M101A2 Trailer Purchase & Project

[Pikeman]

Texas, I have new tongue built, new axle installed on mine. You can check the pictures in my thread Pikemans M101 A2 .... build. I had the axle come with spring perches attached and then used regular axle u-bolt kit and welded on lower shock mounts. First pics are post 18 and then more a little further. Since the lower shock mount and brackets are welded to the military axle I would order it as the standard 2 3/8 diameter and save a little more weight and ground clearance.

 

[Dirtytires]

Congrats on the baby. Now that no one will get any more sleep during the eve, you
can gets a busy working on the trailer. Glad the baby is healthy and all is back to normal.

 

[TexasFJ]

Ok...between baby poop and honey-do's I finally found some time this weekend to tear down the trailer.

First off.. anyone had any problems with the lunette binding on the pintle? It literally twister my riser/receiver that the pintle is mounted too when I was backing up the trailer in the driveway. 3/8" steel twisted up like a potato chip. Thought I had a pic but don't. Lunette had plenty of clearance on the pintle.. very odd. Rethinking and may go with a lock-n-roll or something.

Grabbed the trailer and headed to my friends place, he has tons of room, welding equipment and a bobcat with forks.

Helps to have life long friends who don't mind doing some work:


and in short order it looked like this:


I have the spare parts sold (axle, wheels, tires, surges system, lunette, etc). Ordered a Dexter 3500lb axles in 62" width with 3" tube and cut off the lower spring perches/shock mounts.

Taking a shock with me to the parts store to find a new set. Need to order some Spidertrax spacers to get this converted to hub centric for the FJ wheels I'm using which will put me at 64.50" axles hub face width (spacers are 1.25" ea).

Still need to strip the wiring and lights, going with some 6" LCD's in the rear C channel below the gate. Picking up a benchtop blasting cabinet tonight, always needing one, to take care of all of the small parts/brackets/reflector housings, etc.

Next time I am out there I'll finish stripping the last few parts and then give it a good power washing/degreasing then start grinding/sanding in preparation to paint.

 

[Pikeman]

If you were towing it as shown in the top photo it's no wonder you twisted your pintle, the round black things are supposed to be down not up. If you look on the Steel Soldiers site there are a bunch of stories of people folding/ twisting their pintle mounts.

I would suggest the max coupler and simply unbolt the the Surge system from the tongue. Cut a piece of 1/4 plate that bolts in its place then weld a piece of receiver tube to that. That will be easier and cheaper than replacing the entire tongue like I did on mine, of course I like the way mine turned out so no real complaints.

 

[TexasFJ]

If you were towing it as shown in the top photo it's no wonder you twisted your pintle, the round black things are supposed to be down not up. If you look on the Steel Soldiers site there are a bunch of stories of people folding/ twisting their pintle mounts.

I would suggest the max coupler and simply unbolt the the Surge system from the tongue. Cut a piece of 1/4 plate that bolts in its place then weld a piece of receiver tube to that. That will be easier and cheaper than replacing the entire tongue like I did on mine, of course I like the way mine turned out so no real complaints.

You made me scroll up to look... you so funny.... I had no idea the round rubber things went down.

I have an adjustable lunette channel for the trailer...everything has been stripped off the front, even cut the landing leg mount off... so much easier to move by hand now.

By the time you buy the adjustable lunette/channel/2" hitch and then a riser and pintle it's almost as much or more than a max coupler...etc.

 

[Pikeman]

Did you order the axle with the parking brake feature? I almost decided against it when I found out it added approx $100 to cost, but went for it anyways.

 

[Mark Harley]

More pictures!
5" of snow on mine now and I am itching to start building again.

 

[TexasFJ]

Did you order the axle with the parking brake feature? I almost decided against it when I found out it added approx $100 to cost, but went for it anyways.

Nope.. I have some very nifty aluminum wheel chocks that work well... and were free. I don't care anything about using it as a dump trailer.

More pictures!
5" of snow on mine now and I am itching to start building again.

Not much to show.. no one was killed in the 50MPH winds yesterday, which was good.

 

[Pikeman]

As you can tell by my new solid tongue frame combination I wont be using mine as a "dump" trailer either. I just figured if/when I am able to afford the RTT having parking brakes as well as chocks will help me feel more secure.

 

[Titanpat57]

Enjoying how you're documenting the swap...

Good luck with, it's prety easy to do...double check all bolts when your done.


I used a Bulldog coupler on my flatbed M116A2 (better articulation than a standard coupler, and about 30 times stronger), but I use the Max Coupler on the ROAM (with zero issues as well)...keep up the good work!

Pat

 

[TexasFJ]

I'm going to buy the adjustable 2" Bulldog hitch and then decide if I want the new lock-n-roll or ?? but I'm probably going to ditch the lunette.



I'm also going to weld on top wind so I can remove it or simply swivel up to store....might add a wheel.



Went out tonight to buy me a bench top parts blaster: http://www.tractorsupply.com/jobsmart-reg-benchtop-abrasive-blast-cabinet-32-lb-capacity-3951103 . Which is actually made by Clarke and for 99.00 is well worth it.

Tired of not being able to clean small parts easily. Will start blasting small parts tomorrow and let everyone know how well/bad it works.

 

[Pikeman]

you will most likely need a 15" Tongue jack. Also the bench top blasters quality depend on how well your compressor works and the type of media used. I know a few people that did nothing but complain about their media balsters not working well because the compressor was under powered. Keep us posted and glad you are making progress.

 

[TexasFJ]

Pressure washed everything and am now starting to blast parts/brackets....after I buy a new compressor tomorrow. My little Husky just doesn't pull enough CFM. Next event will be some sanding and rust treatment then undercoating the frame and do a little painting.

I have everything stripped off, surge brake system, lunette, axle and wheels/tires. I thought they were sold but haven't heard from the prospective buyer so I'm placing them up for sale. PM me if interested. $300 would take it all... you can't buy the tires for that.

 

[Titanpat57]

I would cut off the old perches and reuse them. They have the mounting bracket for the shock.

 

[TexasFJ]

I would cut off the old perches and reuse them. They have the mounting bracket for the shock.

Yep...that was discussed on page 2...I am keeping the lower mounts.