M1101 Camping build

First post newb here. I just picked up an M1101 to build out into an offroad camper. I plan on building a roof rack, and then adding a large RTT with annex, along with two 180 degree awnings. Should be a cool build. It will hold all our camping equipment, shower, porta potty, kitchen with partner steel stove and a 22" blackstone. Some ideas are still in the works, but most is figured out already. Here are a few pics from today when I picked it up.

Jason

Nice starting point!

Thanks! I am excited about it. Should be a really neat build.

I need to check the hubs and do basic brake maintenance, but otherwise it is a very clean NOS trailer. Still trying to figure out how to adjust the hand brakes.

I have been watching your truck build in EP. I hope your trailer turns out as well as the truck has.


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Haha... Awesome!

Well me too. I joined here so I can figure out the maintenance side of the trailer, and get that all sorted before moving on. There is a TON of good info on here. I will make a thread on EP as well.

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Kingsize said:

Haha... Awesome!

Well me too. I joined here so I can figure out the maintenance side of the trailer, and get that all sorted before moving on. There is a TON of good info on here. I will make a thread on EP as well.

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I have had a few. I actually have one stray that showed up at my house a few weeks ago. They are super easy to maintain and light enough to haul. They are a tad wide though.

What top is that on yours? Looks like the rear cab of an H1.

I bought a top and bows to make a short term sleeping spot. My plan was to build it out a little but I think I may have stumbled into an LMTV with an S280 that might better fill that role.


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The top was made by a company called Access Manufacturing/Tradesman truck tops @ http://tradesmantrucktops.com
And I agree, it does have to look of the rear of an H1. Very similar in fact.

LMTV is on the list of things I would like to purchase in the future. They are very cool rigs. Post up yours if you end up getting it. Would love to see it.

At least the trailer sits level with the truck.
The top looks good.
Trailer doesn’t look bad at all painted white.

A clean canvas awaits

Man that is really cool. You gave me an idea for the deer camp!!!

I've never been a big fan of the 1101/1102 trailers. Too short and wide. Your, however, puts new light on the subject. I hope that the topper will be included in the build. I've always used steel utility toppers on my 101 trailer. That one with panel doors takes it a step further. What a great trailer to start with.

Dock Rocker said:

I have had a few. I actually have one stray that showed up at my house a few weeks ago. They are super easy to maintain and light enough to haul. They are a tad wide though.

What top is that on yours? Looks like the rear cab of an H1.

I bought a top and bows to make a short term sleeping spot. My plan was to build it out a little but I think I may have stumbled into an LMTV with an S280 that might better fill that role.


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The top is made by Tradesman Truck Tops/Access Manufacturing out in California. Tradesmantruck dot com if you want to look at their site. And I agree, it does look like the rear of an H1. A lot actually.

Tinstar said:

At least the trailer sits level with the truck.
The top looks good.
Trailer doesn’t look bad at all painted white.

A clean canvas awaits

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Thanks sir.

coxju04 said:

Man that is really cool. You gave me an idea for the deer camp!!!

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LOL... I plan on using it in January when we go hunting as well. It won't have much done by then, but it is big, and I'm not on the ground so that is a major plus.

Recovry4x4 said:

I've never been a big fan of the 1101/1102 trailers. Too short and wide. Your, however, puts new light on the subject. I hope that the topper will be included in the build. I've always used steel utility toppers on my 101 trailer. That one with panel doors takes it a step further. What a great trailer to start with.

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Thank you good sir! The topper is the only reason I purchased it in California and shipped it to Texas. Otherwise I would have used one local. The panel doors are perfect in my mind for this build. Everything around the trailer will be based off of taking advantage of the topper and door style.

By the way... Got a chance to bleed the brakes and install new fluid yesterday. All looks good now. I will be pulling the hubs and repacking/checking bearings today.


Jason

Hi Jason,

Very cool project you have going!

I have a couple M1101s/-02s which we just use as utility trailers.
What are your thoughts on keeping the OEM surge brakes vs retrofitting with electric or electric over hydraulic?

Please keep posting the pictures!

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Kingsize said:

By the way... Got a chance to bleed the brakes and install new fluid yesterday. All looks good now. I will be pulling the hubs and repacking/checking bearings today.


Jason

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Every military trailer I have ever had had perfectly greased bearings. They must make people pack bearings as a punishment.


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Thank you sir!

I plan on eventually moving over to electric if I can find something that allows for the hand brake and electric control while keeping the same bolt pattern. I would like it so I have lockup controls when going over obstacles when manual control is desired. And the integrated brake controller in the truck will automatically utilize the trailer when hooked up and pulse the brakes as needed for stability. Same as what Ford offers I believe. The trailer brake intelligent control in the new trucks really are nice.

I do however plan to keep them for the time being, or at least until I can see how they will react with the additions I have planned. I will also eventually move over to a Max Coupler. I don't mind the pintle hitch, and actually have another trailer with it. However, backing up with the pintle and such a short wheelbase trailer is... um.... fun.

I have more pictures coming. No worries mate!


Jason

DslCJ8 said:

Hi Jason,

Very cool project you have going!

I have a couple M1101s/-02s which we just use as utility trailers.
What are your thoughts on keeping the OEM surge brakes vs retrofitting with electric or electric over hydraulic?

Please keep posting the pictures!

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LMAO!

You may be more right than you know. I guess I will find out today.


Jason

Dock Rocker said:

Every military trailer I have ever had had perfectly greased bearings. They must make people pack bearings as a punishment.


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These are the wheels and tires I plan to use. Same as on my truck. They are factory Ram Power Wagon wheels. This way I can have one spare on my truck and a spare on the trailer, and if needed, I have two spares when we are nowhere near civilization. Which is the purpose of this build. Completely off grid and self reliant.

The wheels come polished when you pick them up from the dealer. Precision Coatings does all my powder coat work, so they got this set I purchased as well. Here are some pics from when I did the same on my truck. The trailer wheels are currently getting coated now. Once they come back, one will be kept as just a spare wheel, and the other 3 will get the same tires.

Hydraulic surge brakes are really simple and reliable vs electric brakes. They do a lot better in water crossings as well.

shotty said:

Hydraulic surge brakes are really simple and reliable vs electric brakes. They do a lot better in water crossings as well.

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I agree to a point. Backing up, and up a hill is a pain. And, there are certain downhill obsticals that require to, or are better to manually control a bit of drag in the brakes as you slowly decend. I've been on many wheeling outings with offroad trailers, and electric brakes shine in certain areas, not so much in others. I personally feel the pluses outweigh the minuses. JMHO