What kind of weight capacity does a M416 trailer capable of?

[vintageracer]

I have found an old M416 trailer that kinda rough and definitely cheap. There is a topper available from a seller that is made for a 416 however it's metal and it's heavy at 250 lbs estimated.

What kind of weight capacity does a M416 trailer capable of and how stable are they with the weight up high?

 

[Ovrlnd Rd]

They were designed for 500lbs (1/4 ton trailer) off road and 750lbs on road. With new, higher rated tires I'm sure you can push that a bit but it still doesn't have much for suspension.

 

[vintageracer]

Thanks for the responses.

I bought it!!!

Paid $300.00 for it.

Here it is in all it's glory!

 

[Flyfishjeep]

Like all things military, they are way overbuilt for the rating. I have carried 18 bags of concrete (90lb bags) home from Lowes a few times and towed some loads through the Rubicon that were easily 900-1000 lbs. The military had that trailer (M762) platform beefed up to 3/4 ton with just some additional springs and an additional crossmember. One suggestion.....the C shackles tend to bend when you carry weight. This will push the frame down closer to the wheels and so I would suggest tackling that. I like to keep them close to stock, so I use these from Kaiser Willy's. Good luck with your build.

https://www.kaiserwillys.com/catego...pring-shackle-kit-heavy-duty-fits-52-66-m38a1

 

[CampStewart]

Those trailers are very overbuilt and rugged. I wouldn't hesitate to put 2500lbs in it providing my tow rig had enough brakes. I regularly haul 2200lbs in a home made trailer that isn't nearly as strong as that. You have a real project in front of you, lots of unusual mods to undo on yours. I hope you start off by taking it to someone and get it soda blasted after you get the tongue fixed

 

[old_CWO]

Not a bad trailer to start with at that price. As other have said, there's a bit to correct but it certainly doesn't look like a total basket case.

As far as maximum realistic payload: fresh stock early CJ front leafs are rated between 1550 lbs and 1940 lbs per pair. Subtracting off the weight of the trailer, I would say 1200 to 1500 is in the ballpark for safe and reasonable.

 

[grnhornetcustoms]

I’m going to say the trailer tongue on that one could use a solid piece of square steel before I would put much more than a small load on board. Just a friendly suggestion.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Flyfishjeep]

I agree with grnhornetcusto regarding the tongue. Might suggest actually making it a 2 inch receiver tube instead and that will give you options for towing with a normal hitch, off road hitch (like a Max Coupler), or a pintal. I will try and dig up some photos.

 

[vintageracer]

Believe it or not the original Pintal is still under all that mess of a tongue!

 

[Ovrlnd Rd]

Believe it or not the original Pintal is still under all that mess of a tongue!

Actually that part is called a lunette. That's the ring that goes into a pintle hitch. It's hard to tell if the ring is still there or if they cut it off and just mounted that monstrocity on what was left.

 

[vintageracer]

The ring or "Lunette" is still under all that mess that's been added to the tongue!

 

[vintageracer]

Here's some squares of the underside of the "Hitch" arrangement that is mounted on top of the original lunette and pintle setup.