragg puts one up every so often, but I think they go for about 500-600 and it's an auction....

 

[Mtbcoach]

Ditto on the Agrisupply, it's just around the corner for me. There are multiple options (new technology) for getting a better off road couping system for those trailers some are based on ball joints and have more articulation.

Look on the governmentliquidation website. Lejune and Bragg puts one up every so often, but I think they go for about 500-600 and it's an auction....

I did spend a bunch of time looking on the liquidation site but most of what they are selling are the bigger M101's and such. They are almost 1300lbs unloaded where the M416's are 550lbs.

And, I'll almost surely change the coupling so that I can put on a "lock and roll" type coupler as well as an drawbar that I can extend/compress as the terrain dictates...

 

[shinton]

I would look at what you want to do with this... are you really planning on hauling it down behind the trails or simply to the campground?

I know you have done some wheeling out west, not sure if you have been doing trails that you stay overnight ON the trail? That is obviously when they come in handy...

If you are staying at a campground/field, etc, then a pop-up camper will work just as well and already have built in a sink, stove, microwave, lighting, beds, etc. (A/C...) Your rig can easily tow it, even if up to 3-4k in weight / depending on how much luxury you want.

One third alternative is getting a "regular" trailer of some sort and simply placing the larger wheels on it? Many of the popular trailer axles are 5 on 5.5 or 6 on 5.5 patterns so you can put a rim with 33s, 35s, etc on there if you adjust the fenders to match.

Nice part about those are newer axles, seals, etc...heck Northern has the little 4x8 trailers for a few hundred brand new? The 4x6 "atv" trailers would seem to work well, just add larger tires?

TRAILER

You could even add some "lift" to the axle too for clearance? Just a thought / less rust issues, etc.

Sam

 

[Mtbcoach]

I would look at what you want to do with this... are you really planning on hauling it down behind the trails or simply to the campground?

I know you have done some wheeling out west, not sure if you have been doing trails that you stay overnight ON the trail? That is obviously when they come in handy...

If you are staying at a campground/field, etc, then a pop-up camper will work just as well and already have built in a sink, stove, microwave, lighting, beds, etc. (A/C...) Your rig can easily tow it, even if up to 3-4k in weight / depending on how much luxury you want.

One third alternative is getting a "regular" trailer of some sort and simply placing the larger wheels on it? Many of the popular trailer axles are 5 on 5.5 or 6 on 5.5 patterns so you can put a rim with 33s, 35s, etc on there if you adjust the fenders to match.

Nice part about those are newer axles, seals, etc...heck Northern has the little 4x8 trailers for a few hundred brand new? The 4x6 "atv" trailers would seem to work well, just add larger tires?

TRAILER

You could even add some "lift" to the axle too for clearance? Just a thought / less rust issues, etc.

Sam

Thanks for the ideas and suggestions.

I plan on have it it "trail ready" as in towing/camping on trails as well as campground stays. Places like Cullowhee, Harlan and other places like that will be perfect for what I've got planned and I also hope to be able to make it capable for much more challenging terrain.

I've looked at some of the newer pop-ups as well as "commercial" expedition trailers and its hard for me to rationalize dropping $8-10K on something that may need other modifications also. I did consider a "build from scratch" trailer, using parts from Northern Tool as well as other suppliers but I'm not that good of a fabricator, yet.

My hopes are that once I fix the flaws in this trailer, I can do a relatively "simple" build with hard top, RTT, water, propane and room for all my junk for trips. Only time will tell how crazy I get. It is supposed to get here on Sat than I'll see with my own eyes how deep in trouble I'm in...