Well, took me some time but I think I can say my 1965 M416 Army trailer is done. It was given to me by a neighbor who sold her house, she was using it as a planter in her backyard. I had big plans for it like a roof top tent and stuff but then the Army came and said "your moving to Fort Bliss, TX".

My wife promptly said "see you when you get back!" We have a house in Virginia Beach, go figure! Anyway I scrambled to at least get her roadworthy for drive down here a few months ago. Last week I got around to tracking down some CJ-3 leaf springs and new shocks so she is good to go.

at the house in VA Beach getting ready for the drive down. Before a tongue extension and tool box with gas can mounts. I also installed a 2" receiver under the rear frame for my bicycle carrier.



We tore it apart and sanded everything, then painted it Olive Drab and Rhino lined the tub and sprayed hammered black Metallic Rustoleum on the frame. Here you can see the short tongue before the fabbing.



Here it is in Texas, I put boards in because I was hauling Flag Stones





Here it is just after I installed the new suspension




Here you can see the extended tongue. Next comes a 2" BB lift and a light bar. I plan on doing some campin out here!!!

 

Forgive me, in my excitement, i think I have posted this in the wrong forum. Sorry Moderators...

 

Sweet trailor!

 

Looks great.

 

NICE!!! I want something like this too.....equipped with a tent for camping.

 

Moved to Fab!!

 

Killer! Came out nice!

 

Im jealous of anyone who has one of those trailers.

 

I want one

 

Did you fab it up with a drop tailgate? I know the M416 is typically a solid box and I plan to tailgate mine when I find one in good shape.

Looks nice. Details on the custom stuff please?

 

I love mine, got it for nothing too. Did yours have a parking brake, it's great when you want to leave it on a little hill. Someday I'd like to put a tailgate in it (it's on the list).

 

Forgot picture.

 

When it was given to me it already had the drop gate cut out. Personally I prefer to have had it with the solid tub but, for free, I can live with it.

Cutom stuff..?.. Lets see. The tongue was extended about 2 feet out to accomodate the tool box and for better turning when backing up. The axle was rebuilt using bearings from Northern Tool. I scavenged a set of replacement brake drums and shoes from an M100 canadian trailer.

The original wiring harness was chewed all to heck so I installed a 4-wire trailer light system, again from Northern Tool. I scored the gas cans from the Oceana Naval Air Base gas station for $10 a pc brand new. The can holders I " long term borrowed" from our old 5-ton truck we had in our motorpool that we got rid of.

I also installed an M997 Military Hummer Pioneer Kit under the front. You can see the shovel sticking out just behind but under one of the fuel cans.
Its a kit that has a shovel, axe, and Mattox pick for digging your way if you get stuck. Its held under there with two hooks and two U-bolts attached to a piece of angle iron from Lowes. Ill put up a pick of it tomorrow.

I used simple 1/4" chains from Lowes for the tail gate. Once I put the bicycle carrier into the hitch under the tail end, the tail gate would rest on it when opened. The problem is that the tail gate is really thin metal and can warp or bend if not supported. So thats why I used chains.

There are some guys over on the expedition portal that do some amazing things with these trailers.

Its been a great trailer so far, it can go anywhere the jeep can go, especially with the 16" tires.

Thanks for the comments guys.

 

Andy if you've been over,, thanks for the service, I was in a few decades ago.. LOL Sunny southeast Asia. 1 year, 11 months,15 days, 14 hours.. but who's counting..
Great project, I've seen a lot of them but not to many stateside. May have to concider one.. good project.. So you left her at the beach... very funny.

 

Dude, i didnt exactly leave her at the beach, more like she said "Hell No, I aint going to El Paso, TX". There comes a time when you just gotta pick your fights, ya know?

Thanks for the thanks, it's appreciated. I have to be honest, i have never been over. I got sent back in 2007, but they kept me in Kuwait for 13 months. I have been to Somalia, Kosovo and Haiti, but not once to Iraq or Afghanistan, just wasn't in the cards I guess.