my m416 project

[RRDirtyHarry]

so I just went and grabbed 3 tires for 60 from a guy off CL. not a whole lot of tread, but enough for the trailer. about 30%. 33x12.5x15 interco m/ts. ill have them mounted and balanced tomorrow, and ill post some pictures of before and after. now I need to have someone weld me up a hitch mounted spare tire mount, and have a receiver tube welded to the rear of the trailer

 

[/dev/ram]

awesome, ill be doing that then. so theyre supposed to just dangle? wouldn't they get caught up on stuff when im wheeling?

Well, that is a trade off, but they shouldn't sag too bad - more of a downward angle than the flat angle before.

If that's bothersome, your other choice is to swap the brake housings left/right to get the entrance into the housing back on top of the axle. You may have to rework the brackets anyway as the spring pack is going to be in the way as well. Aside from being more involved, it's also dependent on degree of rust, bolt breakage during the process, finding replacement parts, etc. On the other hand, you'll find yourself repacking the bearings, possibly replacing bearings and races, replacing brake pads, etc. - all of which you may need/want to do anyway. At this point, some folks just go and buy a new axle...

Ain't owning something made decades ago fun?!

 

[RRDirtyHarry]

Well, that is a trade off, but they shouldn't sag too bad - more of a downward angle than the flat angle before.

If that's bothersome, your other choice is to swap the brake housings left/right to get the entrance into the housing back on top of the axle. You may have to rework the brackets anyway as the spring pack is going to be in the way as well. Aside from being more involved, it's also dependent on degree of rust, bolt breakage during the process, finding replacement parts, etc. On the other hand, you'll find yourself repacking the bearings, possibly replacing bearings and races, replacing brake pads, etc. - all of which you may need/want to do anyway. At this point, some folks just go and buy a new axle...

Ain't owning something made decades ago fun?!

lol well I will see how it works with them just dangling. if they don't hang too bad ill leave them there. I don't have the money to start a rebuild on the trailer axle right now.

 

[RRDirtyHarry]

hey guys got the tires on. heres the pics.

 

[RRDirtyHarry]

still having trailer lighting issues, but I think I may try and hook the brake wire to the running wire, so when I apply the break they get brighter. it may work. I know the brake and turn are supposed to be connected together, but when I do that the turn on my truck goes on when I hit the brakes lol. so I will try my idea and get back to you guys.

 

[RRDirtyHarry]

but I wonder if its still the 24v system.....and if switching it to a 12v will fix the issue.....hmmmm idk. guess its time to head to walmart and get some new bulbs lol

 

[merlin44]

Nice find, looks like it's in great shape.

About the lights. I can't remember for sure on the M416, but the older MBT and M100 trailers had a blackout switch under the front passenger side of the box. It switched from blackout lights to regular lights. Had to turn it manually. Might be a possible source of the problem. But the 416 may have a different setup.

Just something to look for maybe?

I'm also looking at putting some kind of tent on mine, like a dome or something. Would be nice to have a hinged plywood floor to double the size, and put a bigger dome tent on it though. I just can't see getting a roof top tent right now, either.

Good luck, and I'll be watching, too.

 

[RRDirtyHarry]

Nice find, looks like it's in great shape.

About the lights. I can't remember for sure on the M416, but the older MBT and M100 trailers had a blackout switch under the front passenger side of the box. It switched from blackout lights to regular lights. Had to turn it manually. Might be a possible source of the problem. But the 416 may have a different setup.

Just something to look for maybe?

I'm also looking at putting some kind of tent on mine, like a dome or something. Would be nice to have a hinged plywood floor to double the size, and put a bigger dome tent on it though. I just can't see getting a roof top tent right now, either.

Good luck, and I'll be watching, too.

ill look and see if I cant find a switch near a box? lol and for the tent, I think it should be pretty easy to build. ill try and do some schematics in paint and figure it out lol. so others can use it if they want

 

[RRDirtyHarry]

I looked at the box on the tongue where the wires go into and I don't see a switch, but its dark out nd might have missed it. the trailer isn't the issue though, it worked with the guys rig that I got it from. its my jeep that's the problem. the original wiring for the trailer lights on the jeep don't work, so I had to hardwire the new trailer lights into the jeeps normal lighting harness in the rear of the jeep.

 

[DonBeasley]

Sorry I am late on this thread. Darn work keeps getting in the way of my personal life!

Great trailer find. Overall it looks pretty straight and original. A great starting point for a build.

You are correct, the axle change is easy. It is hard to explain but if you look at my build thread, post #68, you will see how I fixed the cable issue. Just moved the cable bracket up a little with a piece of steel and got some all-thread at Home Depot and made the J-hook reach a little farther.

Keep the pictures coming.

There are quite a few M416 builders on here and they can answer just about anything you ask.

Just remember------It is yours so you can do anything you want! (Except a tailgate--that is sacreligious):hehe:

 

[RRDirtyHarry]

Sorry I am late on this thread. Darn work keeps getting in the way of my personal life!

Great trailer find. Overall it looks pretty straight and original. A great starting point for a build.

You are correct, the axle change is easy. It is hard to explain but if you look at my build thread you will see how I fixed the cable issue. Just moved the cable bracket up a little with a piece of steel and got some all-thread at Home Depot and made the J-hook reach a little farther.

Keep the pictures coming.

There are quite a few M416 builders on here and they can answer just about anything you ask.

Just remember------It is yours so you can do anything you want! (Except a tailgate--that is sacreligious):hehe:

yeah not gonna add a tailgate, im putting a removable spare tire carrier on the back via a hitch receiver. I have a lot of plans, but I think besides getting the break lights to work, im pretty much spent out for now. I may have a friend do some welding on it for me. I don't know yet. I really want a lid but it seems like other than a tarp, its gonna be kinda expensive. I may add some tie downs to the floor board of the trailer so I can keep my stuff from sliding around. I have a few spare parts tub boxes I used to keep in the back of the jeep. and the emergency crap.

 

[DonBeasley]

Did you get the brake issue fixed, Once you do a springover you have to rotate the brakes 180 to get the attach point back on top. Just pull the hubs, take off the 5 bolts holding it, rotate and rebolt.

As everyone says, the original wiring is 24v. Just change the bulbs, go to wiring box on the tongue and get a harness from your truck (4 wire, 6 wire, etc) and tap in at the junction box. The wires are coded and the internet has the code for all the wires on the trailer. To redo the axle and brake is about 3-4 hours and the harness about 1 hour.

 

[RRDirtyHarry]

I got the axle figured out. just not the brake light issue. and the trailer is fine. its my jeep that's messed up. I don't know how to hardwire it without messin up the jeeps lights

 

[rockwood]

Pull the jeep trailer wiring apart, clean corrosion from contacts and reinstall.

 

[RRDirtyHarry]

yeah im gonna try and figure it out. I just don't know where it leads too up front.