Fiberglass M416/M100 Military-style Trailer Tub Kit

[shane4x4]

A fiberglass cover definitely would save weight compared to a steel version, and probably saves some weight compared an aluminum or wood version, but what is your definition of "inexpensive"?

Steel & aluminum lids go for $800-$1000.

 

[jscherb]

Steel & aluminum lids go for $800-$1000.

So you're telling me that's also a good price range for a fiberglass one?

 

[shane4x4]

Lower would be better, but I think the benefits of fiberglass would justify something in that range.

 

[nmzj]

I was thinking that the top dimension of the trailer was similar to the dinoot.

I would think that the user would be able to decide which way it hinges as long as there was reinforcement for either place. I do like the looks of the slightly raised version.

Jason

 

[/dev/ram]

On the height, I've seen lids that allow foldable bag chairs to be strapped under the lid, which is very handy. I do think asthetically it looks best if it's slightly less tall than the height of the tub at that point. Could still hang fishing poles, tent poles, etc. I prefer a driver hinge/passenger access, but the idea of having an option is always good. Looks nice!

Oh, but I would think the whole point of fiberglass would be less cost - that's why I don't have a lid now... ;-)

 

[jscherb]

On the height, I've seen lids that allow foldable bag chairs to be strapped under the lid, which is very handy. I do think asthetically it looks best if it's slightly less tall than the height of the tub at that point. Could still hang fishing poles, tent poles, etc. I prefer a driver hinge/passenger access, but the idea of having an option is always good. Looks nice!

It could be built so that the hinges could be mounted on either side or either end. In the drawing below I've put the hinges on the front end. Also, since I'm working in fiberglass, the shape doesn't have to stick to flat surfaces and sharp angles - the one below is drawn with a curve on the sides rather than the angled sides that most metal ones seem to have. Here's both for comparison:

Oh, but I would think the whole point of fiberglass would be less cost - that's why I don't have a lid now... ;-)

Hey, Shane's the one who mentioned a that specific price range, not me. I was looking for input from everyone but so far only Shane's posted prices .

 

[Mark Harley]

Well if you are building lids may as well make lids for the M101a1,a2,a3 trailers
With the cut backs from the government, thousands of M1101 and M1102 trailers are hitting the market.
Start planning for those too.

 

[klb67]

I would think the lid would sell well for your trailer and for retro fits on metal trailers, both M416s as well as custom off road trailers looking for lid options. I assume that you'll need support at the edges and across the middle of the lid (steel or aluminum lids have metal frames under the skin) - would you imbed a wood structure? That would make a great option to screw in racks, etc. Definately have the option to hinge on the driver's side or the front, and to accomodate gas struts to hold it up.

 

[jscherb]

I would think the lid would sell well for your trailer and for retro fits on metal trailers, both M416s as well as custom off road trailers looking for lid options. I assume that you'll need support at the edges and across the middle of the lid (steel or aluminum lids have metal frames under the skin) - would you imbed a wood structure? That would make a great option to screw in racks, etc. Definately have the option to hinge on the driver's side or the front, and to accomodate gas struts to hold it up.

Yes, there would be some structure built into the cover; could be 'glassed-in wood, could be all fiberglass, that's yet to be determined. There would also be support along the perimeter, which would provide places to mount hinges and gas struts, and provide options as to which direction it was hinged.

 

[jscherb]

One of the other types of cover I plan to do for this tub kit is a snap-on tonneau cover like the one that's available for the Dinoot trailers:

This is a really nice cover that's got a frame that clamps to the top of the tub. The frame is basically a "snap track", meaning that the snaps on the cover can snap anywhere into the track, not in just fixed positions. Because of that feature, it's easy to use the cover for only half of the tub, for example, if something all must be carried in the other half. It's also got snap-in bows to keep the cover from pooling water. Here's a photo of the frame and a bow on a Dinoot trailer under construction:

A few more shots of one of these tonneaus on my longer Jeep-tub trailer:

As soon as I've got the tub molded and assembled I plan to ask the manufacturer of these tonneau covers make up a sample for me to fit the M-72 prototype.

 

[jscherb]

I've been working on finalizing the design of the fiberglass hard cover, and I've decided that it should be molded in two halves. Doing it this way results in more options for how it could be installed and used.

The cover would be split into two halves right down the middle, so it would look just like the other covers I've drawn, except there would be a joint in the middle where it would be bolted together:

Both halves are identical, they'd come out of the same mold, so only one mold is required.

Here's a shot of the cover open - you can see the bolt flange in the center where the two halves are bolted together.

Also in the above drawing the cover shown has the rounded corners instead of the angled corners, I haven't yet decided which type corner I like better (more on that soon).

So that's the installation as a one-piece cover, but because it's in two halves, the same exact parts can be configured to open separately. Here's a shot of it installed so that each half can open separately, shown open:

Both sides could be opened, although not at the same time without some additional components. But, the cover would be secured to the tub with the latches, so you could undo all the latches and lift the cover right off.

And a shot of it hinged in the middle, but closed and latched:

Doing it this way also makes it less expensive to ship if this were ever to become a commercial product - with the cover split in two, it could be packed up to ship UPS Ground, where a one-piece cover would be large enough to require truck freight.

The split cover could open all the way to rest on the opposite side cover:

 

[grimbo]

Not sure if you get these style trailers in the US but down under we have Tradie trailers or butterfly lids.

Here's mine which an all in one solid construction but many others are made as a bolt on lid.

I'd imagine it would be a matter of making a door mould that could work for both doors, an end mould and a roof mould.

They fit a considerable amount of extra stuff in, easy access, still allow rear visibility and remain within the body line of the vehicle so don't get snagged on off camber obstacles

 

[jscherb]

Not sure if you get these style trailers in the US but down under we have Tradie trailers or butterfly lids.

Here's mine which an all in one solid construction but many others are made as a bolt on lid.

I'd imagine it would be a matter of making a door mould that could work for both doors, an end mould and a roof mould.

They fit a considerable amount of extra stuff in, easy access, still allow rear visibility and remain within the body line of the vehicle so don't get snagged on off camber obstacles

That's an interesting design, I haven't seen those before. Yes, probably a matter of a door mold (same door on both sides), and end mold (same part on each end) and a roof mold, plus some bracketing, etc., for shelving and storage.

Is it possible to put a root top tent on those? The most common things I hear about hard covers for these trailers is a desire to put a roof top tent or a cargo rack on top. That's why I've been working on a more flat design - easy to mount roof top tents and racks.

 

[grimbo]

Many also then have a rack built that could incorporate a RTT. 4 uprights from the tub and traditional cross bars.

We use it with a ground tent. Left side is the kitchen, right is storage for 4x chairs, 4x sleeping mats, gazebo, tent poles, tarps, ropes and pegs, BBQ, buckets, rain coats and boots. The fold up kids make it easy to access and offers some cover from rain etc when opened for the contents

 

[jscherb]

I was asked today why my design split the cover lengthwise down the middle instead of crosswise. Here's my logic: since these military tubs are quite narrow (about 41" at the floor), I figured if you opened one side you would have access to almost everything inside the tub from that one side. Also you could open the curb side and have access from the curb if safety was a concern wherever the trailer happened to be at the time.

But it could be split across instead; if the consensus was that would be a better configuration I could do it that way instead: