My adventure trailer build

[bunger]

I was given this Converto trailer last month

I hauled it home on my landscape trailer

So far I've stripped off the stock wheels/tires and the stock axle. I have a new 3500 lb axle on order

I haven't decided on building the hitch yet. The PO had mounted a couple of bars with a hole for pin coupling to his tractor.

I was researching Lunette type couplers and was wondering if anyone knows a source for the actual mounting bracket/housing for the lunette shown in this photo. I can find the lunette, the spring and the nut but not the housing.

Future plans are to replace the round fenders with square, 33" tires and fabricating a cover.

 

[DonBeasley]

The housing is for an M416. They are out there but can get expensive. Best to find a used one on ebay, steel soldiers, or some other forum.

Here is a link for one but as you can see $175 http://www.midwestmilitary.net/trailerparts.html

 

[bunger]

Thanks for the link Don.
The more that I think about it, trying to adapt that housing to my trailer is going to be a major project.
So I might as well just weld in some 2" receiver tubing and then I will have the option of using a receiver type lunette or going with an articulating hitch like Max or L&R.

 

[bunger]

Progress Report

So far I have primed the underside with rust metal primer. Tomorrow I will undercoat the belly.

Some parts showed up today.

A new 3500 lb. axle with 6 x 5.5 hubs. But they forgot to include the u bolt mounting kit. It's on it's way after a quick phone call.

Still waiting for the pair of H3 wheels that I scored cheap on ebay. Mocked up the axle on the trailer and checked the clearance using my spare.

Originally I thought of saving the round fenders but it was going to be too much bodywork. New steel fenders were cheap.

The tongue is way too short so I decided that I'm going to chop out the front of the A frame and weld in a piece of 2" receiver tubing, hopefully this week.

Hope to get my wheels soon so I can flip this thing right side up.

 

[Mark Harley]

That is a long hitch tube, Where did you score it from?
I went with a simple hitch channel with my M101A2.
I switch between a 2" ball coupler and lunette.
Nice build keep us informed, Lots of pictures.

 

[bunger]

That is a long hitch tube, Where did you score it from?

I got the receiver tube from Discount Hitch. It's 48" long.
http://www.discounthitches.com/index.cfm/event/prodetail/categoryid/29/id/61/

 

[Mark Harley]

Not a bad price!

 

[bunger]

Not a bad price!

And I ordered a 15" lift jack at the same time. That brought the order over $100.00 so shipping was free. Ordered Thursday, got it Friday.

http://www.discounthitches.com/index.cfm/event/prodetail/categoryid/54/id/311/

 

[Titanpat57]

My first build I used that trailer....and loved it!

Good and stout...but still lightweight.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Looking great so far!

 

[bunger]

Tonight's progress:

Installed the new axle

And marked out the cutting lines for the receiver tube

That's it for tonight, gotta go play softball and drink some cold ones.

 

[bunger]

Progress

Last Sunday, in between dodging the wife's attempts to get me to do yard work, I cut out the A-frame and installed the receiver tube.
It's welded on the bottom only for now. I need to patch in some steel and finishing welding once I flip it over.

Also I want to do some rough wiring while it's still upside down, it's much easier working like this.

Speaking of flipping it over. Got tires for it today.
Hopefully by the end of the weekend it'll be sitting on it's own wheels.

 

[Mark Harley]

Nice work on the tongue, I like the extention.
I went with cheap and easy and bought a piece of channel.

 

[bunger]

I HAD to extend mine. The tongue on these little Converto trailers is only about 18" long.

 

[bunger]

It's on it's own wheels

A few of my buddies helped flip it off of the landscape trailer yesterday.

The under side is finished & undercoated. The wiring for the lights is roughed in.
Now I can finish welding the tongue and weld on the jack ring. Then it's body work time.