Just purchased a Military trailer to build a family hauler

[Mark Harley]

Safety first!

Being a family man I know Cuts and Boo Boo's happen!
I was on my favorite shopping site " ebay " and found this vintage
water proof first aid station from a telephone company.

I bought it cheap and when it arrived I Harleyized it.
Off to work it went to be bead blasted of it's original paint. I removed the original keyhole hanger on the back " it will be mounted on the trailer " and sprayed it white.

Working at a sign shop has it's benifits as stated in previous posts, I had my buddy Tim
cut me out a cool FIRST AID logo and slap it on.

Now I will have a permanant Medical box for camping trips.
Boo Boo's happen!

 

[DonBeasley]

Mark:

Waaaay too much time on ebay!!!!!!!!!!

 

[koolex11]

Mark:

Waaaay too much time on ebay!!!!!!!!!!

Are you criticizing a guy for pursuing a hobby? Or am I missing an inside joke here???

 

[DonBeasley]

Are you criticizing a guy for pursuing a hobby? Or am I missing an inside joke here???

Just poking at him for finding all his cool stuff on ebay!!!

 

[koolex11]

Ok then! Mark definitely walks the line between genius and insanity, but we all get to enjoy it. EBay away my friend!

 

[Mark Harley]

Don:

What do you mean I spend too much time on ebay?

I only bought a couple items for the trailer off ebay
M101A2 trailer, channel hitch, lunette, safety cables, tail lights, 7 wire plug, 2" ball coupler,
rims, center caps, duel thread lug nuts, vinyl cover, propane tank, first aid box,
1 1/4" receivers, 2" receivers, umbrella, and the Pintle hitch on the truck.

Maybe I have been on ebay too much!

Now, if I could find a roof top tent on there for under $800.00 shipped to Pittsburgh I would be set!

 

[Mark Harley]

The BOXING match!

I needed a place to store the little extras for my trailer build.
Receiver tubes, hitch pins, hoses, and a spot for a battery.

Being cheap and not wanting to spend $160.00 on a tongue box, I set out on making my own. Starting with several sheets of 12" wide cardboard I mocked up a design that was a good size for the area in front of the tub.

I matched the degree of the tongue angle but a few inches wider.
Diamond plate aluminum is not cheap, but I did find a piece 4 feet by 6 feet used but free. It was used in a sand blasting trailer. Rough but it was getting painted anyway.

Using my cardboard box as a guide I sheared the sheet down and welded it together with a spool gun. I need on of those! The result is a strong box big enough for my needs and it didn't break the bank.

I plan on using a Jeep hood latch to hold the lid closed and seal the inside seams with silicone.

I have a few feet of the diamond plate left so I am going to make my kitchen counter from it.

 

[youwillforget]

Looks good!

 

[Dirtytires]

The box looks nice and sturdy. It is coming along very well! I like the first aid boxes. I just carry a Miltary Medic Bag . Toss it anywhere and have everything to treat bug bites to serious wounds.

 

[Nick in Ca]

Hey Mark, nice write up on the brakes. I know you have a full size pickup, so you really aren't going to need the trailer brakes much, but you aren't going to feel the extra few hundred pounds either. I would think a smaller type truck might need the brakes on the trailer, when it's loaded up. Your brakes were used up, but most of them seem to be in good shape, it just seems a shame to take all that neat stuff off, just to save a few hundred pounds. I really can't say either, because I tow mine with a 5500 dodge. My son has a mid size suv and is planning to build a camping trailer out of his, so we'll see how his truck will handle the weight. I know him, it will be loaded down. I really like what you've done to yours, clean job!

Hey, Im a first time visitor and poster on this site, and everyone can thank Mark for that!! I saw his thread on the Steel Soldiers site and had to see more of this build.

I also have an M101, mine is a 1952. It doesnt have surge brakes, the only brake system it has is hand operated parking brakes. Two handles at the front operate each side. I am currently pulling it with a 2001 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab 4x4. It tows like a dream. Never even know its there. A few months back, I made a trip from Central Ca to So Cal with 4 Dodge flathead motors in the trailer. Up the Grapevine, a major grade on I-5 to So Cal, and down the Grapevine. Absolutely no issues whatsoever. Now granted I have a 5 speed manual transmission, but even with the motors in the back, I had no braking issues.

And Mark, thanks for posting the link for this on SS, I am defiantely liking your ideas. I plan to do a moderate camping trailer out of mine, and have been brainstorming for awhile. You help clear the storms!!

Attached are some of my pics. I have 900 16 military NDTs on it cuz eventually I will be pulling it primarily with a 1948 Dodge Power Wagon. The same wheels, tires, hubs, brakes, everything is the same on the trailer and truck.

Thanks Mark for opening another cool site to me.

Nick

 

[Heat Miser]

@Nick in Ca: Beautiful trailer. You'd never know it's a '52. I just got an M101A2 that I pull with my Jeep and I love it. I'm outfitting it for camping but don't have plans for any major changes at this point. Any photos with yours and the Power Wagon?

 

[Mark Harley]

Nick:

That trailer is a beauty!
I took my trailer to Erie this weekend, and used it as a pumpkin hauler, auction toter, outdoor kitchen and grill station for a three day weekend. The trailer pulls great behind my crewcab even at speeds of 75mph I get lots of looks and double takes.
I have pulled the A2 over 1500 miles so far and it is one of the best purchases I ever made.

I am coming up with more useful ideas for the build as I go.
Still to come a camp kitchen that hangs on the side, more table space, a RTT and rack to hold it.
I will post more pictures when my home computer is back up and running. "At work now"

Mark Harley

 

[Nick in Ca]

@Nick in Ca: Beautiful trailer. You'd never know it's a '52. I just got an M101A2 that I pull with my Jeep and I love it. I'm outfitting it for camping but don't have plans for any major changes at this point. Any photos with yours and the Power Wagon?

Thanks for the compliment. I got pretty lucky, the trailer was in really really good shape when I got it. All I really did was strip it down, blast it, weld some holes in the bed that the military put in and re paint it.

My Power Wagon isnt done yet. Im waiting for the cab to come out of the paint shop, long story. Suffice to say I told them I wanted it done Memorial Day Weeked for the California Dodge Power Wagon Rally in Hollister, Ca.

Heres what it looks like right now.....When its done Ill post more pics with the duo.

Nick

 

[Nick in Ca]

Nick:

That trailer is a beauty!
I took my trailer to Erie this weekend, and used it as a pumpkin hauler, auction toter, outdoor kitchen and grill station for a three day weekend. The trailer pulls great behind my crewcab even at speeds of 75mph I get lots of looks and double takes.
I have pulled the A2 over 1500 miles so far and it is one of the best purchases I ever made.

I am coming up with more useful ideas for the build as I go.
Still to come a camp kitchen that hangs on the side, more table space, a RTT and rack to hold it.
I will post more pictures when my home computer is back up and running. "At work now"

Mark Harley

Thanks Mark, your is too. Im gonna borrow some of your ideas. I like the trailer hitches for mounts, never thought of that. I was tryin to think of ways to have it all organized. And you showed it!

Cant wait to see the camp kitchen.

Nick

 

[Nick in Ca]

Mark, any updates??

Nick