Need advice with my Willys MBT Trailer

[SGT Superman]

Willys MBT Trailer, slow build

Hello everyone,

I recently bought a 1943 Willys MBT 1/4 ton trailer and am in the process of converting it to a trail trailer for my Jeep.

I want to put 33s on it to match my Jeep, has anyone done something like this to one of these trailers,? I found lots of examples of M416s, but none for the Willys MBT.

Here are some pictures.

I want to stay away from doing a spring over if I can. I was thinking I could get a longer piece that conects the leaf spring to the mount, or add spacers between where the spring mounts are attached to the frame.

Any ideas would be great and pics of those ideas are even better.

Thanks

 

[Willman]

Welcome to the ExPo!

Nice trailer!


I did a spring over.....Take a look at my build

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6176

:26_7_2:

 

[IH8RDS]

Congrats on your purchase!

I don't know if you can do it without a spring over. With 33" your tires will tear up the fenders or versa visa when your springs compress. Those tires look about 30-31" ish?

 

[IH8RDS]

Looking at it again, maybe you could trim and move the fender up, but depends on your fab skills.

 

[adrenaline503]

Why not do a spring over?

 

[elcoyote]

You might want to check out what Will did to his
http://www.jeepbrokers.com/Road_Trip/adventure_trailer_m416_URT_trailer.htm

 

[SGT Superman]

While that would be a great system to have, it is much too far out of my price range.

And I am not completely opposed to a spring over, I just like the idea of keeping the spring under, but for the size of tires I want it looks like a spring over is the only way to go.

 

[Robert Bills]

I recently bought a 1943 Willys MBT 1/4 ton trailer and am in the process of converting it to a trail trailer for my Jeep. <snip>
I want to put 33s on it to match my Jeep <snip> I want to stay away from doing a spring over if I can.

Unless you replace the MBT fenders with modified M416 fenders or custom made fenders, there is no way to put 33" tires on an MBT/T3/M100/T3-C unless you do a spring over.

I experimented with 2" and 4" lift springs - no go with stock fenders.

As a practical matter, 31x10.5 tires are the largest you can use on these trailers without a spring over and/or fender change. I have been around these trailers since the mid 1960s. I know there are many trailer owners who have shoehorned in larger tires without trailer modifications, but they have rubbing/clearance issues even if they have yet to experience them or don't care to admit it.

 

[stick]

Wow. There are a lot of Willys guys who would love to have that trailer in stock form. Might want to consider selling it and buying a better trailer with the coin you get from the sale. Just a thought...

...but hey, it's your trailer. Do what you want and have fun.

 

[Cruiser]

Check your ride height,, that trailer is really old and if the springs are original they most likely are weak and riding low. If you go with a new set of springs and maybe a slightly longer shackle you should clear 33's. My 416 cleared 31 easy with very sagged springs,, you could always do a 2" lift spring for an old Willy's jeep,, should fit..
Steve

 

[gpwpat]

depending on how origional it is. it may be worth your trouble to sell it and buy a later trailer. Restored WWII trailers arre selling around 2000 to 2500 US.

even Trailers in the conditin of yours will bring up to 1500 for a real wwii trailer.

I have been using my 1945 Bantam camping and even have a EEZI AWN on it. Just recently I missed out on a Canadian M101 locally for 650. Man I should have jumped on it sooner and kept my WWII trailer origional and built up the M101.

Your trailer do what you wish. The popularity of these trailers lately have made the origional trailers skyrocket in price.

 

[7slotgrills]

Yes I'm on a few other forums and they all say to sell the older ones and buy
M146's . Sell it and and pocket the money.

 

[Robert Bills]

I've read the debates on www.g503.com, the early CJ board and in the Yahoo Bantam group about selling WWII trailers rather than modifying them, and buying an M416 or CDN M101 instead.

My take:

It's your trailer. You can do whatever you like and should not cave in to pressure from military collectors (or Bantam civilian purists for that matter.)

Your trailer is already modified, and although it can be returned to original with replacement body panels and the proper drawbar casting, the fact that it is modified diminishes the value to a military collector. The prices mentioned for fully restored WWII trailers are on the extreme high end of the scale and do not reflect anything close to what you could get for your trailer in it's current condition. I seriously doubt that a military collector would pay anything close to $1,500 because the cost to restore it would far exceed it's market value when completed. I have seen trailers similar to yours sell anywhere from $300 to $1,000, but more typically from $600-750.

However, you might be able to get enough from the sale of your trailer to purchase an M416 in similar condition. For a little more, you could probably find a CDN M101, which has certain advantages (such as not getting flack if you modify it.) Both of these trailers will accept larger wheels and tires than your current trailer without modification, and the tubs are slightly larger.

If this sounds at all attractive to you, look around your local area for a replacement trailer before you do anything else to yours to see if you could really get a better trailer for the same price you could get for yours. If not, build your trailer for your purposes and enjoy it.

 

[SGT Superman]

I would like to modify an M416 and restore this one, but there just are not any M416s around here. This was the only trailer I found and I had to drive half way across the state to do so.

It has been modified a bit from its original military condition by a company in 1945, and bubba when the tail gate was cut into it. So I don't feel too bad about continuing the modification.

 

[mjm]

Cool trailer. I can't wait to see it when you are done. I am not a fan of spring over either, but I did a quick search for CJ2 lifts and was surprised at the cost for new springs. On the other hand, if you have to replace the leafs you are going to experience some expense.

One thing that was important to me and may not be important to many others...I wanted my TJ and trailer to use the same spare. I have a M416 and was able to get by with a 1.5" spacer/adapter. I considered replacing the axle, but still needed a spacer for the trailer hubcap to clear my wheels.

Good luck and post pictures as you work on it!