M416 Build

[mjm]

I gave a lot of thought about a tailgate when I rebuilt my M416. I could not find a design I liked. If I can come up with a waterproof / dust proof tailgate design, I will do it.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Here is that local company that sells trailer parts and axles pretty cheaply including matching up 6x5.5 etc. In my mind I've been thinking to maybe go ahead and to the imitation AT arms but a slightly different design as I'll have a lot more room between the tub and axles. Not sure if I would use airbags or not... I was considering coil overs but the adjustability of the air sure would be nice...

http://www.hendersonwheel.com/Catalogs.htm
http://www.hendersonwheel.com/Docs/Trailer1a.pdf

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I started a thread on mud too to get a good set of diverse opinions...
http://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech/253008-m416-starting-scratch-recommendations.html

Fax Moulder from Orem also had some good recommendations. These coil overs are nice and cheap but probably way too heavy duty for my liking...

Here are the spindles for 2x2x1/4 tubing

Tie Down Axle Spindle — 1 1/2in. Square, 8in. Long, Single | Axle Spindles | Northern Tool + Equipment

Here is the general design for the arms, hard part will be keeping the top and bottom parallel.

Adventure Trailers Suspension Review from JeepBrokers.com

and here is what i was thinking for suspension

Amazon.com: VW Bug Dune Buggy Adjustable Coil-Over Shocks Pair: Automotive

It won't ride as nice as the airbags on an AT for sure, but should work on the same principle without the gigantic shock angle on the first airbag version. Somewhat adjustable, and super cheap.

LMK if you think i'm crazy, but I think this could be a sweet setup.

Fax

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Pretty neat thing from them called a "extra lube" axle, uses a grease zirk so you can grease the bearings without taking apart the hub...

I believe this is their 3500lb axle...

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Well, I just ran down to SLC quickly over the lunch break and bought a 3500lb axle. I do sort of like the OEM look/setup but that is OK. I bought a 6 on 5.5, no brakes (I may possibly retrofit the stock e-brake into it, somehow maybe). It is also extra lube style, so pretty sweet. These have a zirk where you can grease the bearings wihtout taking the hube apart.

The axle was surplus so already made and pretty wide at about 72" I think aka way too wide but already made and on sale. So this basically commits me to the independent arms . So as a result I stopped at the steel store as well, Wasatch Steel (on 3300S for anyone local) has a sale on some of their surplus so I bought a large assortment of all sorts of stuff I need so it quickly became a somewhat expensive trip. I think it was a good deal but I bought the material for a couple bumpers, some sliders for the 55, and other misc parts.

So I basically bought almost all of the parts to commit to the independent suspension other than a few small parts. Also talked to Martyn and am pretty sold on doing the airbags pretty similar to how the AT setup is as well.

I also bought one more FJ Cruiser wheel that I also scored off a local ebay seller that I've gotten all my others off as well. Not sure if I'll use it for this or not though as I have some more 33 x 10.5 x 15 tires and have plenty of 15" rims lying around of course.. But it is tempting to use the FJ Cruiser wheel as it at least mildly looks like the OEM 1967 wheel that the trailer came with...

Anywhoo

 

[IH8RDS]

I memory serves me right, I built mine to 67 WMS to WMS. With 33" tires though, you may be right on the money.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Some better pics of the trailer...

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Fender removal and how I removed the tub.

I remember Henry C. says he stores his upright. I tried my hardest to get it upright but couldn't without the overhead. It moves around really easily and feel really light, but when you try to lift it, it's pretty damn heavy... This was nice and allowed me to get the tub off in probably less than 30 minutes..

This also shows the approximate overall size. Outer-lip to outlip length wise is 72" (6 feet) so I'm 6'5. The trailer is about the perfect size, as big as it could possibly be while still being "small." My old man has fond memories of the old Vietnam trailers as I described them to him. I was also telling my wife's uncle about it last night over TG dinner and he started choking up a little as the trailer brought back direct memories of Vietnam for him as well. He was shot down in a helicopter and I think he saw some pretty bad stuff...

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Here are better pics of the frame and suspension and the tonque/attachment pints for the pintle (once I removed the actual pintle).

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Here is the existing tongue attachment (and also shows better pics of the condition of the frame, mostly just surface rust which is nice). Last pic basically shows the plan on how to extend it. Pretty basic, will be nice and clean and retain the OEM look/attachment points and pieces. I'm basically going to weld about a 40" piece of 3x1 box tube to the front and re-attach the tongue there. If there is still flex then I'll build lateral supports to where the tonque formerly attached to control flex.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Here is the tub condition. Not too bad but where the drains were is a little shot/rotted out. Also the plugs themselves are toast, so I'll either replace these or weld them shut (would prefer to keep - in case water ever does build up in the tub.

This is still the last thing I need to tear down/apart, these two plugs and some of the reflectors off the tub before it gets sandblasted... I also dedided I'm going to go-ahead and add a tailgate to the tub.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

I measured all the vehicles around to see what they'll be at in their done/lifted height or what the lifted vehicles are at. Almost all come right to about 26" to the bottom of the reciever, so I'm assuming with the tonque and it's pintle adjustment height (note in photos that there are two ports) that about 24" to the bottom of the frame will be the ideal ride height.

Here is the frame as I was pulling off the old suspension. It was all nut and bolt attached so though original and very rusty, it all came apart pretty well.

Second pic shows "the bounty" from Wed afternoon when I ran down to SLC. It shows: the 80" trailer axle that will be chopped. 2x2 x 3/16" square tube, this is what the trailer arms will be made out of. Some 4x2 box tube that is great for bumpers. I use this stuff for all sorts of bumpers and sliders so nice to have around and it was on surplus/on sale. I will probably fab up the bumper that will pull the mini truck out of this stuff. And finally, a long welding-designed hinge that I can cut up and use as needed for the trailer lid, the tail gate, etc... This was only $10 from the local steel supply.

Last pics shows it completely torn apart and ready to go to the blasters. Will probably be about two weeks before I have the time to drop it off and pick it up and get it back... But it will be nice to have all of this stuff rust free...

That pile of dust and bolts under there? Weighed about 10lbs. Yes, 10 lbs of old rusty bolts and dust and old paint came off the trailer

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Here are the original military tires & rims. You can see why I didn't want to get rid of them as they are in great shape (and the tires are pretty much brand new). The axle is also in good shape.. I think I'll throw them on ebay as I'd hate to see them go to waste...

That's it, I should hopefully have some updates in a couple weeks...

 

[fj40fax]

Tagging this thread also. Looking good Andre. My trailer is similarly disassembled and read for blasting. I'm only going to blast the body panels, my frame is in really good shape.

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Not too much to report except I picked up the trailer from the sand blasters.. More photo-essay style stuff, I hope you guys don't mind. I love how clean metal is after it's sand blasted, it is really cool...

Dino's sandblasting. Family business in Lindon where they all actually live right there at the pit. Nicest people in the world, said the economy is affecting them heavily and they only had 12 billable hours this week including my two