M416 Trailer
When Liz and I took our Escalante trip in the summer of 2005, we quickly realized that in ordered for us to sleep under the stars we would need to find an alternative for all of our gear storage. Loading totes in and out of the bed of the truck was not going to cut it so we started looking for an alternative – small trailer. Military jeep trailers are good choices because they are tough, yet reasonably lightweight. After a little looking around and sending a few e-mails, I located an m416 jeep trailer just north of Phoenix by about 45 minutes. it was straight, reasonably rust-free, and had the original pintle-style hitch system that is another benefit of these old jeep trailers.
This is my collection of the tear-down and complete rebuild of this 1966 M416 Jeep Trailer. I hope you find the notes and pictures useful when tackling your own Jeep trailer project. If you have questions, feel free to contact me. I’m more than happy to help out with a measurement or clarification.
Project Goals
Most times I dream bigger than I build – it’s just a factor of time and resources. Here are the main design goals for the project:
- Extend Tougue -
- Axle Flip for Tire Clearance – The axle flip will entail a complete rebuild of the axle and relocation to the underside of the leaf springs.
- Tongue Box – The primary purpose of this box is to hold all of the electrical equipment. This will include the trickle charger, deep cycle battery, power inverter, switch box, and what other electrical devices wind up on the trailer.
- Tail Gate - Sides of the trailer are not stout enough to handle the side swinging tailgate, so we ended up with a good old fashion fold down style with a reinforcing frame.
- Lid system – The lid system was designed of a steel frame with an aluminum skin for weight considerations. This lightweight system is hinged at the front and lifted by two large lift struts. There is a basic locking mechanism to prevent unauthorized access. A Yakima bike rack system is mounted on top of the lid which holds a 2ft. by 6ft. safari basket and two bicycle rails.
- Drinking Water Tank, Pump –
- Canopy Extension - Since the kitchen area will be off the back of the trailer, I would like a canopy to be designed to unroll from the underside of the lid system when elevated. Ideally, tent-like polls could be sprung from the corners of the canvas sail to mounting pockets in the bed. This one still needs to be tested and may require more cross bracing or ground poles.
- Power: Solar Panel, Deep Cycle Battery, and Inverter – The description pretty much says it all. We need something to run basic lights, a coffee pot, charge camera batteries, etc. The biggest draw will be when the water tank and pump system are installed for cooking, cleanup and showers.
- Kitchen box - when I go camping there’s nothing I like more than an organized kitchen that I can get in and out of quickly. The kitchen box would be a fold down aluminum box that would hang off the tailgate when opened and store the stove, cook pots, eating utensils, etc. – pretty much everything but food.
Parts List
As the old saying goes, “parts is parts” – but finding the correct ones for these old trailers can be somewhat of a challenge. Here is a list of some of the parts that I managed to use on my trailer. Some a re direct replacement parts, and some are after-market (just find a way to make it work) parts.
- 1966 M416 Trailer Purchased from a gentleman in New River Arizona. He bought it to do what I’m doing, but never got around to it. His loss, my gain.
- 1/4 ton Jeep Trailer Safety chains (pair, plus shipping)
- Hardware – Lot’s of stainless nuts and bolts
- 2 16×8 wheels with 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern
- 2 Wheel Adapters
- 2 Mud Terrains 265 75r 16, mounted and balanced
- 4 red reflectors (replacements)
- 2 Drain Plugs (Frontline Military)
- Wheel Bearings /Seals (frontline military)
Actual: Bearing from M151 kit number 2530-00-887-1341 Spindle Nut Kit - Service: Press out races old races and in new
- Axle/frame ubolts, nuts and washers (6 total) (Dunbar Spring Company, Phoenix, AZ )
- Shocks
- Spring Eye Bushings (1950’s CJ3A/B Front leaf bushings Energy Suspension 2.2101)
- Spring "c" Shackles both Left and Right Hand Thread (eBay)
- Axle Bump Stops
- new urethane shock bushings ( Energy Suspension, part number 9.8108R)
- Receiver Tube 18" (for accessories, not towing) fits right through the back frame rail.
- Tail Lights
- Wiring Harness (bulk wire, looms, adapter)
- Tail Gate
- Cover (Lid System Hardware)
- Sandblasting/Paint
- Bed Liner
- Lift struts (cover) shocks
- Roof rack (Yakima 58 in Perm. Mount with bike carriers)
- tongue box
- Kitchen box
- Water Tank, pump, filter
- ARB Cooler
- high lift jack
- Canopy/Tent
- Battery System (Orbital, inverter, wire, connectors)
Picture Gallery
