Lucky Barn Find! M416

[Capt. Tyler]

For the past 6 months I have been on an absolute hunt for and M416 in good condition, with no luck. Ive been on Craigslist everyday and even contemplated shipping an m416 from Oregon to South Carolina just because they are nowhere to be found around here.

Well last night my in laws come over for dinner and I bring it up to my Father in law, I show him all the pics of everyones builds here go on and on and on about how I'm looking for one and how there just not in existence around here anymore blah blah blah, he lets me go on and doesn't say a word. At the end of my rant he looks at me and says "if you want one that bad just come to my warehouse tomorrow and pick it up"! :Wow1::Wow1: All this time there has been one right under my nose for free!

So this afternoon I jump in the truck and go pick it up!!

Here it is

When I originally was planning on building this I was going to do the axle flip but looking at it now all hooked up its perfectly level with my truck. So new tires and rims first, Fix rust and paint, Fab a Lid, then buy a RTT.

Im So Stoked!! :wings::wings:

 

[FAW3]

Nice find & great F.I.L.!

I came across a similar type trailer (a Bantam) and so far it has been a real joy both for the minor work (tires, sanding/painting) and also the uses (hauling, camping, loaning out to family...). They seem to be the perfect size for both towing easily and carrying just what you need.

The one common aspect I've seen is tub rust...often made much worse by allowing standing water. After your efforts to sand & paint, a well fitting tarp (or lid) really will pay off in the long term.

Enjoy and keep us updated as to progress...spring is coming soon!

 

[Smksignals]

funny how things work out. Congrats.

 

[BigAl]

awesome luck. i like the rims. Maybe just get new military style tires?

 

[Dirtytires]

It is in great shape . I would go to Cokertire.com and get some new tires. Free... awesome..

 

[hillbillyjake]

good score. just wondering, is the hitch set up as scary as it looks in the pic?? free's free, i know. but, i might lookinto another set up. my $.02

 

[Maine07jk]

Doesn't get any better than that! More money to mod it up!

 

[Capt. Tyler]

For real!!

So once I got my truck on level ground the trailer is about 1.5-2" lower than the truck. I think the SOA would be to much, so what do y'all think about lift blocks in this situation? Im usually not a fan but thinking this might be the best option.

 

[Capt. Tyler]

haha yes it is that scary!

Actually it is pretty sturdy but I'm going to put the pintle back in it.

 

[Mark Harley]

Awesome trailer and ............

 

[Mark Harley]

Do the spring over then fab a new safer coupler inserted into the lower nose hole.

 

[biskit]

F.in L. Cap,n Tyler your F.in L came up trumps with that one :victory: just lengthen the draw bar and put the hitch on top, should sort the level out.:drool:

 

[Eaglefreek]

For real!!

So once I got my truck on level ground the trailer is about 1.5-2" lower than the truck. I think the SOA would be to much, so what do y'all think about lift blocks in this situation? Im usually not a fan but thinking this might be the best option.

If the axle is on top of the springs adding blocks will lower the trailer.

 

[Quill]

Buy that man some single malt. Good FIL.

 

[Capt. Tyler]

Eagle, your exactly right. Didn't think that one all the way through!

So I've started to strip the paint in the bed and have decided to Linex the interior. Then White and Black paint on the exterior to match my truck.

The only thing I am truly back on forth on is whether or not to tackle building the lid. If I don't do the lid I'm going to build a rack to sit the RTT that sits about 24" above the trailer. There is one on here that looks real good set up this way.

What do y'all think?