Finally joined the 1/4 ton club.

[hairy_apple]

Started building a rear bumper this week. Hoping to get it finished up tomorrow, or at least most of the way there.

 

[hairy_apple]

Finally got the rear hoop bent. What a pain! 3 tries to get it just right.. but I knew if I didn't get it perfect it would annoy me every time I looked at it. It's all ready to weld up, just have to get some time this weekend to weld it. Then I can paint it and stick it on there. I think I'm going to buy some skateboard grip tape and cover the tops of the steps.. I'll have to cut out the logos and holes, but I think it will be nice to have them have some grip to them. I can imagine how slick they will be when they are wet otherwise.

 

[JPNCA]

Good deal!
As far as extending the tongue buy them stock and take the old one to a machine shop and have them mill it for you. Then figure the best length for you. Cut and weld on the hitch you want to use.

Just my $.02
Good luck with the new project

 

[hairy_apple]

I haven't really decided what I want to do with the front. I DO want to lengthen it. However, I'm pretty sure if I do, I want to rebuild the whole front "A" frame part. Then again.. if I am going to do that.. why not build a whole new frame? So.. yeah. Not sure what my plan is. I do want a water tank, but am considering putting that under it with skid plates. If that ends up being the case, I think I'm going to do something like what you posted and not rebuild the whole front. I don't want to make things TOO long as that's the whole point of a little trailer like this.

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

I have plans for a replacement of the front frame on my trailer. All that cast iron up there is very heavy, and it is just not 100% where I would like it to be. I am pretty sure it will be even better when I am done.

One day...lol, done. heh

 

[hairy_apple]

Well... my day or two project is taking forever because I've had a nasty cold all week and really haven't felt much like touching it. But I at least got it all mounted today, and most of the welding done. I still have to weld the entire outside edge and clean up a few spots that need welding/blending. Once I weld that entire outside edge, I'll have to sand it all smooth and pretty to match the front. Going to suck sanding all of that.. but it will be worth it when it's done. I'm super happy with how it came out. It will be nice to have a step to help get into it, and to have protecting from stuff hitting the body, and of course.. it looks cool. Once it's all welded and I paint it or powder coat it, I'm going to put skateboard grip tape across the entire thing. I can only imagine how slick it will be with some mud and water on it.

 

[hairy_apple]

Wow.. it's been a long time since I updated this. Lots has changed.

We took a couple more trips with the FJ40 that I actually bought it for. The cruiser pulls it great, I love how little I notice it back there. I did however destroy the cheesy chinamart ball hitch last fall,and replaced it with a multi axis hitch. It was a modified design of some I found online, and I've been VERY happy with it.

 

[hairy_apple]

We are going leaving for Overland Expo in a week, and a few days ago my wife said...we should just go ahead and buy a RTT. Uh.. OK. No argument here! So we finally got a RTT, and now I'm going to spend the next few days building a lid for the trailer to mount it on. Yikes.. nothing like cutting it close. Leave in ONE WEEK from tomorrow, and I have to build a lid and mount the tent. Thank God the cruiser and the trailer are totally ready otherwise. I think two days and I'll have the skeleton for the lid finished, and if I don't have time for the skin, oh well. I'll finish when we get back.

I might have got a bit over eager and unpacked it in our living room... wow, this is going to be a big improvement over sleeping on the ground.

And spent yesterday replacing all the bearings, races and seals in the trailer. I had planned on just repacking them, but got into them and WOW they were a mess. I feel a little embarrassed I didn't think to do this when I bought it. Oops. So few things to really go wrong with a small trailer, and yet it's amazing how often those few things are totally neglected. They were damaged, and gritty and just in rough shape. None were broken, but some of the races had small cracks. Lucky for us, Napa had all the parts in stock and we had it back together that afternoon. Isn't this how everyone wants to spend their birthday... covered in grease and grit. It will be worth it for for a trouble free summer with the trailer.

 

[hairy_apple]

LONG freakin' day today... and a major pain by myself trying to get it all tacked together. I got the frame all built though, and that was my goal for the day. Tomorrow I'm going to work on the hinges and latches. I found some FJ40 windshield latches that I will use to keep the old school cool feel of the trailer. Hopefully by the end of tomorrow it can open and close and latch and we can mount the RTT and make sure it's all working well. I might consider trying to get the skin done before the trip if tomorrow goes well. I'd really love to have it painted and pretty before Overland Expo. That and it would be nice to keep the dust and mud and water out.

 

[hairy_apple]

I had a pretty productive day today, but ran out of wire and didn't feel like driving into town to get more.. so I stopped a little short of my goal for today, but I am set up nicely for tomorrow to get it all finished up.

Hinges are almost done. A few more welds and they will be ready to go. Then the latches tomorrow, finish welding a few things... and a ton of clean up work. LOTS of sanding and blending and general clean up.

And finally looks like this. I cut off the extra at the top, and will cap them and continue the blending and sanding with them once they are capped. I'm really happy with the whole thing so far. They work great too! I will also drill and tap each one for grease fittings.

 

[JeeperJake]

Looks great man. Wish I had the time to work on mire before the Expo. Oh well, RTT on the RT again. Safe travels to the expo, see ya there.

 

[hairy_apple]

Well.. finished for now. I still need to skin in clearly, and I am adding two more bars lengthwise to support the skin. I am hoping to still add some gas struts if I can get some in time, but we are leaving Tuesday morning and I don't see that happening. I think I'll be using a 2x4 for this trip. lol. The latches are FJ40 windshield latches, and fit the trailer nicely.

We got the tent on it tonight, and I'm happy with how it's going to work. Too dark for pictures by the time we finished mounting it, but I'll take a bunch tomorrow I'm sure. Best part... I can actually SEE the trailer in the mirrors of the cruiser now. lol.

 

[hairy_apple]

I got some gas struts today, 115lbs each hopefully is enough. I will be VERY surprised if two 115lbs struts don't hold it open. We'll put them on tomorrow, I will need help from my wife for that I think... this whole lid project would have been a LOT faster and easier with another set of hands.

Well, we got the tent on, and tested, and I'm excited. We packing tools, camping stuff, ect this weekend, a few last minute checks of the cruiser (fluids, ect) and then Sunday packing up the last stuff and after we're done at work Monday night we're off for Overland Expo. 900 miles away! It's going to be a LONG drive but we're excited to use our new tent and have an awesome week of traveling in the cruiser.

Adventure dog approved.

 

[M35A2]

Looks good! Well bought. Enjoy it; they are incredibly versatile.

 

[a45automan]

Hello, I also have a M416 and have been wanting to put new bearings and races in. How did you determine the correct part number for them? Did you take them in and match them? That is what my NAPA guy told me I would have to do. I just don't want the trailer taken apart and them not have what I need to fix it.
Thanks.