Anyone tow a M101/A3 Military Trailer?

[canzelc]

I am looking into getting an off road camping trailer and was wondering if anyone has any experience towing an M101/A3 (or other variant) with their bronco. I currently load a roof rack and hitch rack and when loaded the bronco doesn't handle great. It's about a 5 hour ride from home to the camp site (20-30 mins off road).

I would like to get a 1/4 ton jeep trailer, like a M100 or M416, but these are pretty hard to find. The M101s are easier to find and mostly come with surge brakes. The drawdacks are they weigh about 1200# unloaded (about twice as much as the 1/4 ton versions) and they are bigger than I need.

Any thoughts or experience of towing one of the M101s would be appreciated.

 

[ntsqd]

What about building the size trailer that you need? At one time there was someone offering a kit to build a 101/416 type trailer, but building something like it shouldn't be too difficult.
As an aside, where are you located? There may be folks nearby interested in helping with such a project.

The easiest route is a mini-truck bed of some sort. Use the bed, build the frame from regular rectangular steel tube, and for god's sake don't use the mini's rear axle! The Trailers sub-forum on IH8Mud has a lot of discussion about this sort of project.

Likely the biggest thing will be sizing the axle right. Generally you want to buy an axle for a lot heavier trailer than you plan to actually have. The reasoning behind this is to get wheel bearings of an appropriate size for off pavement use. The other approach for an axle would be to buy some of Brennnan's weld-on flanges and use front D44 spindles, bearings, & wheel hubs. Unless you use the really short and stiff trailer specific leaf springs (NOT suggested at all!) put shocks on the trailer.

Then you can get into an serious esoteric discussion about what coupler to use. Sounds like you're OK with a pintle, so stick to that and avoid that discussion entirely. Biggest thing to know about those is to get a proper lunette with a large cross-section in the ring. The tighter that it fits the pintle, the less noise it will make. Those pintles that combine a tow ball are not the great idea that they seem to be. They're noisier with a lunette and not as strong.

 

[399strokerEB]

I towed one for occasional use, biggest issue is you can't see it while backing up. I know there are a few guys that tow them, this was at super cel Colorado this year.

 

[1969]

Another thought would also be getting a full length roof rack as well to help maximize your space use.

 

[Arky71]

I pull one behind my full size diesel from time to time when camping at the beach. It has a tall rack with a rtt and everything for a week of camping. Not really heavy i can move it around my yard by hand but it has a lot of wind drag. Actually takes a!most 5 mpg away from a turbo diesel. Decided to build a trailer that fits in the windstream of my bronco to lessen the load on it while headed out west to camp. Thought about cutting if down the middle and narrowing it but found a perfect sized trailer locally for cheap to build on.

 

[Z Bronco]

I towed am M416 for 20 some years with over a 100,000 miles on it, sold it when my kids grew up. With grandkids I now have a 1943 Willys MBT trailer which I really like. The wheel bolt pattern is the same as the Bronco, so one spare works for both. For large tires, a spring over on the trailer gives you the lift. My 35s cleared the M416 with its square fenders, I did have to bob the round fenders a little on the MBT, I also added a 1.25 wheel spacer on the MBT for tire to body clearance. While the bodies look the same the MBT is a little narrower. I have towed mine through many rough trails and you learn tricks on backing them up. Be patient and a 1/4 ton will show up, it is ideal for the Bronco.

 

[m_m70]

Be patient and a 1/4 ton will show up, it is ideal for the Bronco.

It is!

 

[Bajabrewer]

I've seen a couple of these trailers made from the back half of a Bronco - This one is on FB for sale now $6000(NOT MINE)
https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...wse_serp:2140ae34-be17-4fd2-8058-47e579bd272e

 

[canzelc]

On Saturday a 1948 Bantam T3-C followed me home. It's not perfect but ii think it will work perfectly for what I plan to do with it.

Now I just need to figure out replacement tires.