Need advice: restore or build new

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Need advice: restore or build new

Postby max.powerzz » Tue Mar 04, 2025 12:58 am

Hello! Long time fan of the forum. I need advice on which direction to go. I have a 1950s era m416 military trailer. It has been modified with a Land Cruiser axle to match my tow rig, reinforced floor, new frame, and extended tongue. The lifted height matches my cruiser so I can take it off-road to camp.

I recently picked up a vintage teardrop. The body is heavy duty, the frame not so much. The tongue is bent and will need to be replaced. The axle looks like it's from an old Ford truck from the 40s or 50s, with split rims. To use the current tear drop I think I'll need to beef up the frame (it's maybe 2 inch C-channel), and maybe a new axle, definitely a new tongue. But the teardrop is in solid shape. It's covered in aluminum trailer house siding with TONS of screws and glue.

Or, do I build a square drop body on my existing m416. I figure either way is going to cost me about $2k. My goal is to be able to do off-road and off-grid camping so need something that can keep up with my cruiser, but mostly to keep the bears away :worship:
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Last edited by max.powerzz on Tue Mar 04, 2025 1:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Need advice: restore or build new

Postby max.powerzz » Tue Mar 04, 2025 12:59 am

Pics underneath the vintage teardrop with the old axle and split rims
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Re: Need advice: restore or build new

Postby max.powerzz » Tue Mar 04, 2025 1:05 am

And here's one of the tow vehicle for fun, a 1988 fj62 Land Cruiser. Sadly I just had to sell the fj40 a couple of months ago.
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Re: Need advice: restore or build new

Postby Pmullen503 » Tue Mar 04, 2025 10:14 am

Can you separate the TD from the frame and put it on a new trailer? If the TD is good and to your liking, that seems like that would be easier and faster than either rebuilding a questionable trailer or a brand new TD to put on your m416.
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Re: Need advice: restore or build new

Postby max.powerzz » Wed Mar 05, 2025 5:42 pm

Pmullen503 wrote:Can you separate the TD from the frame and put it on a new trailer? If the TD is good and to your liking, that seems like that would be easier and faster than either rebuilding a questionable trailer or a brand new TD to put on your m416.


That's what I'd love to do, but the m416 body is now welded onto the frame. It would take a lot of cutting and widening of the fenders to fit the teardrop body on the military trailer.
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Re: Need advice: restore or build new

Postby Pmullen503 » Wed Mar 05, 2025 7:22 pm

I was thinking more along the lines of either a stock or if not possible, a custom frame for the TD.
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Re: Need advice: restore or build new

Postby GTS225 » Wed Mar 05, 2025 11:51 pm

I vote for a removable camping "pod" that could be slipped in and out of your military trailer.

The reasons are obvious.....Roger
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