My homebrew expedition trailer

[texaslawman]

After looking into M416's and seeing how much they cost and the time and cash people where spending to restore and modify them. I decided to build my own M416 from scratch. I was given a trailer frame that was very close to the original 416's frame. Custom manufacturing built me a tub. And John Rushing from Rushing Design helped me put it all together. Its pretty close to the M416 specs has 3500# axle with Toyota lug pattern and electric brakes. The suspention is leaf springs and shocks from a 2007 taco. The RTT will sit on a rack. There are side holders for 4 jerry cans. And the tounge holds my battery box, 2 propane tanks and extends an extra four feet. I used roll on bed liner for the inside of the tub and the top rack. A local tarp company is fitting it with a five side coated vinyl cover, all four sides will roll up. Future mods include a 20 gallon water tank with a hot water on demand system, LED lighting, a stereo, and a fold out counter with storage. Most of the ideas for this project came from people here and IH8MUD.

 

[ssmathis]

Trailer looks great. Nice work.

Scott

 

[AFSOC]

Sweet set up. Great work, that trailer will serve you nicely.

 

[BlackX]

Nice looking trailer.

 

[highlandercj-7]

Nice work man, I like it.

 

[RETROFIT]

Very sweet indeed, where did you get the hitch coupling ? Looking forward to more pics !

Thanks for sharing

Pat

 

[Aggie]

http://www.locknroll.com/

 

[proto]

Nice! You'll be glad of both the matching lug pattern and the electric brakes! (And the way the jerry cans fit at the corners is a nice touch.)

What's the deal regarding safety chains in your area? Can you run trailers less than a certain weight without?

 

[texaslawman]

Nice! You'll be glad of both the matching lug pattern and the electric brakes! (And the way the jerry cans fit at the corners is a nice touch.)

What's the deal regarding safety chains in your area? Can you run trailers less than a certain weight without?

I just started building it Friday afternoon havent got the chains or registration yet DOH! Yes you need chains!

 

[slimtwo]

Very nice job on the trailer! Once you get it all done, your gonna have a great time camping with that. Please keep the progress pics coming, I would like to see what the cover looks like when you get it done.

Bruce

 

[texaslawman]

Here is a pic with the bed liner rolled on and the RTT sitting up there. It started raining so I pulled itinto the stables and caught a tree branch on the Cruisers roof rack lil leaves all in the bed liner grrrr.

 

[proto]

I just started building it Friday afternoon . . .

Holy Crow! You started on Friday and you're already dragging the thing around on Tuesday! Jeez, it takes me that long to get up the gumption to change a burned out tail light! Nice work

 

[Aggie]

Ah don't let him fool you he has had the rolling frame since last month.

 

[texaslawman]

Ah don't let him fool you he has had the rolling frame since last month.

Yep I had the doner frame but did get all the parts till last week . :sombrero: Time line goes like this.

Last month- picked up old welding trailer frame.
Waited for income tax return.

last week- Income tax return came in parts ordered :wings: Made spring hangers put spring axle wheels tires on frame.

Friday- 12noon picked up tub from the bender 1:00 sat tub on said frame extended frame 1 1/2 inch on each side 6" to the rear. Built bumper drank beer:coffeedrink:

Saturday- Covered tounge made fender wells and jerry can holders propane tank holders started on top cage. got in hot tub drank beer:coffeedrink:

Sunday- Ran all over North Texas looking for the small odds and ends I forgot to buy welded up frame bumper cage. Cut and fabed tailgate. 5:00pm painted tub 6:00pm installed shocks 6:30 painted frame 7:30 wired brakes and lights extended tounge jack. 8:30 realized forgot to weld on tiedows to frame welded on ruining fresh paint. 9:30 repainted frame 11:00 put tub on frame. 11:30 realized I forgot to make renforced 2" recever in cruiser bumper and started that 12:30am hooked trailer up drove hour and half home 2:45 went to sleep 5:00am got up for work no beer all day long.:victory:

 

[socaljeeper]

Nice work, looks similiar to mine. I am interested to see what the cover will look like. I have been thinking of a way to do one on my trailer. I have decided to either have a custom cover made out of the same material used for boat covers (sunbrella fabric), or make one out of metal. I only want it to go over the top of the tub. I look forward to seeing your progress.