SomedayAdventure
Adventurist
The story:
We are the Days. A middle class family of blue collar breeding. I have recently (within the last two years) discovered a love for the outdoors and a desire to bring my three boys (code named Someboy, Sidekick and Minion in order of age) up with an appreciation for all it has to offer. It all started when I thought I would give hunting a try in the Mountains of San Diego (where we live). After failing three hours in, I realized how little I knew. But that didn't stop me. Nor did it stop my desire to at least take my boys camping.
This is the Build of my M101A3.
Our first outings were tent based. My dad drove his F150 and I took out my F350, both loaded to the hilt with camp 'stuff' and dogs.
Not a bad way to start but definitely limited, especially when we wanted the whole family there (dogs too). As it happens, my father was in the process of collecting military trailers.
From Left to Right: M105 (1.5 ton, very heavy), M101A2 (3/4 ton or +F150/1500 truck payload), M101A3 (newer 3/4 ton with Kevlar tires)
I chose to use the M101A3 as it was more modern and came with a surge brake (turned out to be broken).
After getting the proper papers and registering the trailer at the DMV, I knew the first order of business would be getting it road worthy for places like the desert and long roads that big rigs used. One of my fears, having a camouflage trailer, was having people change lanes and hit my trailer. So, lighting.
First I measured, marked and tapped my drilling spots for our side lights.
Then, using a tap and die set, threaded the holes for the bolts to hold on the lights. I actually enjoy these small parts of the build.
We threaded the wires in and tucked them up under the frame.
My dad, the 'electrician' had plenty of company when wiring the back up lights.
The finished mounting. We wired the lights into the trailers wiring (which needed to be converted from the military to civilian wiring).
Tested the back up lights. They definitely helped.
Now that we didn't have to use the bed of the truck to load our things, we had a clean and safe place to put out dogs.
**We did learn some more valuable lessons about loading the trailer down the line which made necessary some significant changes (i.e. dust and rain and snow oh my).
All built up to my preset expectations (based on a San Diegan's perception of what weather would be like at the beginning of May...throughout the country...ew, not good vibes).
This is basically how the trailer sat when hitched to my stock F350 4x4.
Off on the road we go.
We are the Days. A middle class family of blue collar breeding. I have recently (within the last two years) discovered a love for the outdoors and a desire to bring my three boys (code named Someboy, Sidekick and Minion in order of age) up with an appreciation for all it has to offer. It all started when I thought I would give hunting a try in the Mountains of San Diego (where we live). After failing three hours in, I realized how little I knew. But that didn't stop me. Nor did it stop my desire to at least take my boys camping.
This is the Build of my M101A3.
Our first outings were tent based. My dad drove his F150 and I took out my F350, both loaded to the hilt with camp 'stuff' and dogs.
Not a bad way to start but definitely limited, especially when we wanted the whole family there (dogs too). As it happens, my father was in the process of collecting military trailers.
From Left to Right: M105 (1.5 ton, very heavy), M101A2 (3/4 ton or +F150/1500 truck payload), M101A3 (newer 3/4 ton with Kevlar tires)
I chose to use the M101A3 as it was more modern and came with a surge brake (turned out to be broken).
After getting the proper papers and registering the trailer at the DMV, I knew the first order of business would be getting it road worthy for places like the desert and long roads that big rigs used. One of my fears, having a camouflage trailer, was having people change lanes and hit my trailer. So, lighting.
First I measured, marked and tapped my drilling spots for our side lights.
Then, using a tap and die set, threaded the holes for the bolts to hold on the lights. I actually enjoy these small parts of the build.
We threaded the wires in and tucked them up under the frame.
My dad, the 'electrician' had plenty of company when wiring the back up lights.
The finished mounting. We wired the lights into the trailers wiring (which needed to be converted from the military to civilian wiring).
Tested the back up lights. They definitely helped.
Now that we didn't have to use the bed of the truck to load our things, we had a clean and safe place to put out dogs.
**We did learn some more valuable lessons about loading the trailer down the line which made necessary some significant changes (i.e. dust and rain and snow oh my).
All built up to my preset expectations (based on a San Diegan's perception of what weather would be like at the beginning of May...throughout the country...ew, not good vibes).
This is basically how the trailer sat when hitched to my stock F350 4x4.
Off on the road we go.
Last edited: