Lunette with bend for leveling

[MikeW]

Hi,

Taking this up from another thread. I've got an M416; outdated photo here:

I've just pulled the surge brake off and replaced it with a standard lunette. In another thread I saw a bent lunette and immediately thought of using one to level my trailer; after some other mods she sits a tiny bit nose down.

Has anyone else used the bent or swan-necked lunettes? Ever bent a lunette on purpose?

I know there are other ways to tackle this. Just interested in this way.

Thanks!

 

[tropics]

Hey Mike,
I just did the same thing with a M416A1 I picked up a couple months ago, I replaced the surge brake assembly with a standard straight Lunette. I believe that the M416 draw bar casting has two lunette mounting positions, a high and a low. That can help to level the trailer, if its still out of range then you can use a receiver mount on the tow vehicle that has multiple adjusting holes for the pintle, I had to do that to get mine level too.

Mahalo
Tropics

 

[gasman]

like this.....

http://www.princessauto.com/truck-trailer/towing/pintle-hooks/4200124-pintle-mount

 

[MikeW]

Thanks guys.

The lunette is now in the bottom mount. And my current pintle hitch mount is indeed one of those adjustables, turned upside down with the hitch below the receiver in the Jeep. Unfortunately it's been modded enough over the years (read: cut up) that I'm out of adjustability there. Yah, I can (and will if necessary) get another or make something custom.

But that lunette with the bend in it looks sweet. Any ideas for a source?

Thanks much!
Mike

 

[tropics]

Not sure how interchangable the 416 lunette mounting hole is with the M101 lunette. My guess just off hand is that there not based just on the weight difference between the two trailers. Cant say for sure though.

Tropics

 

[telwyn]

Lid?

Slightly off topic, but interesting lid on your trailer. Did you design it?

 

[xcmountain80]

How would you go about bending a lunette? I have a M416 and mine seems a little beefy to bend. I had thought of lengthening it for more turing clearance but bending huh?

A

 

[SunTzuNephew]

How would you go about bending a lunette? I have a M416 and mine seems a little beefy to bend. I had thought of lengthening it for more turing clearance but bending huh?

A

Yeah, they're big honking forgings, IIRC....(I used to work, before med school, for a company that made them).

 

[xcmountain80]

Yeah, they're big honking forgings, IIRC....(I used to work, before med school, for a company that made them).

Yes those be the ones, heavy enough to beat a car to death.

A

 

[SunTzuNephew]

Yes those be the ones, heavy enough to beat a car to death.

A

Yeah. The lunettes we made were for M101's, I think...the raw forging was something like 45 pounds? And there wasn't a whole lot of machining on them...turning threads and a couple of shoulders? It's been awhile.

 

[TacoDell]

The bent angled lunette's were found on the Ben Hur trailers...
Google that and you'll know more.

think they were on British or European built trailers.

G503.com would be a good call if wanting more info regarding that.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

If your up to welding a newer mount, something like this may work?

 

[MikeW]

Telwyn - that lid was bought with the trailer & then modified. I got my trailer about ten years ago from a now-defunct military surplus joint in Tracy City, TN. He had a few of those that he said came out of the Marine Corps. I added the hinges, CJ-style handle, CJ-style tiedowns and did some reinforcing. It adds a nice bit of storage volume and stays dry in the pouring rain. It's also aluminum so it's nice & light. Hard to see in the photo but the very top is all banged up. But... it has character.

Tropics - yah, you're right. I did some further research. Looks like the bent lunettes were all for trailers that won't swap with the M416.

And to all about the bending - dunno how to go about bending something that beefy. For sure my bench vise isn't up to the task.

Sooner or later I'll just make a new hitch. Certainly that'll be most practical. But the bent lunette on Tropic's trailer just looks so good!

Thanks for all the replies!
Mike

 

[xcmountain80]

You could always cut the lunette seperating front from rear, add some length and bend the tubing to be welded over at each end. Obviousl you would be getting a longer lunette in the end whether you wanted it or not.

Telwyn - that lid was bought with the trailer & then modified. I got my trailer about ten years ago from a now-defunct military surplus joint in Tracy City, TN. He had a few of those that he said came out of the Marine Corps. I added the hinges, CJ-style handle, CJ-style tiedowns and did some reinforcing. It adds a nice bit of storage volume and stays dry in the pouring rain. It's also aluminum so it's nice & light. Hard to see in the photo but the very top is all banged up. But... it has character.

Tropics - yah, you're right. I did some further research. Looks like the bent lunettes were all for trailers that won't swap with the M416.

And to all about the bending - dunno how to go about bending something that beefy. For sure my bench vise isn't up to the task.

Sooner or later I'll just make a new hitch. Certainly that'll be most practical. But the bent lunette on Tropic's trailer just looks so good!

Thanks for all the replies!
Mike

 

[IggyB]

Just saw lunettes with a bend in them at a local Princess Auto store. Threaded on the end.

Send me a PM if you want some measurements.