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M116A3 - First Overland Trailer Build!

Jeepadict

Jeepadict

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unleashd said:
Slight change of plans for the tow rig.

After unsuccessfully trying to convince my wife that she could learn to comfortably drive the Excursion while on trips, I have decided to sell it. It will be replaced by a 2001 Lexus LX450 that I made a deal on this morning. This also means that some of the pans that I had for the M116A3 trailer will also be changing. I will need smaller wheels to match the LX, and this time, I am thinking of just prioritizing the axle swap to happen sooner so that I do not have to spend money on spacers once more. I will put the stuff that I bought a couple of weeks back on sale to fund the axle swap :)

Click to expand...
Ooohhhh!! Trailer parts!!

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
 
U

unleashd

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Herndon, VA
Update of plans since my last post.

- Got the trailer tagged and brought it home from my friend's yard. It was the first run and it towed very nicely behind the LX
- Removed the ford wheels and sold the set. Back to the Humvee tires for now.

Trailer is parked in the backyard as I restart the build plans
- Need to switch out the heavy axle and wheels to something lighter. Thinking of going with a 3500lb Dexter axle. Trying to decide whether to use traditional axle with shock absorbers or a torsion style axle. Does anyone have the correct dimensions handy to order? Or can someone tell me what to measure to place the order.
- Has anyone put a civilian truck bed on these trailers? Which brand fits with minimal modifications? Ford/Toyota/Ram/Chevy?

Your help is appreciated.
 
C

Coug

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Not trying to be rude here, so please don't take this in a bad way, but let me get this straight.

You bought the A3 version of the trailer which costs more because it has a wider bed, wider axle,

Now your plans have changed so you want to modify it further than originally intended.

Your goal with it now is to remove the bed, the suspension, the axle, and with the axle the surge braking system, leaving you with just the steel frame of the trailer?



You might check your local area first before doing any modifications to the trailer, as from the sounds of it an A1 version of the trailer would be a better starting point, or even an A2. The A3 is a little more valuable because of the width/axle/HMMWV tires, so you might come out money ahead if someone has one to trade.
The frame seems to be the only thing left, and you could probably get one built for less money than you can sell the M116A3 for (but that's dependent on someone in your area wanting the M116A3)

If you were closer I have an M116A2 trailer that I took the bed off, cleaned up the rust, and painted and I'd do either straight across or a couple hundred bucks plus trade because the A3 would match my HMMWV better. Just to give an opinion of what the difference in value is.
 
U

unleashd

Member
31
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Location
Herndon, VA
Coug said:
Not trying to be rude here, so please don't take this in a bad way, but let me get this straight.

You bought the A3 version of the trailer which costs more because it has a wider bed, wider axle,

Now your plans have changed so you want to modify it further than originally intended.

Your goal with it now is to remove the bed, the suspension, the axle, and with the axle the surge braking system, leaving you with just the steel frame of the trailer?



You might check your local area first before doing any modifications to the trailer, as from the sounds of it an A1 version of the trailer would be a better starting point, or even an A2. The A3 is a little more valuable because of the width/axle/HMMWV tires, so you might come out money ahead if someone has one to trade.
The frame seems to be the only thing left, and you could probably get one built for less money than you can sell the M116A3 for (but that's dependent on someone in your area wanting the M116A3)

If you were closer I have an M116A2 trailer that I took the bed off, cleaned up the rust, and painted and I'd do either straight across or a couple hundred bucks plus trade because the A3 would match my HMMWV better. Just to give an opinion of what the difference in value is.
Click to expand...
Good points. No offense taken (I reserve that for the shoddy FB groups :D )

I will add some more to this. I have been hunting for a while for a bed from a 1101/02 to fit on this trailer. So far, that search has come up empty. I missed out on some auctions as well. So, this was an alternative thought process that I am researching.

The idea of losing the military axles is to shed some trailer weight. The LX is rated for up to 6500 lbs, but I'd like to keep it under 3500lbs if possible.

I haven't thought about selling/trading this trailer. But, your post above has given me some ideas. I will think about it. TIA.
 
juanprado

juanprado

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the m1101/2 beds have one trillion rivits ( unibody ~not sure if that is the correct term ) holding them on that were surplus from WWII battleships.... so very unlikely to find a bed from that series but m101 beds do occasionally crop up as they were more simply bolted on.
 
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