Say hello to my little friend

[max.powerzz]

I've been wanting a military trailer for years and have poked around casually off and on. Last week I got on the GSA government auction site and found an army trailer for sale just a few hours away from me. I put in a low bid of $150 assuming it would race higher when the auction closed. Lo and behold no one else bid on it and I won, I couldn't believe it. Either I'm really lucky or else everyone else knows something I don't and this is going to be way more work than I thought :Wow1:

I'm going down to pick it up this weekend and hopefully it will make the 3 hour drive back home. The lady at the government office said the tires look okay so we'll see. Outside of a few photos I don't know what kind of shape it's in, they told me it's mostly surface rust but relatively solid.

What kind of trailer do I have? I assume an M416, the GSA didn't know. The plate just says Army.

 

[conifers4]

$150!..your a thief!

 

[McZippie]

I'm by no means an expert on IDing trailers, but it looks like it could have a tailgate???
If it does have a tailgate, then it could be a 'rare' M416 sub-type that was made as special use trailer.
There could be holes in the floor to mount the 'special' equipment.
If the above is correct, then consider checking out it's value as a collector item before modifying it.
I never saw a one with a tailgate, all the above is just info I came across well seaching for trailers a few year back.
.
Or maybe the "Depot Maintenance" tag means it was a 'ratted' out M416 that had a tailgate hacked into it, to make hauling garbage easier.

 

[1SAR39]

Man, that's a great score!! What do you have planned for it?

 

[Mark Harley]

A great trailer at an even better price!
Let the build begin!

 

[Rivera1833]

Bantam?

 

[max.powerzz]

It does have a tailgate. I assumed someone cut it out, but that would be cool if it's stock. They also said it has some holes in the floor that are relatively small, hmmm. My plans will mostly be inspired by the great builds on this site. I want to sandblast it, line it with bedliner, make a lid, and then I'm not sure.

What do you suggest? Keep the stock axle or swap it out for a 3500 pound axle with electric brakes? I just picked up a pintle hitch today with an adaptor for the two inch receiver. I'll be towing it behind my Land Cruisers, a Vortec fj62 and a stock fj40. I'm thinking of getting matching 6 on 5.5 hubs to match the cruisers, but I really dig the old school military wheels and tires.

 

[foxsweep]

$150? Friggin SCORE!! I'll flip you $175 right now! LOL

 

[DonBeasley]

Just a guess but I say an M416 with an "aftermarket" tailgate modification. Hard to tell but looks like end of top tube is open on tailgate. If so, good chance it was modified.

Either way a great find!!!!!


I will give you $200 and come get it; a $50 profit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mark Harley]

Sandblast, longer tongue, new axle, paint to match!

 

[max.powerzz]

Ha! I've been looking for one of these for a long time, I'm not planning to get rid of it any time soon. There were about six others on the site at the same time but they were all located in Jersey and going for around $5-700 which is still a good deal. Unfortunately I don't see any on there now. You can also check the GSA military site but those are mostly the larger trailers.

So you think trailer axles over stock? I have a lead on some affordable low mile military tires and rims. I'd like to put a wate tank underneath the bed, do I need to go soa to do that? Plans also include a lid, rack, rtt, and some type of slide-out kitchen.

 

[DonBeasley]

Don't need a spring over for stock tires. Size of water tank will dictate need for spring over. If you are trying to match bolt pattern on tow vehicle you will need new axle or adapters for the stock axle unless you have a 5 x 5.5 pattern like my CJ.

I have been working on mine for almost two years (I am really slow). Here is my link. I did a SOA for 33's but kept the stock axle.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/66531-M416-Build-to-go-behind-my-CJ

 

[max.powerzz]

I'm off to pick up the trailer tomorrow. The gsa says the tires hold air but are old, do you think I'm ok towing it or should I try and put it on a bigger trailer? They think I'm ok if I don't put anything in the trailer. It's about a 3 hr drive.

 

[Mark Harley]

I would trailer it home just to be safe.

 

[DonBeasley]

I would agree. Mine looked OK and rolled OK but on the road we found one of the brakes was dragging. Almost melted a hub and bearings in 10 miles.