Hey fellow mudders. I have a new project that I would love some help with.
I found a local M416 trailer that I'm going to pick up tomorrow. It's in near mint shape, has tailgate intact, shorter pintle/lunette hitch, 12pin connector, lights work, side indicator is included, original wheels/tires and spare included. No rust, tub is in great shape. Here is a picture of it.
Now for the build goals:
1. Go on moderate offroad trails with my 100 series (2.5" OME lift, sliders, arb front bar, Coastal Offroad rear bumper coming soon) but mainly on gravel/rocky roads in the north woods and to go with me when I head out in the winter time. I think the existing leaf springs and tub/frame build will do just fine wherever I was comfy taking my 100 series to get to camp but I want your opinions on this. I would probably park this at camp if I was trying to do a harder trail somewhere/sometime.
2. Low profile, tough, and simple. I want to be able to beat it up a little bit without it falling apart. I think the M416 fits the bill. Opinions? I also think I want to keep it as an open tub, at least for the rest of this year to see how it works if I can get #5 (Mountain Bikes in the tub) into the build.
3. I'd like to match the tires/wheels to my stock 16" LC 100 rims. I think I could find another few on CL somewhere. If I understand correctly, I either need to swap the whole axle (dont want to do this) or buy a 5 bolt adapter that works to adapt the hubs to the offset LC 100 wheels. I'd also be game to put 16" steelies on the LC and match them on the trailer if finding matching LC wheels proves to be a pain.
4. I ordered a free spirit recreation 80" high country tri layer roof top tent that will need to mount up on some elevated cross bars. The idea is to keep this as low as possible while dealing with item #5. HIGH COUNTRY 80” On sale right now! so is the tri layer... I also ordered the No Weld Trailer Rack Towers - Compact Camping Trailers to keep the tent up from the tub a bit without getting too tall to operate the tent clips/ladder easily.
5. I want to be able to transport 2-3 mountain bikes when I take the trailer and don't have my hitch mount. (in order of preference) in (1) the bed of the 416 on fork mounted locking adapters and take the front wheels off, or (2) bolt/weld a 2" hitch receiver to the front of the 416 tub (Like this maybe with some reinforcing tube?) on two tray style hitch mounts on the tongue We have one of these or lastly (3) on fork mounted roof racks on both sides of extended roof cross bars. I have tried and tried to figure out a way to carry my bikes with me on the hitch and it just keeps on hassling me while destroying my departure angle (We have this swing away) and dragging the rack on the ground... not to mention needing to swing it away every time I want to get my cooler, or tools, or kitchen, in the drawers on the back of the rig. Need a new solution! Carbon bikes so cant hang them or anything. Need a no frame contact mounting solution.
6. I want to keep my 25gallon water reservoir (10" W x 13" H x 36" L) in the tub and connect it to my 12v wash down pump and to the Joolca hot water system for showering, dishes, and washing down bikes/dogs/gear. I need to figure out how to orient the weight over the axle while allowing the other gear that I want to bring. I'm thinking orienting it lengthwise on its flat profile so a bike could fit on either side of it.
7. Mounts (either exterior or interior) for a 10# Propane tank (manchester style Manchester Tank 11 lb. capacity Steel Type 1 Propane Cylinder - Ace Hardware?), 2x 3gallon rotopax (I have locking universal mounts but need to decide where to put them), axe & shovel (Have quick fist mounts),, maxtrax (Blue ridge overland bag on its way MAXTRAX Transport Bag),
8. A 12V battery bank that charges off the alternator while driving to power some lighting around the trailer for night time and the 12v wash down kit pump. Not much more than that... I have a Dometic PLB40 Dometic PLB40 : 40Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery that hooks to a 160W solar panel mounted to my cargo carrier which takes care of my electronics charging (Computer, phone, Garmin, Drone, Camera, USB lights), and keeps the Dometic CF50 fridge running while off grid/shore power.
9. I want this to go quickly! I want to use it this fall.
Please, let me know the best products or strategies for getting to the above build! I've looked all around the forums and found some good info but none of it is coordinated other than a few builds like this one. Which is an awesome resource for some of the things I need but not necessarily how I want to build it out.
M416 Simple Build
I found a local M416 trailer that I'm going to pick up tomorrow. It's in near mint shape, has tailgate intact, shorter pintle/lunette hitch, 12pin connector, lights work, side indicator is included, original wheels/tires and spare included. No rust, tub is in great shape. Here is a picture of it.
Now for the build goals:
1. Go on moderate offroad trails with my 100 series (2.5" OME lift, sliders, arb front bar, Coastal Offroad rear bumper coming soon) but mainly on gravel/rocky roads in the north woods and to go with me when I head out in the winter time. I think the existing leaf springs and tub/frame build will do just fine wherever I was comfy taking my 100 series to get to camp but I want your opinions on this. I would probably park this at camp if I was trying to do a harder trail somewhere/sometime.
2. Low profile, tough, and simple. I want to be able to beat it up a little bit without it falling apart. I think the M416 fits the bill. Opinions? I also think I want to keep it as an open tub, at least for the rest of this year to see how it works if I can get #5 (Mountain Bikes in the tub) into the build.
3. I'd like to match the tires/wheels to my stock 16" LC 100 rims. I think I could find another few on CL somewhere. If I understand correctly, I either need to swap the whole axle (dont want to do this) or buy a 5 bolt adapter that works to adapt the hubs to the offset LC 100 wheels. I'd also be game to put 16" steelies on the LC and match them on the trailer if finding matching LC wheels proves to be a pain.
4. I ordered a free spirit recreation 80" high country tri layer roof top tent that will need to mount up on some elevated cross bars. The idea is to keep this as low as possible while dealing with item #5. HIGH COUNTRY 80” On sale right now! so is the tri layer... I also ordered the No Weld Trailer Rack Towers - Compact Camping Trailers to keep the tent up from the tub a bit without getting too tall to operate the tent clips/ladder easily.
5. I want to be able to transport 2-3 mountain bikes when I take the trailer and don't have my hitch mount. (in order of preference) in (1) the bed of the 416 on fork mounted locking adapters and take the front wheels off, or (2) bolt/weld a 2" hitch receiver to the front of the 416 tub (Like this maybe with some reinforcing tube?) on two tray style hitch mounts on the tongue We have one of these or lastly (3) on fork mounted roof racks on both sides of extended roof cross bars. I have tried and tried to figure out a way to carry my bikes with me on the hitch and it just keeps on hassling me while destroying my departure angle (We have this swing away) and dragging the rack on the ground... not to mention needing to swing it away every time I want to get my cooler, or tools, or kitchen, in the drawers on the back of the rig. Need a new solution! Carbon bikes so cant hang them or anything. Need a no frame contact mounting solution.
6. I want to keep my 25gallon water reservoir (10" W x 13" H x 36" L) in the tub and connect it to my 12v wash down pump and to the Joolca hot water system for showering, dishes, and washing down bikes/dogs/gear. I need to figure out how to orient the weight over the axle while allowing the other gear that I want to bring. I'm thinking orienting it lengthwise on its flat profile so a bike could fit on either side of it.
7. Mounts (either exterior or interior) for a 10# Propane tank (manchester style Manchester Tank 11 lb. capacity Steel Type 1 Propane Cylinder - Ace Hardware?), 2x 3gallon rotopax (I have locking universal mounts but need to decide where to put them), axe & shovel (Have quick fist mounts),, maxtrax (Blue ridge overland bag on its way MAXTRAX Transport Bag),
8. A 12V battery bank that charges off the alternator while driving to power some lighting around the trailer for night time and the 12v wash down kit pump. Not much more than that... I have a Dometic PLB40 Dometic PLB40 : 40Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery that hooks to a 160W solar panel mounted to my cargo carrier which takes care of my electronics charging (Computer, phone, Garmin, Drone, Camera, USB lights), and keeps the Dometic CF50 fridge running while off grid/shore power.
9. I want this to go quickly! I want to use it this fall.
Please, let me know the best products or strategies for getting to the above build! I've looked all around the forums and found some good info but none of it is coordinated other than a few builds like this one. Which is an awesome resource for some of the things I need but not necessarily how I want to build it out.
M416 Simple Build
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