Nonprophet
Observer
I've been using my Wildernest camper for several years now, and really like it. However I recently sold my Tacoma, and now I have a RAV4 and an FJ80, so I'm entering into the expedition trailer world....
I've looked over several build threads--really is amazing what people are fabricating! I recently purchased a custom-built 4x6 trailer with RTT, and as I'm thinking about customizing it to my needs I've been wondering if I should pour time and money into what I bought to set it up how I want it, leave it alone and enjoy it as it for awhile, or, buy a military trailer at auction and do my own build from there. While the production trailers are nice, I really don't want to have more than a couple grand into a tent and trailer total.
My experience to date with military trailers has been that while they're built hella tough, they're also heavy, awkward pigs sometimes too. My last one was an M116A2. It was nice: aluminum bed, surge/coupler brakes, leveling jacks front and rear, lots of tie-downs and super stout, but, it was also a real pain in the rear to move around because it was so heavy, and, for its total weight versus its rated load capacity was pretty lame. i used it mainly as a firewood hauler/utility trailer. There were times when space in someone's back yard where there was free firewood was too tight to turn my Tacoma and the M116A2 around--so I would pull in, uncouple, pivot the trailer, and re-couple. Even empty the M116A2 was a bear to move around--it was very tongue-heavy and just a heavy, awkward trailer. And I'm not a small guy, 6'3" 280.....And for all that it was only rated to carry 2500lbs! About a year ago a neighbor was selling his 6'x10' utility trailer made here by a local company (Sturdybuilt). Let me tell you, the difference between the two trailers was night and day! I can easily (i.e. one hand) move the new empty trailer around, its rated to carry a 3,500lb load, has a fold down mesh ramp/gate, and it's balanced so nicely that I can even load it with 3/4's a cord of hardwood and still tow it easily with my little 4 banger RAV4!
So, while I'm thinking about the M101/M416 4x6 military trailers as a starting point, I'm more than a little skeptical about their weight vs. load rating. I know they're built hella tough, but the truth is 8 times outta 10 I'm just going to be using it on logging roads and not anything too extreme. What do others think about military vs conventional for a build?
I've looked over several build threads--really is amazing what people are fabricating! I recently purchased a custom-built 4x6 trailer with RTT, and as I'm thinking about customizing it to my needs I've been wondering if I should pour time and money into what I bought to set it up how I want it, leave it alone and enjoy it as it for awhile, or, buy a military trailer at auction and do my own build from there. While the production trailers are nice, I really don't want to have more than a couple grand into a tent and trailer total.
My experience to date with military trailers has been that while they're built hella tough, they're also heavy, awkward pigs sometimes too. My last one was an M116A2. It was nice: aluminum bed, surge/coupler brakes, leveling jacks front and rear, lots of tie-downs and super stout, but, it was also a real pain in the rear to move around because it was so heavy, and, for its total weight versus its rated load capacity was pretty lame. i used it mainly as a firewood hauler/utility trailer. There were times when space in someone's back yard where there was free firewood was too tight to turn my Tacoma and the M116A2 around--so I would pull in, uncouple, pivot the trailer, and re-couple. Even empty the M116A2 was a bear to move around--it was very tongue-heavy and just a heavy, awkward trailer. And I'm not a small guy, 6'3" 280.....And for all that it was only rated to carry 2500lbs! About a year ago a neighbor was selling his 6'x10' utility trailer made here by a local company (Sturdybuilt). Let me tell you, the difference between the two trailers was night and day! I can easily (i.e. one hand) move the new empty trailer around, its rated to carry a 3,500lb load, has a fold down mesh ramp/gate, and it's balanced so nicely that I can even load it with 3/4's a cord of hardwood and still tow it easily with my little 4 banger RAV4!
So, while I'm thinking about the M101/M416 4x6 military trailers as a starting point, I'm more than a little skeptical about their weight vs. load rating. I know they're built hella tough, but the truth is 8 times outta 10 I'm just going to be using it on logging roads and not anything too extreme. What do others think about military vs conventional for a build?
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