My new M101 (1 Viewer)

[Phil in BC]

Well I f inally found the m101 I've been wanting for such a long time. Quite a bit of surface rust to take care of, but otherwise it a solid little trailer. Already sitting on 35" tires, widened fenders, nose box, side mount table, and a lid ready for a roof top tent. Started prepping for paint last night and hope to have it ready for camping in a couple weeks. I've never done a paint job like this before, so any pointers you can give me would be much appreciated.

Now I just need to find the rooftop tent. As I've already blown my trailer budget, if anyone in southern bc has a decent used one, I'd be interested in taking it off your hands!

 

[Jarred]

Looks smaller to me that's a nice one. After completely clean off the old paint and rust, you can try Epoxy Primer and a single stage paint.

 

[Phil in BC]

I have most of the rough sanding done already and hope to start on the painting next week. I went to a local autobody shop, and he said he paints all his frames and rusty area's with POR15. The guy at Lordco also recommended this as well, so I picked up a gallon of black and I'm going to paint the entire trailer with this. After, I can top coat the lid and maybe fenders with a colour to match my truck, but we'll see how it looks once its all black.

All the surface rust has come right off with the wire wheel with no damage to the steel underneath. Really happy how this is turning out so far.

 

[Brentbba]

Nice find! Progress pic as you have them. Always fun watching a M101CDN build. Ideas are costly! Would love info and mounting for that side table.

 

[greentruck]

Nice score with the fenders already widened.

Can you tell if the original OD paint was stripped off? Or just painted over with white? Many of these trailers were painted with CARC, which is a military paint designed to make it easy to scrub things up after being doused with chem or bio weapons. It's nasty stuff that you want to limit exposure to, especially if sanded or blasted. I advised the guy who sandblasted mine. He was an old-timer and sandblasting hadn't killed him yet, so seemed unconcerned. Did take it done to the steel, leaving a nice base for painting. I primed and painted with regular tractor paint in OD flavor.

You may run into some pinholes if its blasted, so a good time to fix those.

Found that setting the axle on jackstands with the wheels off made it easy to get underneath by tilting the trailer back and forth.

 

[Phil in BC]

The table sits on the fender and is held to the box with 2 bolts. Very easy set up, and its a good size too.

 

[slowandsteady BJ]

Woah.... I need to see pics more pics of that table! Way cool.... is it aluminium or stainless?


Good score on the trailer man!

 

[Mark Harley]

Are those pole pockets for an awning on the side of the tub?
What are you using for taillights?

 

[Brentbba]

Thanks for the pic of the table!

 

[Phil in BC]

Getting close to finishing the painting. Hope to have it all back together, lights on and wired by the weekend.

 

[Phil in BC]

Are those pole pockets for an awning on the side of the tub?
What are you using for taillights?

Yes they are pole pockets, although I dont have the poles yet. Should be able to get something to fit fairly easy. I have the original military tail lights to get mounted onto brackets that sit at the back. I'll post a pic later.

I took the wire wheel to the underside and frame as much as I could, but still couldnt get into all the tight corners so I took it to a buddy and he soda blasted the underside and all the other spots I couldnt get at. Should have done that right from the start. Could have saved myself a week of evenings with the grinder going. Oh well, almost finished and will be ready for camping next weekend!!

 

[Phil in BC]

All finished with the paint, lights wired up and ready to go camping!!

 

[greentruck]

Sweet rig

 

[USOffRoad]

Very nice! Good job.

 

[gofast]

Very nice set up.

You probably know POR 15 requires a top coat to prevent UV breakdown. My exposed frame in my wheel arches of my 60 series did have trouble. I guess enough sun reached the rails despite tires etc.

 

[Phil in BC]

Very nice set up.

You probably know POR 15 requires a top coat to prevent UV breakdown. My exposed frame in my wheel arches of my 60 series did have trouble. I guess enough sun reached the rails despite tires etc.

I top coated everything that will see the sun with a metal paint that I picked up at General Paint. I didnt top coat the inside of the box or the underside of the trailer but hopefully that will be ok. Its way better than when I got it so that works for now.

Been on a couple short camping trips already and the BJ74 has to work a bit pulling this thing. I have always been slow going up hill, especially when loaded with all my camping gear but the trailer really slows me down quite a bit more. Good thing I'm not in a hurry........ too often!

 

[Phil in BC]

Well I was finally able to pick up the remaining item for the trailer, an eezi awn rooftop tent. Not only is this tent super comfortable and easy to set up, but it looks really cool as well. Only problem is, there's not much alone - quiet time at the campsite anymore cuz everyone stops by to ask about it, and of course the truck as well.

Also have the annex room for underneath the tent but when its on the trailer its too low to use. That will have to wait for a trip without the trailer and I'll put the tent on the truck.

 

[Phil in BC]

And a few more pics

 

[tmarx]

Very nice combo !