A few years ago, I got a sweet deal on a M101A2 trailer and have been using it as a utility hauler with the dream to eventually turn it into an expedition camper. I cut off the surge brakes and had a welder put a 3' long receiver tube with appropriate bracing. I have kept the lunette as I like the flexibililty and bombproofness? The only other mod so far is LED strip lights for the tail end. Well, I just bought an Eezi-Awn RTT and Foxwing awning to start my build. My question is this: is there an advantage to using square telescoping tubing vs round DOM for an extendable rack? I plan on copying a lot of what Dstock has done with his setup. It just seems that for the extending pieces, round DOM would eliminate any binding caused by "twisting" during welding. Warps are warps and will bind either. Also, I am trying hard to source locking pull pins to secure the rack at the various heights. Any thoughts? I will start posting pics soon when the actual work begins!! I will also have to scour the threads for axle measurements as I want to put a Dexter with electric brakes and hand brake feature under it. I pull with a Tacoma and the hub bore is huge, so I shouldn't need spacers to mount my wheels. I am so excited to start!! Thanks in advance to all those who have inspired this undertaking!
M101A2 Expo build.
- Thread starter Theschist
- Start date
dstock
Explorer
Welcome to the madness!! It's great fun and it's the project that keeps on giving. I'm getting ready to do a couple more projects on mine.
As far as the round tubing goes, the issue I had with the welder who messed up my side posts was not that posts twisted but that the weld got so hot it shortened one side of the tubing. This could also happen with round DOM tubing as well but really was only issue because my welder got a bit overzealous! I like the square tubing because it give you a nice flat surface to weld to another flat surface, but that's just my 2 cents. If you bracketed the round tubing, you could get the same results.
Have fun with the build!!
As far as the round tubing goes, the issue I had with the welder who messed up my side posts was not that posts twisted but that the weld got so hot it shortened one side of the tubing. This could also happen with round DOM tubing as well but really was only issue because my welder got a bit overzealous! I like the square tubing because it give you a nice flat surface to weld to another flat surface, but that's just my 2 cents. If you bracketed the round tubing, you could get the same results.
Have fun with the build!!
SoDakSooner
Adventurer
Mine is all flat, but still need to weld it up. I have it cut, but that is as far as I've gotten.
OK, telescoping tubing ordered. Pull pins sourced. Has anyone out there fabricated their own hard cover for the bed of the trailer? I am thinking of using good plywood and coating it with bed liner, or possibly even diamond plate aluminum. I would like to incorporate doors or access panels. The other requirement would be to add a little height to the trailer bed to house a Dometic Fridge and pull out kitchen. I thought about just using a truck bed cap, but would like to keep the profile down a little so the RTT rack is not so high when collapsed.
I will post up pics later, but this weekend I was able to extend the chains to level the tailgate and install a hitch receiver for a bike rack. I purchased the steel for the rack, but want to wait until I have all the parts to start welding.
I was all excited to start this, but now am feeling a little daunted. I guess I just need to take small steps...
I will post up pics later, but this weekend I was able to extend the chains to level the tailgate and install a hitch receiver for a bike rack. I purchased the steel for the rack, but want to wait until I have all the parts to start welding.
I was all excited to start this, but now am feeling a little daunted. I guess I just need to take small steps...
Go the trailer behind the Tacoma, test fit the Foxwing stowed, and with the rack fully extended. I still have to put power to the acutators before I dare to put the RTT on. There are a few touchups to do, i.e. grinding a few welds down and repainting to make everything fit good. I don't know how much more I will do until I go see all the rigs and Overland Expo East in November!!
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SoDakSooner
Adventurer
Nice job. Exact thing I want to do to mine.
We had the trial weekend!! I found a few small things to fix with how I set up the awning, and I'm not sure on if I should get the tent higher so the annex is fully extended to the ground. The linear actuators are a little louder that I expected. Does anyone have a good resource for custom switches? I would like a momentary one for up /down for the lifters.
So this past weekend was the christening of our camper. The wife and my son both spent the weekend in the tent. She was surprised at how comfortable it was, plus was impressed with the privacy the annex provided. Now, rain did hamper us a little and the mosquitoes were HORRIBLE!! Luckily, none of the bugs found their way into the tent. After the weekend, I was able to hook up LED light strips on the underside of the RTT and on the aluminum bars inside the tent. I also got 90% of the way with my wiring. I used Quickfist mounts to put my axe and shovel (not shown in pics). I also had some 40mm dummy grenades from a MK19 grenade launcher to mount above the left wheel well. 
