New Guy with M101A3

[John Galt]

Can you post a picture from the back. I want to put 235/85R16 tires and rims (CUCV) on my A3 but I feared that the wide axle would make them stick out of the fenders.

Here you go.

Almost looks like the axle has some camber...




Looks like I may have to scratch the plans for a tongue box.

 

[Recovry4x4]

Thanks a ton, looks like it will work like a charm on mine~!

 

[harleyhouse]

The tires sit nice in the fenderwells. Look to be the same hub to hub space as the M101A2.

Harbor freight sells a nice tongue box.
I built mine from aluminum diamond plate and it works well.

 

[John Galt]

If I do get a tongue box, I think it will have to be a DIY job like yours because it needs to be thin. I like being able to pivot the trailer completely out of the way of the tailgate while its attached to the truck.

A nice surprise has been how well the trailer pulls with the 2.5" ring. Just looking at it in the garage I was expecting a lot of clanking but it is much smoother than the original set up.

Is there any issue with using a Grade 8 bolt as a receiver pin (with lock washer). I have had a hard time finding pin that fits the receiver but does not interfere with the safety chain hooks.

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

Almost looks like the axle has some chamber...

??

Chamber?



Do you mean, "camber"?

 

[harleyhouse]

Axle Camber:

http://blog.easternmarine.com/trailer-axle-camber-what-its-all-about/

 

[John Galt]

Yes, I meant camber.

 

[paraclete comes]

I was lucky to get a used set of 3 km2 mudders in 33x12.5 for ten bucks a piece at discount tire to throw on my a3. got killed on brake repair today though, 900! I didnt have time to order the parts from etrailer.com and the local backing plate assemblies are outrageous. But I got new shoes, backing plate etc, new master cylinder fresh fluid (spendy) and a new wheel stud that was in bad shape. While I was at it I lined the old girl up with safety cables, and hooked up a 4 inch pin to lock out the now working surge brakes when I back up. I will try to post pics

 

[harleyhouse]

Got killed on brake repair today though, 900!

For that price I would have bought a new trailer.

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

For that price I would have bought a new trailer.

 

[John Galt]

900 is pretty steep for brakes. For that money you could have gotten an new axle with electric brakes. For a time I was considering (and still may) replacing my axle with a Dexter 7K 4" drop with electric brakes. I was quoted $550 for the parts.

 

[John Galt]

Took it to a scale.... 1260 lbs empty. Didn't shave off as much weight as I expected.

 

[paraclete comes]

To be honest I like the surgebrakes. Now that they work on mine it amazing, plus I dont have a brake controller in any of our trucks. If I had been able to do the repair myself the cost would have been around 400 with parts and everything at max. But doggone NAPA and wholesaletrailer parts in sacramento bent me over the barrel. The hard parts is Im mid trip so my serious tools are packed on a professional moving truck, so I was at the mercy of a mechanic. Obviously you all see how that worked out at $900! Oh well lesson learned

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

Took it to a scale.... 1260 lbs empty. Didn't shave off as much weight as I expected.

Any idea what the stock axle is supposed to weigh?

 

[John Galt]

Been a while since my last update. Nothing major just a few things to make it a bit more useful. The "to do" list is still pretty long and progress is slow. Now I am kicking around the idea of putting a torsion axle on it. It will allow me to get some electric brakes and will drop the deck ~10" while still maintaining the same ground clearance as a straight axle.

I was hoping to get away without brakes but when I am done, I would not be surprised if the trailer is close to 2K empty. As it sits, it is pushing 1500, those RKI boxes are nice but each one is 75 lbs...., another 50lbs for the spare, another 20 lbs for hi lift jack, etc

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

Nah, you don't need brakes on that. Just don't ever put anything in it!

 

[John Galt]

Made a little more progress.

Took 14 cans to paint everything I could reach with a rattle can. Flat black is a very forgiving paint

Hopefully I will finish the rack this week. Plan is to make it pretty modular so I can add/swap out side panel. For now, I mostly want it for supporting shade tarps and a tether point for my hammock.

After finishing the rack, next up will be new tailgate and pin cables to hold the tailgate level. Since I moved the plate to the fender, I need to install and wire a new plate light. Then maybe some mud flaps.

 

[harleyhouse]

Looks good!

 

[John Galt]

A little more progress. Still learning to weld but ran a few beads I thought were decent.

 

[MarcusOReallyus]

To my ignorant eye it looks pretty good!

(But I know enough to know that looks don't tell the whole story on welding!)

Izzat stick or wire?