Would of, Should of Could of.... If you could do it over again, What would you have done?
- Thread starter in2b8u
- Start date
honda250xtitan
Active member
high quality paint job/professional bedliner for sure
not solid axle/leaf spring. should've built my own trailing arms with around 10" of travel using a dual rate spring and nice monotube shocks
toolboxes on ext for more storage of small things we need right when we get to the campsite= matches, fire starter gel, shovel, etc.
press brake for sheet metal instead of cutting and welding pieces together.
better doors/sealing
Locking slides for the two slide outs. when the loaded pelican starts sliding back into the trailer it can be interesting lol
id literally change my entire trailer, even though it works perfectly other then some small annoyances occasionally.
not solid axle/leaf spring. should've built my own trailing arms with around 10" of travel using a dual rate spring and nice monotube shocks
toolboxes on ext for more storage of small things we need right when we get to the campsite= matches, fire starter gel, shovel, etc.
press brake for sheet metal instead of cutting and welding pieces together.
better doors/sealing
Locking slides for the two slide outs. when the loaded pelican starts sliding back into the trailer it can be interesting lol
id literally change my entire trailer, even though it works perfectly other then some small annoyances occasionally.
old_CWO
Well-known member
I have always loved the iconic look and design of the military quarter ton trailers. That being said, after using more than a few I don't like the tub size and would always go for something a little more practical. I use 4 x 8 sheet goods as the go/no-go gauge. If you can't carry a sheet of drywall safely, I believe the trailer is too small. My personal minimum size for a little trailer would be something like 4' x 6' to 6.5' with 18" straight sides and a flat, floor level tailgate. 4' x 8' is even better.
Back around 2006 or 2007 I bought a M101A1 from govliquidation.com and didn't realize it was less than 48" between the fender wells before I bid on it. Very frustrating to have a trailer so big and heavy that couldn't carry sheet goods flat on the floor. I swapped the military axle and brakes for civilian stuff to lose some weight but it still scaled out at 1K lbs empty and was honestly less useful than a cheapie Harbor Freight folding trailer both on and off road.
Even if you never haul sheet goods, 4 x 8 capacity is a good minimum standard as that will carry an ATV, 2 dirt bikes, most street motorcycles, a washer and dryer, 2 pallets of anything, a sofa, one quarter cord of firewood, a cubic yard of dirt, cabover truck campers, etc., etc. Even just camping gear can really gobble the cubic feet; take a look at photos of M416s in action on this site and you will see what I mean. My coulda, shoulda, woulda is don't be afraid to go a little bigger on your trailer.
Back around 2006 or 2007 I bought a M101A1 from govliquidation.com and didn't realize it was less than 48" between the fender wells before I bid on it. Very frustrating to have a trailer so big and heavy that couldn't carry sheet goods flat on the floor. I swapped the military axle and brakes for civilian stuff to lose some weight but it still scaled out at 1K lbs empty and was honestly less useful than a cheapie Harbor Freight folding trailer both on and off road.
Even if you never haul sheet goods, 4 x 8 capacity is a good minimum standard as that will carry an ATV, 2 dirt bikes, most street motorcycles, a washer and dryer, 2 pallets of anything, a sofa, one quarter cord of firewood, a cubic yard of dirt, cabover truck campers, etc., etc. Even just camping gear can really gobble the cubic feet; take a look at photos of M416s in action on this site and you will see what I mean. My coulda, shoulda, woulda is don't be afraid to go a little bigger on your trailer.
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billiebob
Well-known member
I found the military trailer too small, too heavy and too much money for their age.
I went with a new 5x10 Mirage and built a removable camper shell so I could do other things with the trailer.
With everything new, tires, axle, steel, no rust, new lighting, new hitch. $1100.00. A bargain.
Nothing to rebuild, just start using it.
And build the camper...
I went with a new 5x10 Mirage and built a removable camper shell so I could do other things with the trailer.
With everything new, tires, axle, steel, no rust, new lighting, new hitch. $1100.00. A bargain.
Nothing to rebuild, just start using it.
And build the camper...
I know that I purchased my m416 completely based on the fact that it was cool that it had a connection with Jeeps. Maybe not MY Jeep... but Jeeps. Lol. Anyway, I really didn’t consider how I would use it much, if at all. Just seemed cool to have that living piece of history.
Is there a build thread for your camper top? That looks pretty cool!
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