O.K. Guys and Gals ! I knew if I searched and read long enough I would find just the right existing forum to add to and eliminate the dreaded "What ? Thats been done already !" messages, and this also only said M101, so using one of my many A2's works !
So, while demonstrating one of my trailers that I have for sale locally, I noticed a stress crack in the cast pivot point under the trailer ( yes, I know it's not technically a pivot point ! Thats the purpose of this post ! ) Well, A friend of mine said that in his opinion he thought we should try and figure out the limitations of the operation and take plenty of pictures, as I was wanting to add to a photo thread, so here we go !
Don't try this at home kids, without access to spare parts and the time to fix it !
Anyway, started with my oldest M116A2 chassis trailer, retro fitted with a M101A2 box. Had used it maybe a dozen times to haul junk, brush and furniture, and maybe 6 prior times to haul rock and gravel, but not to dump. Yesterday I decided to apply several of the issues I have read in many different threads and see how it all went down and document it in a photo essay !
Please keep in mind that I already had plans to rewire and other things, so this was kind of fun, while still getting to get some work done !
First, remove the front bolts and replace with 1/2 x 5 inch hitch pins. ( 6 inch was all I had available ! ) Easier said than done because after years of use, things don't always line up again easily when freed up !
Have also read suggestions of grinding the blocks for a more free fit, but all I had to do was smack the 2 steel ears on each side with my 8 inch handled sledge and they worked great.
Next I adjusted the hand brakes to eliminate any slack, made sure they still released fully and set them, making sure that the cables did indeed stay on the pulley bellcrank, as they do have a tendency to move and when you try and set them you don't notice that they are not fully locked !
Open the tailgate and DO use the chains, it may not fully open flat, but thats not the issue, you want it to be able to pivot when dumping, not get bent up or do damage to other parts like the lights, landing gear lock brackets, etc. And NO ! I wasn't going to demo that part of the " Do not do " List !
So, I put the truck in reverse, and find that I have to bump it sharply at first to get it lifting, and after it moves once, you can put it all the way back down and works easier after that, If you have made sure that your load is at least distibuted fairly evenly front to rear ! While replacing the bolts with the pins, I was pleasantly surprised how easily it was to lift ! Was balanced great when empty and the gate up !
First issue, and it took a bit, but I had the weight to do it, the stock wiring being held in the original brackets let it raise about 30 degrees or so until they gave up and tore the ends off ! Had to be watching for it, because never would have felt it !
At about 35/40 degrees, the gate starts to contact the ground, depending on chain length.
At about 45 degrees, the tires begine to leave the ground, your rear support/locking bracket is making ground contact, and whats really great, is that the lights will generally avoid all ground contact, depending on the terrain of course !
After this point, I have two very important words, NOT RECOMMENDED !
Now the follwing pictures, and I may have to post twice so I can use them all, so hang in there, it may take a bit to get them all loaded, are of 2 attempts to finish up the pre-existing crack that I had found. The quarry is close by, on lightly traveled roads, and I kept it slow, had tools, cables, chains, straps, spares and the best part, my buddy in his wrecker ! Safety first, and I was still pretty tense, especially wondering how long it had been that way !
AGAIN ! It took 2 ( TWO ) attempts to create a critical failure in a controlled setting ! Wel . . . Semi-Controlled ! LOL !
So here we go with the numbers, 2001 GMC 6.0 AWD extended cab, half a tank of fuel, 225 pound driver, 25 pound spoiled male Beagle, and approx. 300 pounds of spare tire, floor jack, tools and recovery kit, pulling an M116A2/M101A2 trailer w/o sides, bows or tarp.
1st. Test load ;
Tare weight across the scales - 6880 lbs.
Gross weight across the scales - 9960 lbs.
Net weight of 5/8 rock chips - 3080 lbs. Thats 1.54 tons and barely up to the fenderwells !
2nd. Test load ;
Tare weight across the scales - 6860 lbs. ( A little less fuel ! )
Gross weight across the scales - 10740 lbs.
Net weight of 3/4 clean rock - 3880 lbs. Thats 1.94 tons and barely over the fenderwells !
Could only load up 10 pictures, so these are the first load, only damage is the wiring ! Stayed tuned for the next 10 ! Trailer standing straight up and down and close-up shots of the broken mounting bracket !
