M416 SUA or SOA and why? (1 Viewer)

[bigndn]

I was looking at my SUA M416 on my SOA FJ40 the other day. It tilts a little down in the front, but not much. If I SOAed it, I'd need a different pintle because it would really be front down then, but it may not clear my 36" spare so I have a dilemma.

What are the benefits of SOAing the M416 other than the obvious increase in ground clearance and larger tires? Do you remove some leafs out of the spring pack when you SOA them? If so, which ones did you pull out and why?

 

[Mark W]

All you do is move the axle under the springs. Quick and easy. We have done it at the trailhead before a run. Not sure how an SUA 416 sits nose down on an SOA '40? Do you have some sort of lowered mounting point for your pintle?

On my '40 I have a removable lower pintle so that when the rig is set up to sit high, the trailer is still level.

When not needed the lower tow pintle point comes off.


Mark...

 

[bigndn]

All you do is move the axle under the springs. Quick and easy. We have done it at the trailhead before a run. Not sure how an SUA 416 sits nose down on an SOA '40? Do you have some sort of lowered mounting point for your pintle?

On my '40 I have a removable lower pintle so that when the rig is set up to sit high, the trailer is still level.

When not needed the lower tow pintle point comes off.


Mark...

I'll try to get some pics by this weekend so you can see what I mean. Even though it's a custom bumper, the receiver hitch is not lower than the stock location.

 

[d0ubledown]

i SO'd my cdn m101 so i can add full size tires that is close in size to the 80s tires. not only does it look & tow better sitting level, but it makes going over obstacles so much easier. the 101 and 416 have top and bottom holes to mount the lunette ring..which one is yours on? i dont use a bolt on receiver hitch to mount the pintle hook...i use a hook mounted to the rear cross member via 4 mounting bolts. sits perfect at 23.5 inches. after the trailer SO and mounting the 295's it sits nice n level. i didnt remove any leafs. i probably could use some shorter shocks though, as the bottom mount now sits above the axle instead of below it.

clearance for matching tires and a level trailer are the main reasons why i did the spring over. also, the amount of over-axle room has increased significantly. theres enough room there for a large water cell, or even a full size trailer spare

 

[bigndn]

the 101 and 416 have top and bottom holes to mount the lunette ring..which one is yours on?

i dont use a bolt on receiver hitch to mount the pintle hook...i use a hook mounted to the rear cross member via 4 mounting bolts. sits perfect at 23.5 inches.

clearance for matching tires and a level trailer are the main reasons why i did the spring over. also, the amount of over-axle room has increased significantly. theres enough room there for a large water cell, or even a full size trailer spare

Good question, I'll look. 23.5".....again, I'll look. I like the ideas, keep them coming!

 

[bigndn]

OK, had a chance to look at it last night. No pics yet, but the lunette is in the top hole. I'll put it in the bottom hole when I get a chance, that should make it sit level SUA, maybe even SOA. Thanks!!!

 

[bigndn]

The lunette position must be the problem. The bottom of my receiver is at 25.5 and the pintle is the same.

 

[D'Animal]

Here is what I did for my rear hitch.

It comes straight off the factory bumper.

 

[BigDaveZJ]

Hitchmaster Pintle Receiver Adapter | Hitch Adapters | Northern Tool + Equipment

Lets you adjust the height of your pintle hook.

 

[bigndn]

Here is what I did for my rear hitch.

It comes straight off the factory bumper.

Nice, Dan! What height is your receiver at?

Hitchmaster Pintle Receiver Adapter | Hitch Adapters | Northern Tool + Equipment

Lets you adjust the height of your pintle hook.

Yeah, I thought about those, but my spare is only 6" above the pintle as is. If it were closer, opening the pintle would require opening the spare tire rack and doing some jockeying. In this picture, you can see a 2" ball on a 2" drop stinger. The receiver is right below the bumper. Thanks.

 

[Mark W]

Move your spare, and put the pintle where it really should be in the first place (centered on the rear cross member). One good full throttle snatch to get someone out of a good stuck and you will twist the cross member with a bottom mount receiver unless you have some significant bracing added up under the rig.

This will solve your nose low trailer, eliminate frame damage waiting to happen and increase your departure angle.

Personally I would relocate those shock mounts so that you can fit shocks of appropriate length for an SOA too.


Mark...

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I'm with Mark. Those 4 bolts right above the hitch in the middle of the bumper look like they're there for a pintle hitch anyway.

 

[bigndn]

Move your spare, and put the pintle where it really should be in the first place (centered on the rear cross member). One good full throttle snatch to get someone out of a good stuck and you will twist the cross member with a bottom mount receiver unless you have some significant bracing added up under the rig.

This will solve your nose low trailer, eliminate frame damage waiting to happen and increase your departure angle.

Personally I would relocate those shock mounts so that you can fit shocks of appropriate length for an SOA too.


Mark...

It is seriously braced. I've pulled a Dodge Ram 2500 (yes the one in my signature line) back onto a bridge with it. Long story there. Where would you recommend moving the shock mounts to?

I'm with Mark. Those 4 bolts right above the hitch in the middle of the bumper look like they're there for a pintle hitch anyway.

They're the right pattern, I just can't decide....

Anyway, thanks guys!!!

 

[D'Animal]

The center of my receiver is 29"


1976 FJ40 on 35"s

 

[Mark W]

It is seriously braced. I've pulled a Dodge Ram 2500 (yes the one in my signature line) back onto a bridge with it. Long story there. Where would you recommend moving the shock mounts to?

A slow steady pull is not the same as a hard hit against the end of a strap connected to a rig mired in a mudhole or crusted snow... But even if mounted in the factory holes in the cross member, it is far too easy to deform the crossmember with a hard snatch unless you have added reinforcement.

I prefer to mount the shocks to the bottom of the axle.

I always leave the factory spring perches in place when I do an SOA conversion and put the shock pins on the inboard corner of the perch.

This along with relocating the upper pin inboard a bit will let you run the longest shocks out there.


Mark...

 

[Brian in Oregon]

I SOA'd my M100 and civilian Bantam trailers. In my case it wasn't because the lunette was too low. My pintle was too high, and the trailer was too low in the rear. Doing a SOA allowed the trailer to ride level.

As far as clearance, the axle tube is the same height. There is a bit of clearance increase from not having the spring packs under the axle. There might be a bit of advantage in extreme articulation positions for the rear of the trailer, but you'd probably have to be doing some serious rock crawling to encounter such a situation.

Here's a thread showing how I did a springover on my M100. The M416 will be similar.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech/224303-did-springover-my-m100-trailer.html

Here's a thread comparing a SUA vs SOA.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech/219612-jeep-trailer-comparison-pics-soa-non-soa.html

Here's a thread on how I installed a rotating pintle hitch on my FJ40 on the rear crossmember.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/187703-rotating-pintle-hitch-install-fj40.html