Scott's M416 trailer build begins

[Tight_wad]

More done today! I built my front rack over the tongue tool box. This is one of the reasons that I made my hinges for the lid the way I did. I am not sure if I am going to make it lift up with the lid of the tongue box or not. I thought about just attaching the tongue box lid to it and using the rack as the hinge, this would be very simple to do.

I also took some pictures of the main lid handle and the doors on the back. My 10 year old daughter can raise and lower the lid with very little effort. I wonder if it will still workout with a RTT and rack on there.

Take care all!

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

I love the build! BTW, I just noticed you're from Northern Indiana, Tight_wad. I grew up near Elkhart/South Bend...are you anywhere close to there?

Again, nice job.

Craig

 

[Willman]

Nice build!

You have some great idea's on here!

Question....What does this thing weight?

Keep up the great work!

 

[Tight_wad]

I love the build! BTW, I just noticed you're from Northern Indiana, Tight_wad. I grew up near Elkhart/South Bend...are you anywhere close to there?

Again, nice job.

Craig

Glad you Like! I am not too far from the Elkart/South bend area, I'm down in Warsaw. Less than an hour away from there. You grew up there, but you got out to where?

Nice build!

You have some great idea's on here!

Question....What does this thing weight?

Keep up the great work!

Thanks, I hope that what ideas that I have come up with, or seen/swiped from others, give a little inspiration to some one else. This forum has definitely inspired me to do more things than I had really thought of when I first wanted to do a trailer.

As far as the weight goes, I don't have a clue yet. I just keep adding more it seems. I can still pick up the tongue with one hand and roll it around on level ground, but it is putting on a lot of weight. I will weigh it when I get it done.
With all the added weight, I am thinking that I may add a set of coil over shocks to help the original suspense out a little. That will be something that I will decide on real soon.

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Glad you Like! I am not too far from the Elkart/South bend area, I'm down in Warsaw. Less than an hour away from there. You grew up there, but you got out to where?

Sorry about that...just updated my profile. I have been in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area since '97.

Craig

 

[gasman]

man that thing is coming along great , that rack is pretty cool . i cant wait to see it all done and painted..

 

[Tight_wad]

Glad you like Gasman! I can't wait to paint. It looks like I will be shooting for the weekend of May 15th to do my painting. To many family events, so only weekend that is free out of the next 5. I guess it is time for me to start busting !**.

Things to do yet that I know of:

Finish mount the tongue box lid to rack.
Install a trailer jack.
Install safety chains.
Install the park brake lever.
Make rear stabilizers. ( can be done later if needed )
Make rack mount for Main lid.
Install shock mounts on axle and frame.

Disassemble and flip over to weld:
Step plates.
Bumper reinforcements.
Tongue box bottom.

And I know I am forgetting some things that need done, but they will come to me.

After all this, It will be time to prime, paint and bed liner paint.

 

[Tight_wad]

Just can't seem to stop. Here are a few more pictures of todays work. Front rack has the mounts on it for the tongue lid. And I fab the lid rack rails out of 1.25 square tubing. Not sure what I will do tomorrow, but I am addicted to working on this thing. When will it ever end!

 

[Tight_wad]

This is the first posting for me.......and man I can't even tell you what an awesome thread this is to follow. You've inspired me to sign up for some welding classes at the local Community College. I just picked up a super clean M-416 as well (What did you pay for yours by the way).

Here are a couple pics of my gem in disguise. Can only hope to make it as nice as yours........

Welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry that my work has caused you to catch this affliction! Well, maybe not an affliction, more like an addiction.:clapsmile
But now that you have it, taking some classes at the local community college is just your first steps to recovery. Okay, its not that bad, but since you have the bug, take the classes, you should learn good information and skills. And then start your work, and learn even more. Mistakes are going to happen, and with most any fab work, can be fixed. So don't fear the build!

I would have to say that this has been the most enjoyable project that I have done in years. I can't wait to be done, yet I look forward to every time I work on it.

Somethings I have had made for me, and somethings I have fabricated myself. I find that I am pleased with things that I designed and had made, but with the things that I make from scratch, I am sometimes dumbfounded that "I did that!" It can really be that rewarding.

And now, if my build has inspired you, well that just "takes the cake". Thank you!

Your trailer looks in very good condition, though the tarp cover hides a lot, I imagine that the rest looks as good. It is much easier to build with a good starting base. As far as the amount I paid for mine, well I purchased it from one of the members on this forum. He was asking 900 obo for it. I did a little better than this, but I think fair to both of us.

Drop me a PM or post here if you have any questions, I am always happy to try and help.

Oh one more thing, start your own build thread, it's almost as much fun as doing the build itself:victory:

 

[stonehenge]

Looks great, just be careful in the rain. LOL. sorry i couldnt resist.

 

[Tight_wad]

Not much of anything to report at this time. I have everything tore down to get ready for paint. I have been doing a little welding here and there, and a little bit of filler too.

I wanted to paint everything next weekend, but my wife informed me that she is going away for a long weekend with girlfriends. Don't think the kids would enjoy watching primer and paint dry.

This was to be the only weekend that we didn't have plans for until June 12th. Now, it looks like I will be trying to do the painting in the evenings after work, bad part is, I have to have things out of the way for work in the mornings. Oh well, few long evenings should put me back on schedule.

That's it for now. Will post more when I get some painting done.

 

[Tight_wad]

To let you all know, I have been painting. Everything that gets black is done, except the outside of the lid, it gets bedline black. I should be priming and painting the tub and the tongue tool box within days. And then doing the lids bedliner and the tubs inside bedliner next week.

While I have been waiting for the time to paint, I have done a few things extra. One is that I replaced my c shackles with new bolts, bushings, and I made my own shackle plates. They are 2 inches longer than standard. The other thing that I did was to make my tongue box into to levels. Open the lid, and there is a false bottom with its own accesses lid to the bottom level.

I will post pictures once I have it all painted, and start putting it together. I'm getting so close, I just can't wait!:victory:

 

[Tight_wad]

Sounds very exciting!! :rockon:

Now get to those pictures already.....:smiley_drive:

You've Got it! :wings: Sorry it took so long for me to get things painted and back together, Time always seems to be running out. I finally have been able to start putting things back together this holiday weekend and thanks to my son, I was able to get a lot more done than I could have done alone.

This is of the 5000 lb jack that I shorted. It is removable with one pin.

This is the inside of the tool box and next photo is of the bottom lid opened. This was my wifes idea, hidden at the bottom for smuggling things! Well maybe not for that, but it will work out well for the hope I don't need items.

I am very pleased at how things have gone. It took me a while to do all the painting, and I am very pleased at how it went. The lid and the inside of the tub is spray on bedliner paint by U-POL. It is called raptor, and I used the tintable type so that I could do the red inside.

I still need to install the shocks, wire and install the lights, and a few odds-n-ends.

Hope you all like!!!:victory:

 

[gasman]

nice job man.. its amazing what a little paint can do.. im liking the barn doors too, iv;e never seen it done that way before..

 

[Tight_wad]

Here are a couple of shots with the trailer hooked up to my JK.