PacificNorthWestJeeper
Blissfully Lost
I have been wanting an "Off-Road" trailer for some time now. After looking around for a few years I considered a few things...Buying One $$$$$...Making on from scratch-ehhh... Then I came across the M416 military trailers. I liked the look, kind of nostalgic, not too big, floats (lol), and its something I could repurpose. It took quite a long time to find one in good shape under $1000.00.. With diligent searching I finally found one for $600.00. I picked it up, had it sand blasted and found the body and frame was in great shape. I sold all the parts I wasn't going to use and started purchasing upgrade materials...
I started of by covering the circular rail tubing with square ¼ wall tubing. This was a PIA, but worth it since I was planning on placing a lid on top and a flat surface to mate it to would work out a lot better than a round one. I ditched the stock axle and springs for a 4000 pound axles with 6000 pound outers and about 4 inches wider, yeah over kill. the 4000 pound axle tube has ¼ wall which should be able to take a heck of a beating if needed. The 6000 pound outers had the bigger hubs which I will need to support 35x12.5 tires. I also started to box in the frame since the original is a 'C' channel frame and I cut out the rear cross member and replaced it with 2x3 ¼ wall tubing with a trailer hitch. I built a lid with ¼ square tubing and 14 gauge sheetmetal. I am now working on the new tongue which is stretched approximately 34 inches longer than the original tongue (see pic below with old factory tongue as comparison). I don't won't to spoil it, but there is much more to come......
I started of by covering the circular rail tubing with square ¼ wall tubing. This was a PIA, but worth it since I was planning on placing a lid on top and a flat surface to mate it to would work out a lot better than a round one. I ditched the stock axle and springs for a 4000 pound axles with 6000 pound outers and about 4 inches wider, yeah over kill. the 4000 pound axle tube has ¼ wall which should be able to take a heck of a beating if needed. The 6000 pound outers had the bigger hubs which I will need to support 35x12.5 tires. I also started to box in the frame since the original is a 'C' channel frame and I cut out the rear cross member and replaced it with 2x3 ¼ wall tubing with a trailer hitch. I built a lid with ¼ square tubing and 14 gauge sheetmetal. I am now working on the new tongue which is stretched approximately 34 inches longer than the original tongue (see pic below with old factory tongue as comparison). I don't won't to spoil it, but there is much more to come......
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