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So it looks like I bought an m101a2...

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smier

1/2 ton status
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I've been looking for a used trailer for a few months to replace the need for a pickup... I ended up buying an m101a2 from the Army, pretty excited actually $320!!! I'll post up some pics when I go to the base to get it, hopefully next week. It's a 3/4 ton model on what looks to be chevy 8 lug wheels, and comes with the side rails, roof bows and canvas tarp. I'm planning on modifying it so I can use the tilt feature as a dump trailer. I just may have to build an expedition rig now!!!
 
Congrats. Yes, the A2's had the standard 8 lug pattern to match the CUCV pickups and HMMWV's.
 
Anyone know what type of electrical connector they use for the lights? I'm thinking taking some trailer wire etc. for when I go to pick it up. Anybody know much about these? What type of bulbs do they take. I just joined steel soldiers to try and get some more info a well. I'm getting even more excited about this thing, my wife thinks I'm crazy!
 
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They're setup for 24v systems and should have 24 volt bulbs in them.

You can just replace the 24v bulbs with 12 volt bulbs...


...but the connector is a military connector. Big and round, looks like a 7 pin round connector but bigger and with a bunch more pins. There are adapters to mate that to a 7 or flat 4 pin connector though. Not cheap. If you are more electrically skilled than me you can find a diagram and make one. There's good info out there on these.

Steel Soldiers is a good choice to find info. Never messed with trailers much on there but be warned that some members can be VERY against modifying military vehicles/equipment. "Ruin historical value" and whatever. Also, they're not all gods of military information. Got plenty of good there and plenty of bad. Still, about the best source around.

Also, may want to invest in new tires. Those trailer tires could be new last week or originals from the 80's. Not a good thing to discover when they blow on the ride home.
 
After a ton of research, it looks like it should be an easy swap of bulbs, splice in a 4 wire trailer connector, check tires, bearings, and brakes, then hook up and pull it out of there. The more I research this trailer the more I like it! This thing should last me a long, long time!!! So far, the worst part has been buying a pintle hitch receiver, they are $$$$.
 
Not cheap but useful. I have one. Great for use as a tow point.

One downside of these trailers are they are FAR heavier than their civilian counterparts. Far tougher but if you're just using it to haul lumber or yard waste it's vast overkill.

Just a thought but Newyorkin sells these now. Might put a bug in his ear about them and he could share some info?
 
Definately more trailer than I need. However, I have been looking at what's available on the market, and I'd have to pay 10x what I paid for this one and still wouldn't have anything as versatile... The weight doesn't bother me, it's much lighter than the camper I pull.
 
Just an FYI. Seen people buy one then bitch that it sucks up a bunch of their towing capacity.

Well duh...it's easily twice what a similar yard trailer weighs.
 
Congrats, I'd love to get one to pull behind my m1009 just for fun. If I had the room I would have bought one I saw in August. Had top bows, cover and even had a set of hummer tires on hummer rims. Post pics when you get it!
 
I love the trailer, I picked it up last Thursday. I'd easily pay much more than I did for one. It has some surface rust on the frame, and one tire is showing some signs of dry rot, other than that it's perfect! No dents or rust on the body at all. Towed perfectly the 148 miles home from the army base. I got lucky, mine came with perfect canvas top and all 5 bows for the top. The only thing it's missing is one of the clips that stores the bows when not in use, that's an easy fix though. I'm going to sandblast the frame and repaint the entire trailer this winter, think I'll bed line the inside of the bed and put new rims and tires on it as well. This thing is beefy, but it's definately not too heavy for my blazer, my Durango pulled it with absolutely no problems, you could easily overload the trailer due to the size of the bed, but it will be perfect for what I plan on using it for. The surge brakes even work! The hardest part was swapping the light bulbs to 12 volt bulbs and splicing in a 4 wire civilian trailer plug for the lights... That reminds me, I'm going
To install some nice LED's and all new wires as well. I took a bunch of pics, I've been meaning to post them up.
 
Nice score!


Reminds me where a guy got one on SS a few years back and discovered one of the tires was from 1968!
 
I just purchased a M416 trailer to put behind my M1009. The M1009 was only rated to pull the M416, but the other CUCV's were rated for the M101 and M101A2 3/4 ton. Great buy.
 
Nice, the m416 is too small for my needs... I don't haul heavy items, but I haul a lot of large items like furniture etc. That take up a lot of room. The m101a2 is about the size of a full size pickup bed. In the past 2 years I spent about $150 renting trailers to haul stuff, so I figure the trailer will pay for itself quickly enough. How much did the m416 cost you, I've heard they are in much greater demand then the m101's?
 
M416 Trailer

smier said:
Nice, the m416 is too small for my needs... I don't haul heavy items, but I haul a lot of large items like furniture etc. That take up a lot of room. The m101a2 is about the size of a full size pickup bed. In the past 2 years I spent about $150 renting trailers to haul stuff, so I figure the trailer will pay for itself quickly enough. How much did the m416 cost you, I've heard they are in much greater demand then the m101's?
Click to expand...

For the price you paid and what you're using it for, Sounds like it is perfect for you.

The M416 are harder to find and cost upwards of $2000. Not that I paid that much, mine cost $600 and does need some work. I want to use it as an off-road camp trailer. That's a project that I'll start after I build a power motor for the M1009. (I know, I post pics when I can.)
 
M416's were removed from service a good while ago so they are rarer than the M101's. Part of the reason they are less common.
 
smier said:
I love the trailer, I picked it up last Thursday. I'd easily pay much more than I did for one. It has some surface rust on the frame, and one tire is showing some signs of dry rot, other than that it's perfect! No dents or rust on the body at all. Towed perfectly the 148 miles home from the army base. I got lucky, mine came with perfect canvas top and all 5 bows for the top. The only thing it's missing is one of the clips that stores the bows when not in use, that's an easy fix though. I'm going to sandblast the frame and repaint the entire trailer this winter, think I'll bed line the inside of the bed and put new rims and tires on it as well. This thing is beefy, but it's definately not too heavy for my blazer, my Durango pulled it with absolutely no problems, you could easily overload the trailer due to the size of the bed, but it will be perfect for what I plan on using it for. The surge brakes even work! The hardest part was swapping the light bulbs to 12 volt bulbs and splicing in a 4 wire civilian trailer plug for the lights... That reminds me, I'm going
To install some nice LED's and all new wires as well. I took a bunch of pics, I've been meaning to post them up.
Click to expand...


So I know this is an older thread, but are there any updates. Also how hard was it to splice the 4 pin plug in. Im looking to get one of these and Im in the info gathering stage. Thanks.
 
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