M101 CDN Build

[KOWBOY]

Thanks Folks.

Got 'er filled with all the campin' goodies yesterday ...

now sittin' dead on ready for a 7 hun'erd mile roadtrip to the Cruiser Crawl next week.

 

[KOWBOY]

Few more pics:

First one's at Grey Rock ORV Park where the Southern Cruiser Crawl was held. Great event.

Next two are when I got 'er back home and cleaned up.

'Bout 1300 miles roundtrip. Towed like a dream at 65 mph and had no problems at all. Stopped a few times to torque the new u-bolts and lug nuts but that's it.

Really enjoyed the finished product.

 

[Grouseman]

Kowboy,

Great looking trailer......

Grouseman

 

[NorCalDoug]

most excellent sir...most excellent

 

[Phulcrum]

you have raised the bar ! perfect build kowboy!

 

[KOWBOY]

Thank you very much.

Runnin' my T'yota Junk for the next few outin's ... but plannin' a run to Colorado in early August for Rubi and the Rubi Kamper.

... and maybe even the new TLCA Fall event in Missouri.

 

[Mitchss]

Looks great Kowboy. Real inspiration! Where did you get the tailgate cables? Are they from a CJ7 also, like the tailgate? Thanks.

 

[gavman]

Very very nice trailer, You inspired me to re-do the front of mine and thus I have a question.... What size tube did you use for the front shaft? Looks like 2x3 from the pics and what wall thickness?

Great work...

 

[KOWBOY]

Where did you get the tailgate cables? Are they from a CJ7 also, like the tailgate?

That's right.

The tailgate's a sweet fit and also readily available without the lettering for all you Folks tryin to match up your trailer to a T'yota rig.

What size tube did you use for the front shaft? Looks like 2x3 from the pics and what wall thickness?

2x3 is correct ... ain't gotta clue on the wall thickness.

 

[mopar]

That dern trailer is definitely worth a kerbillion $$.

You done got er done right with the build.

If I only had a Kerbillion or 2....

 

[KOWBOY]

The reason I modified the trailer ... and the jeeper ... was to get my sorry-ass to Colorado. And ... By Gawd ... we just did it in style.

If'n y'all are really bored at work someday ... then here ya go:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/tx-white-trash-elwood-chapter/293801-need-me-some-elevation.html

 

[KOWBOY]

Problem is that I done twisted the hell outta that fancy hitch.

I've e-mailed the manufacturer to see if'n they'll stand behind it or not. I see that Adventure Trailers don't even sell 'em no more.

Anybody else got problems with these thangs??

 

[Grouseman]

Kowboy,

Congrats on a fine trip. I did CO last year and I haven't been the same. Gosh I LOVE CO.

Grouseman

 

[FeilEOD]

I recall Martyn of AT talking about the limitation of that hitch when certain angles are exceeded simutanoeusly, ie like a ratchet wobble joint. I believe similar issues may have been what promted them building their own multi axis hitch. I can't find the thread at this moment but, it was on the Expedition portal, trailer forum.

 

[KOWBOY]

Indeed ... here's the thread that was brought to my attention:

What multi axis hitch do you prefer? - Expedition Portal Forum

The picture has the exact same failure I had.

Wish AT woulda publicized this 'fore they sold me the damn thang.

FWIW, I ain't got no response back from the manufacturer.

I was naive enuff to think it was a good product and so the coupler is welded to the trailer ... now gotta fawk up my million-dollar paint job and burn the POS off.

 

[KOWBOY]

The reply from the manufacturer:

"We have recently found out that jackknifiing a trailer will twist our present design. In about 4 to 6 weeks we will be coming out with a new design to remedy this. Our timeline depends on the test lab's schedule.

with apologies,

Ralph Russell"

Great.

 

[KOWBOY]

And my response:

"Thank you very much for your reply sir.

The reason I built my custom trailer ... and purchased your hitch ... was for use in off-road situations. I purposely made the trailer tongue long enough so that jackknifing it would be possible and this was often necessary during my 2-week, 4-wheelin' trip in Colorado.

I was unaware that your product would fail under these conditions. Furthermore, I was naive enough to think your product would last for more than one trip and the coupler is welded to the tongue for strength. I now have to burn it off, replace it with something, and repaint the trailer. I have attached a picture of my rig and two of the damaged hitch.

I do not have another trip planned for this trailer in the next 4 to 6 week timeframe you reference and I'm now anxious to see your new design and how it will eliminate the current design flaw.

Is your company planning on standing behind your original inferior design and willing to replace it with the newer design ... or are all the original buyers just screwed?

Many, many people on a very large off road-specific internet site have followed along with the build-up of my unique trailer, my trip to Colorado, the resulting failure of your hitch ... and now also await to see your response to this situation.

Thanks,

Kevin 'Kowboy' Holt"

 

[desertdude]

I have two of these hitches on two different M101's - Two years ago I did the same twisting on one of the hitches. They said they were working on a fix back then. (Their lab must keep a long schedule.)

LocknRoll did send me a replacement at no charge - I did pay to send the twisted one back.

I might have learned where the jacknife point is and have not twisted the new hitch yet

 

[KOWBOY]

Interestin' that it's been 2 years ...

Thanks for the info.

 

[FeilEOD]

Yeah I hate to say it but, that is why I still run my primative and noisey pintle/lunette setup. More than once I have thought about switching to a multi axis hitch but, reports similar to yours have kept me from doing it and well, I'm cheap bastard too I hope it all works out in your favor Kowboy.