Little Red Rust Bucket - M416ish build

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nicely done!
 
Great refurb. I really like your idea to cap the box with C channel as a base for the lid. That makes for a great base to install the lid.

We use a similar battery box at work to assist in starting engines, very good idea for portable power. Have you considered installing a battery tender or other charger as part of the box with a recessed external male 110VAC receptacle for charging at home or at a powered camp site. It would make an entirely self contained power unit.

110VAC receptacle

Waterproof 800 International - USA Western Hemisphere - Automotive - Batterytender.com
 
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That is awesome. The battery box is amazing, so simple... I LOVE THE IDEA!
 
IBCRUSN said:
Have you considered installing a battery tender or other charger as part of the box with a recessed external male 110VAC receptacle for charging at home or at a powered camp site. It would make an entirely self contained power unit.
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Yes, its in the plans, also going to add a voltage display as well. If I add the battery tender inside, will probably add a 110V fan to vent the box as that charger gets pretty toasty.

Took it on this trip and it ran the ARB fridge from friday noon till sometime sunday night before the fridge went into safe mode.
 
Before I begin Phase 2 I should report on this spring and summer's trips. I made a few overnighters up to the sierras and the trailer worked fine. I truly put it through its paces on a week-and-a-half, 2000 mile through the Mojave backcountry and then up through Cathedral Valley in Utah and then over to our annual Toyota meetup at Pismo dunes. The Mojave was the roughest part, mostly due to speed, and there were occasions when the LRRB was more glider than trailer. Trailer survived great and did great all along, the contents took the brunt of the bouncing and bumping. Phase 2 will include: full width fenders, relocated spare tire, better latches, internal fixed 'structure' for organization and installed water and 12v.

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In prep for phase 2, I've removed the tire carrier, gas can platforms, latches and fenders.

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It looks almost naked!

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Tapelines where the new full-width fenders will be.
 
Axle, wheel & tire info.

ethernectar said:
Thinking that when I do the axle I'll go on top of the spring. It doesn't need this much heigh
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GREAT progress so far! Can you provide some details on the new axle? I'm in a similar situation with my Bantam trailer. What width axle did you have made? What size are your wheels & tires?

Also, I noticed you kept the SOA. I'd rather not go that route, unless I have to.

THANKS & keep up the good work....I'm following your progress :beer:
 
Phat phenders are just what the doctor ordered. That made a world of difference on our M101 CDN, keeping the crud under control and making the rig look sharp.
:beer:
 
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Fender mod looks awesome....it's always nice to pick up some addtional space for flat surfaces Great job on the angles.

I think while you were cutting, welding and grinding, maybe add a few more supports at the ends. Although I'm sure it's plenty strong enough, if you whacked a tree or something on the edge, it may damage it.

Pat
LRRB_P2_72a.webp
 
ethernectar

Thanks for a fantastic thread. And great pics as well.

I just picked up a 1962 M416 Serial # 637.
This is giving me a ton of ideas on what I will be doing to mine over the next few months.

Keep up the great work.
 
Bonked said:
GREAT progress so far! Can you provide some details on the new axle? I'm in a similar situation with my Bantam trailer. What width axle did you have made? What size are your wheels & tires?

Also, I noticed you kept the SOA. I'd rather not go that route, unless I have to.
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Thanks. I can't recall the width, but it was the standard width for a 3500 lb axle (82"???). The important part for me was matching the Toyota bolt pattern (6 on 5.5). The wheels are 17" and are the same as what's on my 4Runner, the tires are a 32" and what I'll be going to next on the runner. The SOA has worked out fine. I like the height that the tub sat at, so I kept it.
 
titanpat57 said:
Fender mod looks awesome....it's always nice to pick up some addtional space for flat surfaces Great job on the angles.

I think while you were cutting, welding and grinding, maybe add a few more supports at the ends. Although I'm sure it's plenty strong enough, if you whacked a tree or something on the edge, it may damage it.

Pat
Click to expand...

Thanks Pat! I'm going to wait till I get them installed and decide from there. I'm more concerned about how I'm going to attach them than their strength at the moment. ;)
 
Test fit of frames Frames welded on. Can jack the trailer up off the fender, which was the goal. Not sure if i'll add any more bracing or not... Little bit of black spraypaint... I added a piece of angle steel across the bed at the tailgate opening. It does a couple things, helps keep the end of the trailer square and makes the tailgate actually more usable.
 
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Installed a few loops to help tie things down. Definiteyl something I missed for the Mojave trip.

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Decided to run the spare inside the trailer and see. It uses a LOT of space, so I'm not convinced yet... Also bolted in a 2x4 to help keep things a bit more organized in there while bouncing down the trail.

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Kitchen and pantry boxes fit nicely on top of the spare! This'll change as I'm building a kitchen box, but that one will go in the runner. Installing the Optima and related items in the trailer next.

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This is the top of the new battery box control. Its thin luan ply with a few coats of spray paint.

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Here it is all wired up and nested in its box. The bottom center switch controls the accessory (water pump) and the bottom 12V plugs are always hot if hooked up. The volt gauge will switch on/off, but I fried the switch in there when I soldered it (got a little too hot) so will have to redo that part. Water pump and hoses get installed next, and then to figure out some high-efficiency 12V lighting.
 
I made my own little (24") metal brake to bend the skins for the fenders. Worked well, pretty tough to measure that stuff, but in the end it work out.
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Here is one of the skins complete.
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And installed. Not a perfect fit, but not bad for a never-before DIY kludge. Brake lights tomorrow.
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Little LEDs to provide some mild lighting.
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Have also been building a chuckbox. Here it is with the last coat of paint drying. Tomorrow the hardware gets installed.
ChuckBox_Paint.jpg
 
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