Guess What a "new" M101

[JKDetonator]

Hello All! I've been lurking here for a while admiring your trailers and astonished at the wealth of knowledge shared for all. I've been looking for a military 1/4 ton trailer,as a starter project and recently found one available. The trailer was for sale because of the death of a full bird colonel that was a military history buff. He had a 52 willys flatfender and a matching 52 M101; I'm sure they were his pride and joy. The trailer is immaculate with all plates markings and tarp. The wiring and everything else is almost like new. Now after reading 30 or so pages of threads, I'm feeling guilty about modifying this trailer. I'm asking for your opinions! One on hand it's mine and I can do as I wish; on the other, it is a piece of history. What do you think? Can you help me decide which direction to go?

 

[TheGillz]

I think I speak for all when I say:

We need pics!


















And also: Welcome!

 

[JKDetonator]

It's dark out already; will post pics tomorrow......

 

[OverlandZJ]

That trailer is probably an M100 if it was matched to a Willy's.

 

[02TahoeMD]

If it is in full restoration condition, identical to something from 1952, I would be slow to go modifying it. I would first try to see if I could sell it to someone on the military collector market, and if you cant get rid of it for the money you would need, then go ahead and modify away. At least you have tried to find it a home in its original condition. Just my $.02......

 

[Gregny]

If it is in full restoration condition, identical to something from 1952, I would be slow to go modifying it. I would first try to see if I could sell it to someone on the military collector market, and if you cant get rid of it for the money you would need, then go ahead and modify away. At least you have tried to find it a home in its original condition. Just my $.02......

I also agree.

 

[JKDetonator]

Here you go...

Sorry for the poser pics, I snapped a few cell phone pics on my way to work this morning. I also threw in one of the tow rig-hence the name. This pic was taken on South Padre Island a few weeks ago; I bet it looks a little different today!

 

[JKDetonator]

You're Right!

It is a M100

 

[Robert Bills]

It is definitely an M100. However, it appears from the photos that the lunette ring might be the "thin shaft" used on WWII MBT and T3 trailers. Hard to say. Also, the chains are for the M416.

I would not modify this trailer. It would be destroying history.

If the trailer were mine, I would sell it to someone on the www.g503.com 1/4 ton trailer forum or take it to a military vehicle collectors event and sell it there. You should be able to get enough to buy an M416 or Canadian M101 that would be a better candidate for modification with money left over for some of the modifications.

 

[gpwpat]

I agree. it is to pretty to modify. If you really want to modify it. make all you mods. bolt on. That way you can return it to this condition when you finally find a M416 or Canadian M101. That is what I did with mine. all my mods are bolt on until I can find a good later trailer.

On a side note. if You want a M100 lunet and want to trade the wwii lunet for a M100 let me know. My buddy just spent $3K restoring his wwii trailer to this condition but he only could find a m100 lunet. so his trailer is 99% correct. minus the weaker lunet. We military collectors look far and wide to find matching trailers for our jeeps. most have been rusted out or severly bubafied. And now the Jeep trailer is popular again with the offroad croud and it is driving up the prices like crazy.

leaving the trailer stock. it can still be a functional trailer. with my bolt on mods, gas strut supported lid, EEZI AWN, rear reciever, rear landing leg, spare tire bracket. My trailer is left alone and still tows great and looks great behind the JK.

My advice is to keep it until you find a suitable replacement. make your mods reversable until then. Once you find a good trailer to hack up sell this one for top dollar to a collector. and move your removable mods over.

here are some pictures of my origional unmodified, Modified Bantam. everything is built to bolt or clamp on to preserve the trailer. It is a fully functional trailer still. I am not afrad to use it. I just got back from a 2000 mi trip. towed great both on and off road.

 

[stick]

Very nice trailer. I know a lot of Willys guys (me included) who would love to have that thing.

 

[JKDetonator]

Hey Stick,

Wanna trade for your M416?

 

[02TahoeMD]

I attended an event of the Mid Atlantic Military Collectors ( or, something like that...) a few years ago and your trailer is lots nicer than anything I saw at that event. Thanks for posting the pics, I would definitely NOT modify it!

ON EDIT
I found the organization that hosted the event: Military Vehicle Preservation Society, their East Coast Chapter hosted the event. Their website has some good resources on it....http://www.mvpa.org/

 

[boknows]

I agree, I wouldn't modify something that someone had put so much time into fully restoring. Beautiful trailer though.

 

[texmoto]

Same boat, kind of

I just bought a 1954 Spen 3/4 ton trailer, in excellent condition. While missing some OEM stuff (lights and the lunette), it does have details such as the original hub caps and the i.d. plate. Didn't plan on doing that much to it, but now I'm wondering if I should try selling it instead.
David