"Expedition" 3/4 M101 Cargo Trailer Build

[getlost4x4]

Bought this baby for $300. And my wife is actually happy with it.

Plans: may include narrowing it, lowering it a little, roof top tents, fuel storage, brakes, rust repair, rebuilding the axles.

Pictures:

 

[dstock]

Nice score! Have fun, it can quickly become an obsession!

 

[AA1PR]

nice score, Id leave the width alone

this forum is loaded with lots of ideas ~ http://tventuring.com/trailerforum/index.php

 

[RagnarD]

If you are going to do all of that I would start by scraping everything except the frame.

 

[Mark Harley]

Nice score at a good price. Looking forward to your ideas.
I often thought about narrowing mine but did not because it looks small behind my truck.

There is a good build on a M105 that the owner chopped it apart to build a smaller trailer.

Post many pictures as you go.


http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/trailers-towing-tech/148670-patchwork-hauler.html

 

[getlost4x4]

Ok. So I spent some time working on it yesterday. It's pretty fun. I've been able to straighten out a lot of it with a hammer and dolly. I started cutting out the rusty areas as well. So far I have 4 areas that need some minor work. The bed floor is pretty beat up. So that will take a bit of time to fix. Prepare yourself for picture overload.

 

[getlost4x4]

So, I've decided not to narrow the trailer. its about the same width as my Disco, so it doesn't look funny behind it. I decided to try it off road and get a base feel for it behind my Disco. The disco seemed to pull it fine off road and on road.

A few pictures:

 

[getlost4x4]

So I have a bit of work ahead of me. Straightening, cutting, welding, wiring, greasing parts, painting and removing brackets I don't want on it. Then I'll start phase two.

Pictures, no particular order, to show what needs to be fixed.

 

[getlost4x4]

More photos

 

[getlost4x4]

more

 

[shack]

oof. you've got your hands full with this one.

 

[getlost4x4]

Well, I've been working on getting the sheet metal straight. Its been coming a long nicely. I went to harbor freight and got a cheap hammer and dolly set to help get the metal straight. I had to use my large pry bar to get the sides pulled out. I love working with metal and how it conforms to what you do to it (usually).

Some before and after pictures.

This one is a pain. I may have to cut it out and replace the metal. It has a weird crinkle that I cannot get to come out.

 

[getlost4x4]

Some more before and after pictures.

 

[getlost4x4]

Starting to fabricate the rack that will hold the roof top tent. Its bolt in, so I can remove it should I ever need the trailer for something else. Tomorrow I hope to start the rack.

 

[johnspark]

That's gonna be a labor of love. Nice start, keep it up.