Trailer advice for an idiot!?? (1 Viewer)

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EOE_overland

EOE_overland

Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Threads
27
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Location
Eastern Shore, VA
I need some advice on a slight trailer-related deuce I just stepped in :rolleyes:

I bought the nicest mil-surplus trailer I had seen yesterday morning. There are a few small paint knicks and a grease puddle on the floor from the PO who used it to transport motors for his car shop 3 or 4 times. It has what appears to be as close to new canvas as I've ever seen.
So the downside???
Apparently I was so enamored by it, that I didn't realize it was not the M101A2 I thought I had purchased until I got home. I bought an M105 :doh:.
Now, it didn't tow too badly behind my 03 Tundra on stock tires. The main issue was leveling. My FJ62 will be done at Iron Pig real soon, but it still sits on 33x10.50s and a OME lift. My main reason for purchase was to use for disaster relief trips and for yard/farm work.
Any ideas to semi-normalize this monster? Or just start looking for bobbed deuces?? If I could get the deck height down 6" or so it would probably be manageable.
:whoops:
 
I'm perplexed on How could you confuse an M101 with an M105? The M105 is/was used by the U.S. Army to transport ammunition and general cargo. It is Primarily pulled behind the 2 1/2 ton Cargo Truck.

Unless you have an Ford F-450, Sell the M105 and keep looking for an M101/Bantam/Spen trailer.

Your Tundra will pull the M105 and your FJ62 will pull it, when empty. Stopping the loaded trailer will bring on new challenges.
 
D'Animal said:
I'm perplexed on How could you confuse an M101 with an M105?
Click to expand...

Hence, the idiot part of the title.

I wasn't as familiar with the 105 before this I suppose. At least not as much as I thought. The guy I bought it from pulled it behind his stock excursion. It guess I was booty-blinded by the shape it was in? :eek:

Well , I guess I'll start to clean her up (grease spots in the bed) and try to resell it. Such a shame, I've never seen a mil trailer so clean.

I was looking thru threads on here again last night, trying to remember which wheels/tires were used by folks instead of the Humvee variety. Then I realized that they wasn't the same :hillbilly:
Not one of my proudest moments to say the least.
 
I'd put it in Steel Soldiers' classifieds. Very likely to be someone there who can appreciate it for what it is. Offer it in trade or partial trade for what you want.
 
I agree with the others..why bother hacking it up to maybe fit what you're looking for in a trailer...just sell it and get the one you want, and spend your time and dough on that one.


dope..













:lol:





:beer:
 
If it's limited use anyway and you anticipate bulky loads, modding it might work. Of course, it'll never be a 1/4 ton or other handier size and if that'll be the primary use you are better off with something more dainty.

Saw a few where the entire axle was swapped out for more civvy-friendly purposes. Lose weight there, with a lighter tire and wheel combo and what? those haevy surge brake components?, get the new axle optioned with civvy-brakes and it's a big trailer. Sorta heavy, but lighter than in service.

With a load, you sure won't be going anywhere fast in a 60 with it.
 
I've got both, the 105 and M101. The M105 has air assisted brakes and weights alot. 20 inch wheels. You could cut the bed down and get a new axle with electric brakes. I don't know what you paid, but the M105 is going cheap on Government Liquidation. I bought two with bows and tops for 160 a piece. Not a big market for them.

I would sell it and get a good M101A3, they're dumping alot of them, also.

Steel Soldiers is the place to sell it.
 
Come on the 105 tow great and look great behind most small vehicles.

You could go with a new axle or bolster wheels on it but it still is a heavy and large trailer.
M101%252520LIBBY.jpg
volvom105_638.jpg
_main_105.jpg
 
Those are great pictures! It wasn't quite that bad towing it home :).

I will probably clean it up and post for trade on Steel Soldiers and CL locally. If no interest, I think it will still work out ok with an axle and spring swap. It's not the size that's the issue, mostly the height and secondarily the weight.
Any idea what axle was used in the swaps?
I bought it for a utility trailer to use for moving, yard/farm work, and primary use on disaster relief trips. I need one with a bit more clearance than an ordinary mower hauler. We'll see what happens, I really like the trailer. If it doesn't move quickly I'll look into mods.
Thanks for all the info! Axle/spring ideas or links to others are appreciated!
Matt
 
scrapdaddy said:
I've got both, the 105 and M101. The M105 has air assisted brakes and weights alot. 20 inch wheels. You could cut the bed down and get a new axle with electric brakes. I don't know what you paid, but the M105 is going cheap on Government Liquidation. I bought two with bows and tops for 160 a piece. Not a big market for them.

I would sell it and get a good M101A3, they're dumping alot of them, also.

Steel Soldiers is the place to sell it.
Click to expand...

Damn thats likely less more than they are worth in scrap. Makes me think to just scrap mine (I've been trying to sell it for 3 years and no takers).
 
EOE_overland said:
I need some advice on a slight trailer-related deuce I just stepped in :rolleyes:

I bought the nicest mil-surplus trailer I had seen yesterday morning. There are a few small paint knicks and a grease puddle on the floor from the PO who used it to transport motors for his car shop 3 or 4 times. It has what appears to be as close to new canvas as I've ever seen.
So the downside???
Apparently I was so enamored by it, that I didn't realize it was not the M101A2 I thought I had purchased until I got home. I bought an M105 :doh:.
Now, it didn't tow too badly behind my 03 Tundra on stock tires. The main issue was leveling. My FJ62 will be done at Iron Pig real soon, but it still sits on 33x10.50s and a OME lift. My main reason for purchase was to use for disaster relief trips and for yard/farm work.
Any ideas to semi-normalize this monster? Or just start looking for bobbed deuces?? If I could get the deck height down 6" or so it would probably be manageable.
:whoops:
Click to expand...
Swap smaller tires on it and keep it. You probably wont get your money back on it, see my previous post. You won't overload them, they are phenomenal for carry massive amounts of weight.
 
Disaster relief? farm work? Keep it... and buy an M35 to tow it with. ;)


Mark...
 
Mark W said:
Disaster relief? farm work? Keep it... and buy an M35 to tow it with. ;)

Mark...
Click to expand...

That's been bobbing around in this empty head o'mine. I got the space. Problem is the PO (home) decided that landscaping was for suckers and only planted two very small bushes on 5ac. So the wife is slightly upset that the m105 has eclipsed our nice little shed and is a giant green eye catcher on our property.
A deuce would be...well bigger :).

What about putting the smaller axle under it for hauling with the cruiser like the thread linked earlier, but keep the original axle for when I want to swap in back in when I decide to get a deuce and finish off my marriage??? Hey, you read a thread with idiot in the title, you pay for what you get ;).
Haha, just crazy enough that it could work...
 
So how bout some pictures, huh??!! All this talk without any pictures.

My lovely, green monster:
ForumRunner_20121207_205108.jpg
ForumRunner_20121207_205131.jpg
 
I like your barn
 
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