My M416 - Yes, another one

[Kiddmen57]

Just got back from a full 13 hour turn and burn run to El Paso to pick up my M416 trailer from fellow ExPo member Area52. It's in really good shape and will be used as is until my El Camino Del Diablo trip is complete in March. After the trip it will be torn down and completely re-finished. This will serve as the build thread so keep an eye on yet another one if interested.
I will likely re- do the lights before the end of the year, and maintenance items right away such as wheel bearings, brake adjustment, and greasing everything. It does have a home made landing leg, so ill need to keep an eye out for an original before I get too close to re finishing it. I trailered it back to Tucson just in case the wheel bearings weren't in optimal condition. The jeep faired well averaging about 12 mpg on the way to El Paso with a strong headwind through all of New Mexico. It's also 75mph most of the way, with some mountain passes to climb.

Here she is loaded up in Tx

Here she is behind the jeep, sitting just perfectly matched to the 3.5" lift with 35's

My 14 month daughter loved it, and didn't want me to take her out of it!

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[VDBAZFJ]

I like it! What are the plans for it? I'm in Vail and am working on my M416 also. Hoping to take it out for a shakedown run with AZFJ the first weekend of October.

What are those plates on the pintle hook? A lockout perhaps? Seems like a good idea if so.

Wish you the best!

 

[/dev/ram]

Sweet! Subscribed. With no tailgate, your daughter would love it full of water as a swimming pool - just be sure it's hooked up to a vehicle or supported in the rear so it won't tip... Nice find, good luck with the build.

 

[Kiddmen57]

I like it! What are the plans for it?

What are those plates on the pintle hook? A lockout perhaps?

Plans for after ECDD are to powder coat the frame, Re-line the tub and fenders, and paint the outer tub a battleship gray. New tires and bearings in the next couple months. Other than that just get a tarp and use it. I may end up building a removable lid just for extra security wile on the road.

The plates are some scrap I had lying around with a big piece of all thread to bolt them together. Just a bit of a deterrent. This morning I added a 1/2" cable and monster padlock, the cable loops around my mill, so they'll have to cut it to get it. I know it won't stop the determined, but will prevent it from rolling away easily. It will not live in my driveway for long, just the next couple weeks while I register it and service all the shackles and bearings.

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[Rubiconcruiser21]

Great anti theft system. Good luck on the build.

 

[Kiddmen57]

Previously I had picked up a couple of original tail lights from the local salvage yard. I disassembled them previously with restoration in mind. The guts were toast from sitting with moisture for so long. So I scrapped the original sockets and bracket and went looking for something new. At first I was going to try to re-create the original guts, but while walking through harbor freight I saw a set of LED tail lights that I decided I could hack up and fit into the housings. Sure enough, with a bit of trimming from the grinder they were in. I also notched each side to locate the new board along the two side ribs, keep it from rotating. I still need to determine how I will keep the LED board from moving out of place. I'm going to see what size snap rings are available.
I also decided to add auxiliary 2 way lights to the back end, since the originals are pretty dim (but not after the change over). Adding flush mount lights that use the rubber grommets are a PITA. I also picked up 4 new reflectors that you'd swear were made for this trailer.

Cleaning the original lenses

The housings and the new brake lights before being sacrificed

New LED boards trimmed and fit!

Tested and they seem plenty bright to me

Auxiliary lights go in

New reflectors, need to pick up new hardware as the old was rusted solid

I also ordered new bearings and seals for the hubs, that will be a project later this week.


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[ISSY]

The housings and the new brake lights before being sacrificed

New LED boards trimmed and fit!

This is what I've been wanting to do to convert some lights for mine. Do you have any info on the donor lights? P/N?
Thanks
Tony

 

[Kiddmen57]

This is what I've been wanting to do to convert some lights for mine. Do you have any info on the donor lights? P/N?
Thanks
Tony

Harbor Freight $34.99


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[DonBeasley]

Nice work on the lights and clever idea.

Keep the pictures coming.

 

[Kiddmen57]

Let me just say that fixing up a trailer is not that cheap, especially when you are an engineer and wan to over do things. It's also the worst month of the year so far for getting anything done. I am my buds best man and as such we have the bachelor trip, and his wedding to do this month, the wife is throwing her friend a baby shower this weekend, and we are supposed to have a garage sale the only currently free weekend. Luckily I get an hour on Tuesday and Thursday evenings to work while mama picks up the kiddo.

Today I received my NOS swivel casting and landing leg. I assembled them than realized the leg is on backwards. It looks like it is going to be a real PITA to turn it around as this was the only way the holes lined up. Looks like some tweaking is ahead. Joy.

I yanked the old wiring with intentions of getting it pretty much completed tonight, but after gathering all my wires and assessing the situation, I decided to put it off until I could plan it a bit better. So instead I remove the lunette and cleaned the old gummed up grease from the casting. It was pretty nasty, hopefully the wheel bearings aren't as bad when I get to those. The only other item I accomplished tonight was putting the reflectors back on with the new SS hardware.

It is hard putting rusted brackets and such back on without fully refinishing them, but I truly do not have time to do a full refurb until next spring/ summer.

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[DonBeasley]

LOL on the leg!!!!

I always do everything twice because I always put stuff back together wrong the first time. I now just write it off to the fact that after 2 times I REALLY know how something goes together.

 

[BrettDez]

Glad to see you got one! Can't wait to see how everything comes out!

 

[Kiddmen57]

Got a few things done this week on the trailer that put me close to having it ready to head out. First was getting all the grease points cleaned and greased up. I also re-installed the pintle with fresh grease. The biggest accomplishment of the week though has to be completion of the re-wiring. I added small front and rear marker lights, and an additional set of rear running/ brake/turn signals. Additionally I completed the wiring of the LED upgrade to the original military light housings.
I ended up modifying the large snap rings as well as a set of snap ring pliers in order to get them in place. That was a challenge in and of itself. First I tried welding pins in and using pliers, but the pins kept shearing off. After some modifications toad standard set of snap ring pliers I was able to carefully get the rings into position. All I have left to do for the lights is reinstall the lens elements into the housing covers and install them.
I also decided to use a distribution block for the wiring up front. I'll eventually make a cover to hide this and keep the wires clean. I ended up getting a jetconnex molded and coiled 4 pin cable. I mounted the one end to the trailer, so now I have a nice molded cable that isn't just ugly 4 flat wires.
I still need to replace the wheel bearings and clean up/ adjust the brakes. Then she will be ready for some adventure. Next summer ill tear it down and start restoring it to my vision.

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[johnspark]

Those look good. I might have to get some of those for mine.

 

[Kiddmen57]

Here are a few more pics during daylight hours.

When I do the full restoration I'll fill in the extra holes in the frame that are not needed. I ordered some led license plate bolts to attach the plates to the rear frame and provide the required lighting.

Here is a close up of the jetconnex cable, it really keeps things tidy.

Need to pick up some black and clear silicone to re-install the lens elements. The originals are set in then the metal is folded over to keep everything in place. Mine were so corroded they wee already falling out. Not the best solution, but a working one.

Also found some square o-rings that fir the original housings perfectly. Just look for ASA dash number 243. These were from McMaster-Carr, $10 for 25 of them. P/n 4061T265

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