Yet another M416

[oO_Rogue_Oo]

I just picked up my trailer last night and I'm very pleased with it's condition. I think it's one of those rare finds. It's so nice in fact that I'm going to have to give some thought about altering it.

It was given a full frame off restore about 2 years ago and from what I saw of the pcitures from before the restore it was already an exceptional trailer. Here are some pictures:

Paint and primer are period correct; wiring has been updated to 12 volt. Suspention has been totally rebuilt with all moving parts replaced (I have all the old take-offs). Brakes redone and working perfectly. No rust through anywhere, ever; there was some very minor surface rust and pitting before the restore.

Very pleased with the find but now I'm struggling with if I should alter it or not.

 

[Corey]

Very nice find.

 

[JKDetonator]

Why not?

It's yours, do with it as you see fit! If you've got the imagination, skills, and tools - go for it! You'll beglad you did. Make it yours and enjoy it! :victory:

 

[TacoDell]

looks to be in fine condition... congrats

 

[SKT]

...now I'm struggling with if I should alter it or not.

IMO, there are too many other trailers out there to turn into an expedition set-up.

That is one clean Unit, and looks like it would fetch you a pretty penny, if you opt to sell it in order to build something else.

Very nice trailer though...

 

[Sabre07]

me too...old warhorse...call me sentimental...ate too many meals delivered on those I guess.

 

[Titanpat57]

I just picked up my trailer last night and I'm very pleased with it's condition. I think it's one of those rare finds. It's so nice in fact that I'm going to have to give some thought about altering it.

It was given a full frame off restore about 2 years ago and from what I saw of the pcitures from before the restore it was already an exceptional trailer. Here are some pictures:


Paint and primer are period correct; wiring has been updated to 12 volt. Suspention has been totally rebuilt with all moving parts replaced (I have all the old take-offs). Brakes redone and working perfectly. No rust through anywhere, ever; there was some very minor surface rust and pitting before the restore.

Very pleased with the find but now I'm struggling with if I should alter it or not.

Not to be a wise *****...but if you're not a collector, why keep it in pristine condition. If in fact that's your Jeep in the background( which is awesome looking), why not make it match. There are many builds that folks do that maintain the integrity...but still manage to fit in some great mods.

Good luck, nice trailer,

Pat

 

[JCMatthews]

It really does not need much.

You sir have a gem of a trailer. If you have never owned an M416 you don't realize just what you have. I understand the coolness factor of having a period correct antique, however I think tastefully you could use the trailer while maintaining its aesthetics. Bed line the inside of the tub the same color as the trailer so that it can be used without damage. If you are worried about clearance you could do a spring over which is reversible and to preserve the rims put a different set on while offroading. If it were mine I'd line it and run it the way it sits. You'll love it and it will look great. I own an M416 and love it. I just returned from driving 160 miles (80 miles each way) around the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands, and my trailer was towed the entire way. It has no lift, it is running the military tires, has the lunette, and the landing leg. There has never been a problem with this set up, and the this is its second trip on the White Rim. It will go anywhere my Jeep wants to tow it. I love my trailer. It will haul a ton of rock, gravel, sand, or 1/2 a cord of firewood. I use it to haul all of my camping gear, and up to 10 bikes. The first picture is of mine in May with nine mountain bikes on it headed on down to Moab to do a 50 mile bike ride, and the other is from Saturday on our way out of the White Rim.

 

[highlandercj-7]

That is one extremely clean trailer. If you can sell it and make some $$ I would go that route. Someone has to want a restored trailer that clean. I would mod one that needs some love over one that is that clean. If nothing else use that one as is until you find a canidate for moding and or get the modded one finished and then sell that one to recoupe some green.

 

[oO_Rogue_Oo]

That is one extremely clean trailer. If you can sell it and make some $$ I would go that route. Someone has to want a restored trailer that clean. I would mod one that needs some love over one that is that clean. If nothing else use that one as is until you find a canidate for moding and or get the modded one finished and then sell that one to recoupe some green.

This is kind of what I've been thinking. For the short term I think I will use it without making any changes to it until I can decide how I want to proceed.

 

[Feileod]

To build or not to build?

Just some food for thought, IMO,
First this is a nice trailer for sure, but puase when folks start tossing out "rare" or "valuable"
Rare and valuable 1/4 ton trailers are Pre-WWII, WWII, and post WWII vintage. MBTs, Bantams, etc...
Next in line are going to be Lend Lease versions of the above trailers that have been brought back to the states.
Below that are M100 Korean war vintage trailers
And last would be the M416 and then only if....
If it was made by the least common manufacture.
Yours was made by one of the most common, if not the most common.
M416B Marine corps version built for the M422 "Mighty Might"
Yours is a good ol common M416
If it was built or modified for some unique purpose/prototype
I can't say for sure, but yours looks pretty standard.

There were a few thousand M416s built and they are the last of of the US military 1/4 t trailers made (the Canadian M101CDN2 would be one most recently retired, circa late 90s) and most recently retired.

Enjoy the trailer, a reproduction would cost at least a couple of thousand more than what the fair market value is for your trailer. I have had my M101CDN2 for a few years now and it still looks like it did the day it was put out to pasture. It has served my family well and earned its keep on more than one camping trip. I have yet to do anything to it that couldn't be reversed if it suddlenly became "rare and valuable" and yet it has still managed to do everything I need it to do. I think you may find that your trailer in its current configuration will do the same and if it doesn't, paint can be repainted, holes and tailgate conversions can be welded up, etc... Unless you blow it up, there isn't much that can't be reversed in the event it suddenly becomes "rare and valuable".

Again this is JMO :ylsmoke:

 

[Sport-Trac 01]

If it wasn't in such good condition, I'd say built whatever you want. But looking at the condition, I'd sell it because you should be able to turn a quick nickel since it has such a recent and good restoration. I think you'd be better off finding one in lesser condition and built that. But that's just my 2 cents.

 

[oO_Rogue_Oo]

Just some food for thought, IMO,
First this is a nice trailer for sure, but puase when folks start tossing out "rare" or "valuable"
Rare and valuable 1/4 ton trailers are Pre-WWII, WWII, and post WWII vintage. MBTs, Bantams, etc...
Next in line are going to be Lend Lease versions of the above trailers that have been brought back to the states.
Below that are M100 Korean war vintage trailers
And last would be the M416 and then only if....
If it was made by the least common manufacture.
Yours was made by one of the most common, if not the most common.
M416B Marine corps version built for the M422 "Mighty Might"
Yours is a good ol common M416
If it was built or modified for some unique purpose/prototype
I can't say for sure, but yours looks pretty standard.

There were a few thousand M416s built and they are the last of of the US military 1/4 t trailers made (the Canadian M101CDN2 would be one most recently retired, circa late 90s) and most recently retired.

Enjoy the trailer, a reproduction would cost at least a couple of thousand more than what the fair market value is for your trailer. I have had my M101CDN2 for a few years now and it still looks like it did the day it was put out to pasture. It has served my family well and earned its keep on more than one camping trip. I have yet to do anything to it that couldn't be reversed if it suddlenly became "rare and valuable" and yet it has still managed to do everything I need it to do. I think you may find that your trailer in its current configuration will do the same and if it doesn't, paint can be repainted, holes and tailgate conversions can be welded up, etc... Unless you blow it up, there isn't much that can't be reversed in the event it suddenly becomes "rare and valuable".

Again this is JMO :ylsmoke:

Thanks for all the good information. It wasn’t that I thought it might be valuable just that I hesitated to cut up or weld on an original survivor that has never been patched, never had any rust through; that sort of thing. But the information you posted up does help put it all into perspective. Thank you

On another note; I haven’t been just sitting idle. I’ve been pouring over trailer build threads all over the internet (internet Ninja style) clipping pictures and collecting ideas. I’ll probably keep at it for a few weeks and then put it all together; churn it around in my head a bit; collate it; and then put plan to paper. I don’t have my own fab shop so I’m dependent on a friend of mine for scheduling. All that said this will be a slow methodical process. Good news is this trailer is VERY serviceable just the way she sits. I can’t wait to load her up and get her out on the trails. Her debut should be this weekend.

 

[Feileod]

One more thing

I wasn't trying to infer that anyone was mis-informed or over stating its value. I was trying to put into perspective what is considered valuable in the 1/4 t trailer world. This isn't any different than the guy who buys a clean early jeep or bronco and builds it into a high end 4x4. There are alot of older clean rigs out there that get fenders cut, axles swapped, and so on. There will always be arguments about what is too original or clean to mod. The truth is you determine the value of the thing. My trailer's true value to me is that it allows my Wife, two daughters, and I to all go camping and exploring. Without it, every trip would require two vehicles to haul bodies and gear (lots of gear with Wife and daughters) and camp sites would be limited to paved access only.

I don't know your reasons for the purchase, but if it were me and that was the trailer I found when I was looking (oddly enough I was stationed in Fl when I was looking) I would not have hesitated.

Either way good luck and most importantly, have fun.:wings:














Good luck and have fun.