Finally starting my m416 trailer build

[telwyn]

Bought this 1967 m416 on Ebay back in 12/07 and have been letting it collect dust in the garage since then. Finally dropped it off today to have it sandblasted, treated with Por 15 and painted desert tan to match my Desert Storm Land Rover Lightweight.

Will fabricate a lid with gas struts like many of you have done. Martyn just shipped me a trio of Adventure Trailer crossbars they fabricated. Am going to alternate between using my kayak saddles, my Baja Rack and a soon to be acquired Eazi-Awn tent. Will also try to get creative and see if I can fit the baja rack in the middle and the kayak saddles on the outside. We'll see once I start assembling everything.

Also plan to add battery power on the trailer, fresh water, and two jerry can holders. Also want to change out the tires/rims to match the Rover although I need to select new tires for the Rover first.

Next photos in about 2 weeks when I get the trailer back from the body shop with fresh paint, but here's a picture of it (and me) the day I picked it up.

 

[IH8RDS]

Sounds like a good winter project. I am interested in seeing the battery setup in progress. I am considering the same.

 

[miller_au]

Good to hear you've started! ill be keen to see the progress!

 

[Correus]

I can't wait to see the progress either!

I'm about to purchase a small trailer for conversion myself.

 

[telwyn]

Sandblasting and paint are done. Guy I used was really excited about how it turned out and said he enjoyed working on a piece of history like an m416. Beats the heck out of the usual dings, dents and paint jobs he spends most of his time on.

Hoping to pick it up today and post new pictures in the next day or two. Then the real fun begins as I work on the lid so I can get my AT crossbars installed.

 

[Correus]

What kind of lid are you putting on it?

 

[telwyn]

Picked up the trailer today. I'm really happy with how it turned out. The paint looks so good it makes me consider having my Lightweight painted also. Not a perfect match between the trailer and the Rover, but pretty darn close.

Bottom of the tub is painted with Por 15 because even though I had the entire trailer sandblasted, the tub bottom was pretty rough. Left the dents and dings on the trailer though which I kind of like.

When I bring the trailer back to have the lid painted I think I'll have the frame on the trailer painted black to match the Rover a little better.

As for the lid, my plan is to build a frame out of square steel tubing and cover with a steel skin. Will use stainless gas struts, etc. Still working on my design ideas, but suffice it to say I'll be borrowing heavily from other ideas on ExPo.

Then it's on to match the rims/wheels to the Rover, install jerry can holders, battery system, etc.

So lots more work to go, but after 11 months of sitting in the garage I'm finally off to a good start I think.

 

[Correus]

That IS sweet!!!

 

[IH8RDS]

So lots more work to go, but after 11 months of sitting in the garage I'm finally off to a good start I think.

you think?! That looks incredible.

 

[telwyn]

Thanks, guys!

Going to begin addressing the lid now. My plan is to mimic the design work by BajaXplorer (one of the best trailer builds I've seen on ExPo) detailed here - http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2131

Working on getting the materials gathered together and will then post pictures of the continued progress.

In addition, I'm thinking through the nose box design. Will most likely go with a Chaser Nose Box from Adventure Trailers (separate discussion here - http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20983).

Also trying to determine where, if anywhere, I can install this jerry can carrier. I sourced it in England off of an Army Land Rover. Does a really good job of holding 2 jerry cans and is easily lockable, but it's darn heavy and per the Nose Box discussion above, I'm wondering now if it's too heavy to go on the tongue. May need to fit it in the tub under the lid unless anyone has other suggestions.

 

[Correus]

Could you mount it to one of the sides in front the the tires?

 

[telwyn]

Finally decided what to do on the nose box and ordered the Chaser nose box from Adventure Trailers this week. Looking forward to doing the wiring myself on the box and getting it installed on my trailer. Martyn offered to get it completely set up to my specs, but I looking forward to some trial and error on my end.

Also got a pair of Rancho RS5199 shocks for the trailer from Amazon after reading about m416 shocks here on ExPo and on G503.com. Hope to install them this weekend or next.

Will work on getting some pictures posted as I continue to work on the build.

 

[telwyn]

It is a morning of great excitement in my household. As we were sipping our morning coffee and I was knee deep in my morning ritual of searching ExPo for wisdom and Ebay, etc for more Land Rover parts, we spotted our friendly neighborhood FedEx driver stopping. And as part of my single-handed effort to buy enough Land Rover and trailer parts to keep the local Fedex and UPS drivers afloat, yet another package was unloaded at our home.

Today's package was the long desired Chaser Nose Box that Martyn was kind enough to help me with. Along with the Nose Box came the AT battery holder for my Optima Yellow Top I'll be installing in the Nose Box. Kudos to Martyn for also doing one heck of a packing job on this to meet the Fedex shipping requirements.

This Chaser box is a thing of beauty. Very well designed and sturdy. I think it's going to be right at home on my m416. Will need to move a few things on the tongue, but looks like it will fit like a glove.

Will begin working on it soon and posting pics. Will include the battery, switch panels featuring USB, etc.

Here's a few pics I snapped this morning.

The quote of the morning was my 5 year old son saying "Daddy, when we drive around the world..." Priceless to have a boy that dreams like his Dad.

 

[RAZORBACK]

M416

Did you do a spring over on your trailer? I was wanting to get the Rancho 5119's too but wondering if they were too short for a SOA conversion. I might have to go measure again. I took off one of the old shocks and it measure 17.5 inches at full open (end to end) and 11.5 inches at full close (end to end). The cylinder end connection style is a 12 ring. I might have to go with the 5113's...not sure yet. Nice trailer by the way. I had my tub and frame sandblasted this week. Will be picking up the frame today.

 

[telwyn]

I've not done a spring over... I could be wrong (it's been known to happen before), but it sounded like from the threads I linked to above about m416 shocks that I'd be ok with these Rancho shocks as a direct replacement. Hope to find out within the next week or two and report back.

Welcome to ExPo, Razorback! Start a thread and show us your build. I'm sure everyone would enjoy following your progress.