project leapord - M101 CDN 2 build

[frumpy]

Well after a lot of searching and almost starting on a custom trailer build I finally found a military trailer. It's an M101 CDN 2 in pretty good shape that I ended up driving 7 hours total to get.

Right now the plans are to convert the 24 volt to 12 volt, build a plywood lid, paint (olive drab of course),mount a large ammo can on the the tongue for tie downs, make a secure spot for water/propane/gas, and try to find a set of Dunlop rover RV xt's to match my liberty.

 

[gasman]

SWEEEEEET !!! nice score, that baby is in beautiful shape

 

[Hill Bill E.]

That was worth the drive!! Congrats and welcome to the expedition trailer crowd!!:coffeedrink:

 

[greentruck]

I made a similar drive to pick up mine. Well worth it!

gasman is right. Looks very clean and solid.

I'm interested in how you do the gas cylinder/s.

20 lb tank tends to overpower the lines of the M101, but I can see where it would work. If the bottom of the holder is dropped down between the angles to the pintle assy so that the tank's foot ring is as low as possible would be the way to go. The 20lb tank is the common one available for swap out most places.

I've been thinking about getting a pair of 10 lb tanks. That way it would be easy to swap out and take to town for a fill. I think a pair of 10 lb tanks would look better. But then you have to go to a place that fills tanks and this is much less commonly available than the swap out 20 lb tanks.

 

[frumpy]

I have a spare 20lbs tank already so thats what I will be using. I'm not sure where I am going to mount it yet but it might end up being inside the box. For the gas cans I may just go with a normal can vs the military style ones. I found these ( http://www.princessauto.com/towing/...oad-atv-and-marine/8005849-atv-gas-can-holder )from princess auto and think I can fit one on each side of the trailer near the front.

 

[Hill Bill E.]

......
20 lb tank tends to overpower the lines of the M101,


I've been thinking about getting a pair of 10 lb tanks. That way it would be easy to swap out and take to town for a fill. ................... But then you have to go to a place that fills tanks and this is much less commonly available than the swap out 20 lb tanks.

I used a 5#, which is good for a week easy, of using the lantern, 2 burner stove, grill and occasional heater.

Getting propane filled in the US isn't to bad, while exchanging a 20# is easier, a lot of gas stations still fill tanks.

I think if you had two 10#'ers, you would be good until you found a place to fill the empty one.

 

[frumpy]

Well I have some motivation to get it done now. Going camping the Aug 28th weekend 7 hours away. I am hoping that if I load all our gear into the trailer we can fold down the back seat in our liberty and sleep there. The wife isn't a huge fan of tenting it (but she likes the idea of a RTT, just not the price).

So the plan is to get a temporary plywood lid built and divider type thing to secure propane/gas/water at the front of the trailer. The trips not going to be anything crazy since its at a provincial park but I want to use it as a shake down run for the trailer.

 

[frumpy]

Well with working 10-12 hours a day this week it has not been as productive as I wanted for working on the trailer. I wanted to buy sawhorses with bolt holes so I could convert my plywood lid into a table. However, thats $80 for 2 sawhorses, checked the flyer this morning and found out they are 75% off. I will be heading out tonight to grab some after work, and hopefully the plywood too depending what time I finish. The plan for tomorrow is to build the lid/table and rewire the trailer with a civi 12 volt harness.

Here's what they are (they have 6 holes in each to allow stuff to be bolted to them, rated for 300lbs ea and they are 39" wide)

 

[frumpy]

No exciting pictures to post up yet. Rewired the lights using a normal 4 pin harness. Also bought wood for the lid and started staining it with some good deck stuff (had left over from my deck). Home depot didn't have any of the marine grade ply so I just went with normal 5/8 ply and we will see how it holds up. Including the legs and left over stain I will have under $70 into the lid/table.

 

[Need For Speed]

who has the saw horses?

 

[frumpy]

Canadian Tire, but they look like a generic china item. Maybe try HF?

 

[highlandercj-7]

I bought a set of metal horses like that at Lowes. Best saw horses ever IMHO. Store easy and go up easy, they are also tough as can be. $39.99 Here's the link:


http://www.lowes.com/pd_20978-33132-PM3300_0_?productId=3190685&Ntt=saw+horses&Ntk=i_products&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?newSearch=true$Ntt=saw%20horses

These ones are cheaper. Also at lowes, 17.99

http://www.lowes.com/pd_77883-72596-SS-29_0_?zipCode=15108&firstReferURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowes.com%2Fpd_77883-72596-SS-29_0_%3FproductId%3D3073379%26Ntt%3Dsaw%2Bhorses%26Ntk%3Di_products%26pl%3D1%26currentURL%3D%2Fpl__0__s%3FnewSearch%3Dtrue%24Ntt%3Dsaw+horses&catalogId=10051&catalogId=10051&productId=3073379&pl=1&findStoreErrorURL=StoreLocatorDisplayView&selectedLocalStoreBeanArray=%5Bcom.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%407edb49e5%2C+com.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%407efac9e5%2C+com.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%406f44c9fa%2C+com.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%406f64c9fa%2C+com.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%406f04c9fa%5D&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FnewSearch%3Dtrue%24Ntt%3Dsaw+horses&Ntt=saw+horses&URL=TopCategoriesDisplayView&langId=-1&langId=-1&storeId=10151&storeId=10151&Ntk=i_products

 

[frumpy]

I think those orange ones pretty similar. I really like them, I have actually been using them for building/painting the lid and am thinking about getting another 2 for my man cave.

edit: I should have some pics of my lid tonight. I haven't taken any pictures as its pretty simple (drill a few holes for the sawhorses and build a frame around it). For this weekend I am just going to use rachet straps to secure it, but if I keep it for any length of time I want to figure out a better option.

 

[frumpy]

lids done

 

[frumpy]

Well did my trip from Thursday to Monday and put on just under 2000km. Drove 3 hours Thursday night and then stayed at the in-laws and then drove 5-6 hours out to the provincial park. Trailer worked flawlessly and came in handy (including the lid).

I'm having trouble uploading pics but heres one for now of the table set up in front of my in laws pop up