New M1101 Trailer Conversion

[FCampShooter]

I'm 90% through doing a conversion to turn an M1101 into a camp support trailer--not to sleep in, but to carry gear, provide electricity for charging gadgets, and to provide water (hot and cold) for tent or rustic cabin camping.

I put the chronicle into a Wordpress blog site to make it easier to read. The blog puts thing in reverse chronological order. The links below will be more in the order of my build out.



Background
Mission
Sketchup Design
Weight and Balance
Trailer Prep
Plumbing
Electrical
Propane
Enclosure Fabrication
Epoxy and Paint
First Use and Testing

Things got a bit rushed at the end. I will have some more photos up of the finished trailer. Thanks to everybody whose posts inspired or provided guidance.

 

[Landbarger]

Excellent project and write-up.

On your brakes, what's your current plan? Are you going through them and just make sure they're free moving or actually replace them with electric (or electric-over-hydraulic)?

Thanks.

 

[FCampShooter]

Brakes

Excellent project and write-up.

Thank you.

On your brakes, what's your current plan? Are you going through them and just make sure they're free moving or actually replace them with electric (or electric-over-hydraulic)?

Thanks.

I'm just going to have removed the hydraulic surge brake components, but leave the hand brakes (very convenient). The trailer isn't so heavy enough to require the brakes (at least on my Tundra which has decent weight). Perhaps the surge brakes just needed to be serviced, but they're just something else to maintain, and eliminating them is a natural part of lowering the hitch height.

BTW, my welder's approach to lowering the hitch height is to weld plate either side of the trailer's main beam so that the current pintle can be welded or bolted between the plates below the main beam.

I'll update you on how it goes.

 

[Tinstar]

Eliminating the surge brakes is always a good idea.....until you need them.

Its an extremely easy system to fix and maintain. I just did a complete brake job on mine. New master and wheel cylinders etc. Also new bearing sets.

To Each his own but I would have kept the brakes.

 

[Landbarger]

(at least on my Tundra which has decent weight).

I have a first gen Tundra and an empty M1102 wants to squat it more than I like. I'm considering adding a leaf to level things out and/or going to a customer rear bumper so that it's attached directly to the rear of the frame rails.

Looking forward to any updates to the project.

 

[drivebymashing]

I pulled a m105 with a ranger. How does a m1102 squat a tundra?? Im surprised I pulled a m1101 loaded with mulch with a ranger and it barely squated it.

 

[Landbarger]

"Squatting" might be overstating the issue. The attached image is from the recovery trip. I wasn't worried about hitting the bumpstops, but for having an empty trailer and empty bed I was surprised that it changed the stance of the truck as much as it did.

 

[drivebymashing]

First 2 pics are half ton trucks and m105 trailers around 2800 pounds. Third pic nearly made me swerve into oncoming traffic on purpose. Truck easily pulled it but bounced the entire way home... Violently!! 1/4 ton trucks pulling 2800 ish pounds.