M101A2 FJ Trailer (1 Viewer)

[USOffRoad]

You can read the original build thread over at Expedition Portal but figured I'd post some updates here.

Basically, this is where I started via GovernmentLiquidation.com and pickup at Fort Hood one very muddy day.

Then the tear down.

Painted Iceberg White to match my FJ, bedliner, custom axle to match the FJ's track and dump the very heavy surge brakes. Added a Bulldog jack, adjustable receiver channel, LED lights in the rear and so on.

You can catch all of the details over at the Portal.

With the upcoming Lone Star Toyota Jambo next month I decided it is time to do a few things.

1. Ordered an OD Green (company colors now) cover to replace the tan cover (tarp) that came with the trailer. (The tan one is for sale)
2. Going to try and strip the tan paint off of the sides to get back to the OD but will paint them if not.
3. Have our logos added to both sides of the tarp.

It's nice to have an enclosed trailer from time to time and especially during the Jambo.

I also ordered up 24' of L Track in black to mount inside and at the top of the sides plus a few more of the very handy Bed Bolts for more tie down options. Mainly I needed a simple method to secure my spare in front of the wheel well and ordered a few custom 2" black ratchet tie downs along with various L Track loops and what not to make this happen.

I'm also going to finally mount my water and jerry cans behind the wheel wells and add a few drain holes in the trailer.

Oh yeah... we are setup as a Lock N Roll dealer now so I have one on the way as well.

That should be plenty to do before May 1st and I'll update with photos as stuff arrives.

 

[USOffRoad]

Added 8' of L Track from US Cargo Control down each side, I have an extra 4' x 2 but haven't made up my mind where I want it just yet. You can get this powder coated in an abundance of colors. I passed on their stainless screws, 1.5" was too long and I'm hiding them under the bed rails for a clean installation. Ran down to Ace and bought a few boxes of 1/4" x 1" philips flat heads, lock washers and nuts. 10 holes per 4' piece, had to trim one piece on each side about 1/4" to clear bedliner thickness, etc. Turned out great.

I don't want to mount any L track near the bottom as I DO use the trailer to haul things like rock, dirt, etc and I'd never get it all out. Having said that I'm thinking across the top of the fender wells might be nice, maybe a few small sections up front. I started to put some on the tailgate but it would just be in the way all the time.

Added another set of removable eye bolt tie down points all of this leading to mounting my spare desert racer style with some 2" ratchet tie downs. Very solid.

Also received my Lock-N-Roll hitch (I'm a dealer) and got it mounted. About to head to car wash and blast my new OD Green cover and side panels in preparation to paint them back OD unless I can get the tan off easily and back to the OD below it.

You can see more pics here: https://plus.google.com/113131946426...ts/Xi45YuxuNez

Lot's more to do this weekend so more to come.

 

[cruiserpilot]

Nice and neat work. I like that method of tying down the spare. What are the dimensions of the
box on the trailer. They always look so big to me.

 

[USOffRoad]

5'6" wide and 8' long inside. Loaded up with sides, cover, 3/4 ton axle and surge brakes it's about 1400lbs, stripped with the aftermarket axle, no surge brakes, sides or cover it's about 1000lbs. The track is exactly the same as my FJ, it goes wherever the FJ goes and with the LockNRoll hitch it's a no fuss affair.

I can pick it up by the nose and move it around very easily, not so with the military config.

 

[cruiserpilot]

That is a good way to modify it. Thanks for the info.

 

[beach cruiser]

Hey Brad, what do you want for the tarp? Mine is starting to wear thin.

 

[USOffRoad]

Sold it about a week ago.

You coming to the Jambo this year?

 

[beach cruiser]

Bummer. I highly doubt I'll make it to the Jambo this year. New job, new house, blah, blah, blah. It's on my list for next year though. Cruise Moab is this week and it's killing me to be sitting at my desk right now.
Let me know if you come across anyone getting rid of their tarp. I'd like a new one but the cost is a bit too high for me right now.

 

[beach cruiser]

Check out Shack's M101A2 build if you haven't already. I'll be copying him for the rack that he built. But until I'm set on a RTT, I'll have the tarp attached to the bottom of the rack so it lifts up instead of using the bows.
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/foru...05-my-m101a2-camping-trailer.html#post4360609

 

[USOffRoad]

See these guys: http://www.military-tent.com/tarps-amp-vehicle-covers1.html

I received a GMA cover (now out of business) that was in very good shape. It was $245 plus shipping but was in like new condition. Call them, email responses are rare.

 

[USOffRoad]

Here's a few shots from the Toyota Jambo this past weekend.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I love those L-Tracks. What are they rated to hold?

 

[USOffRoad]

Good question. I searched around some but surprisingly couldn't find any weight ratings and I looked all over. It really came down to how much weight I was going to secure. A spare tire/wheel, maybe some furniture or light equipment, things like that AND I have some 1/2" stud eyebolts in the floor for heavier items as well. So probably if they can secure 100-250lbs overall then I'm good.

It's really more about securing things to the sidewalls, keeping stuff from simply rolling around at times. More convenience than necessity for the most part but sure was useful at the Jamboree this past weekend.

L-Track is basically aircraft track... the stuff your airline seats mount to and the FAA dicates, if my memory serves me well, that they hold about 10G's of force, or around 3000lbs.. but that's not really an apples to apples comparison as there are some differences in mounting methods.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

L-Track is basically aircraft track... the stuff your airline seats mount to and the FAA dicates, if my memory serves me well, that they hold about 10G's of force, or around 3000lbs.. but that's not really an apples to apples comparison as there are some differences in mounting methods.

Sounds strong enough to me! We've got similar uses for our trailers.

Where did you get the floor-mounted eyebolts? They don't look like your typical lowes purchase. Are they attached with backing plates or just those fender washers? Can they freely rotate?

Intently curious because you're got what looks to be a good solution to the problem of these 101s not having any in-bed tie downs.

 

[USOffRoad]

Northern Tool for the 'Bed Bolts': http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200373295_200373295

"This pair of 1/2in. Bed Bolts are heavy-duty and multipurpose with a working load capacity of 460 lbs. and a breaking strength of 1400 lbs. Thread size: 1/2 - 13 (eye) and 3/4 - 10 (base)."

I add another washer to the backside and they seem plenty stiff. $14 a pair. I simply like them as they are easily removable.

Manufactured by these guys: http://www.bedbolts.com/

You can also get these which I didn't see until this time but already had the 1/2" in my trailer: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200627000_200627000

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Brad, you are the man. Thank you and once again, beautiful trailer

 

[USOffRoad]

You are very welcome...and thank you, still things to do as always.

 

[sggoat]

You can read the original build thread over at Expedition Portal but figured I'd post some updates here.

Basically, this is where I started via GovernmentLiquidation.com and pickup at Fort Hood one very muddy day.

Then the tear down.

Painted Iceberg White to match my FJ, bedliner, custom axle to match the FJ's track and dump the very heavy surge brakes. Added a Bulldog jack, adjustable receiver channel, LED lights in the rear and so on.

You can catch all of the details over at the Portal.

With the upcoming Lone Star Toyota Jambo next month I decided it is time to do a few things.

1. Ordered an OD Green (company colors now) cover to replace the tan cover (tarp) that came with the trailer. (The tan one is for sale)
2. Going to try and strip the tan paint off of the sides to get back to the OD but will paint them if not.
3. Have our logos added to both sides of the tarp.

It's nice to have an enclosed trailer from time to time and especially during the Jambo.

I also ordered up 24' of L Track in black to mount inside and at the top of the sides plus a few more of the very handy Bed Bolts for more tie down options. Mainly I needed a simple method to secure my spare in front of the wheel well and ordered a few custom 2" black ratchet tie downs along with various L Track loops and what not to make this happen.

I'm also going to finally mount my water and jerry cans behind the wheel wells and add a few drain holes in the trailer.

Oh yeah... we are setup as a Lock N Roll dealer now so I have one on the way as well.

That should be plenty to do before May 1st and I'll update with photos as stuff arrives.

Just found this thread--very nice build up. One question--why would you dump the surge brakes?? They are super simple-no electronic junk to fail, almost no failure modes that I know of, if you keep them reasonably serviced, and if they do, you can fix them easily on the trail with common tools

 

[USOffRoad]

Just found this thread--very nice build up. One question--why would you dump the surge brakes?? They are super simple-no electronic junk to fail, almost no failure modes that I know of, if you keep them reasonably serviced, and if they do, you can fix them easily on the trail with common tools

Eh.. not so much.

1. With no to little weight in the trailer they are very prone to lockup, herky jerky in a big way. Now, if you are hauling a load of ammo or mortar rounds... different story.
2. Weight. I wanted to shed some weight off of the nose...tongue weight AND I wanted to lose other weight, like the 3/4 ton Chevy axle and super heavy hubs/drum brakes.

I may add some electric brakes at some point but haven't really felt a need for them just yet. Simple, cheap and light if I want to add them though.

Most of my 400lb weight savings comes from ditching the surge brakes off of the nose and the axle/wheel swap.

 

[Bloomer]

Looks good.

I considered one of these to pull behind my land cruiser 100 series but thought it would be too much trailer. Ended up with a 416. How does your FJ do pulling it?