JM74s FX4 Level II build Thread

[JM74]

Originally Posted by Heyman46

I just hose it out after every mud-season.
I have a hot water spigot in my garage next to my water heater, so that water gets to like 200* F easily.
Then I just spray the whole undercarriage to get through the summer nice and clean. Through the winter I don't hose out the mud, I just leave it.

That's a good idea most of the time I just put a lawn sprinkler under it for a while, works well but doesn't get everything

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Originally Posted by mattsfx4

I was 1100 off 4 wheel parts, the true bead locks are about 350 a rim

That's not cheap at all!! Leaning towards making my
Own now

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Originally Posted by LGHTNG02GT

i think that's the product of 'a lesson learned' possibly. on the 97-03 F-150 they are known for the rockers rusting. they rot from the inside out. even though they appear to be 'closed/sealed' crap still gets in there and when you start to see the rust through the paint its already way too late. although the openings are a way to let dirt in they are also a way for it to escape/get washed out.

Ah makes sense well thanks for letting me know I wonder if filling them with foam and sealing them off would work? Or I could just keep up on the cleaning of them

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Went to get renew my hunting license in town today they only have underground parking so I gave it a shot I was surprised my truck fit I had to bungee down the cb whip though.




M101a2 military trailer got some expedition build ideas for this. Going today to pick up a contractors cap for it.

[JM74]

So about that contractors cap i mentioned in my last post, i went out talked to the guy. He was super helpful and friendly. When i saw the add on kijiji i didnt think it was real at first. A mint ARE contractor cap with full tool boxs on either side as well as barn doors and keys for all the working locks, all for $100!!!!!!!. plus all the wiring works. I felt bad only giving him 100$ for it though but hey he was happy to get it off his work truck and onto my trailer.





this truck build thread is gonna start getting mixed with the m101a2 build. Some ideas were a RTT (roof top tent), insulating the inside with a drawer setup and sleeping pad (for winter). repaint the whole thing, new hubs with matching bolt pattern, jerry can roof rack, spare tire mount, power and inverter system. On the one tool box side of the cap it will be a kitchen and the other will be recovery tool storage and odds and ins.

Let me know if you have any other ideas / suggestions

[Onthetrailto]

Originally Posted by JM74

So about that contractors cap i mentioned in my last post, i went out talked to the guy. He was super helpful and friendly. When i saw the add on kijiji i didnt think it was real at first. A mint ARE contractor cap with full tool boxs on either side as well as barn doors and keys for all the working locks, all for $100!!!!!!!. plus all the wiring works. I felt bad only giving him 100$ for it though but hey he was happy to get it off his work truck and onto my trailer.

this truck build thread is gonna start getting mixed with the m101a2 build for traveling out west next summer. My plans are possibly a RTT, insulating the inside with a drawer setup and sleeping pad (for winter). repaint the whole thing, new hubs with matching bolt pattern, jerry can roof rack, spare tire mount, power and inverter system. On the one tool box side it will be a kitchen and the other will be recovery tool storage and odds and ins.

Let me know if you have any other ideas / suggestions

Dang. Looks fantastic! Going to paint the trailer?

[JM74]

Originally Posted by Onthetrailto

Dang. Looks fantastic! Going to paint the trailer?

Yeah I want to paint the cap and trailer at the same time probably a flat dark green or matching the truck two tone

[Tyler46]

I need that for camping.
Like I need that.
I need it.

[Onthetrailto]

Originally Posted by JM74

Yeah I want to paint the cap and trailer at the same time probably a flat dark green or matching the truck two tone

That'll be sick.

[camodown]

Look up rotopax. Way better then jerry cans and there are lots of options.

[10rangersport]

Sub'd

[Mike69]

Jared, nice looking truck. I saw in your first post where you said you installed spidertrax wheel adapters, are they wheel spacers?. What was the reason for using them & which ones did you use?.
Mike.

[JM74]

Originally Posted by Heyman46

I need that for camping.
Like I need that.
I need it.

haha you can buy one in the states just gotta go to a military auction. but yeah i like it thats for sure

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Originally Posted by Onthetrailto

That'll be sick.

thanks man really appreciate it

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Originally Posted by camodown

Look up rotopax. Way better then jerry cans and there are lots of options.

Yeah i was looking at the rotapax ones but they are quite expensive however i love the way they lock into place!!

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Originally Posted by 10rangersport

Sub'd

thanks man appreciate it

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Originally Posted by Mike69

Jared, nice looking truck. I saw in your first post where you said you installed spidertrax wheel adapters, are they wheel spacers?. What was the reason for using them & which ones did you use?.
Mike.

info Pm'd. Thanks for the your interested in the thread though, really appreciate it

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Im gonna try and go by some the local steel yards today to get some c-channel to mount my cap to on the trailer. Hopefully ill get some more pictures of the trailer as well if anyone wants.

[JM74]

Thought id share a couple more pictures to give a better sense of the m101a2. I haven't had a chance yet to go by a steel yard and pic up some c channel for the new side rails to mount the cap. However a new parking brake assembly is ordered for the trailers right side wheel (old one was seized) and some multi-axis hitches are being looked at to replace the standard 2inch ball.


most likely the tailgate will have to come off for the cap to fit properly


parking brake handle on the left side the right side is disconnected because its seized up


what the inside of all the tool boxes look like


rear leg stand for making the trailer stable when unhooked from the truck








the current 2inch ball standard assembly. They originally came with pintel hitch assembly with a built in braking mechanism which would've been nice but someone decided to weld on a 2inch ball assembly instead. Multi-axis offroad hitch options are being looked into


Almost even with the bodylines of the truck, which is really nice for towing and being able to see around the trailer with ease using the factory mirrors

[JM74]

Got a bit of work done today on the trailer, filled up the previous owners drilled holes in the bed then grinned them down smooth and did a quick paint over them, gonna hopefully bedline it soon. But before i bedline it i need to cut out the tub in the two front corners to replace them with some sheet metal because the corners have rusted through.











The new parking brake assembly arrived so i decided to take the old one out didnt get around to installing the new one got to late. Was surprised how easy it was to remove 20+ year old bolts for the first time.








I finally figured out exactly how much steel and what kind ive got to buy to mount the cap. However the steel yard inst open on the weekends so ill have to stop by sometime during the week. looking at my options for an offroad hitch was thinking of the Hitch Ezy but after finding out that its priced at 700ish$ i thought the maxcoupler hitch would be a much better option at 230ish$

hitch ezy


maxcoupler



Also was wondering if anyone has experience painting a military trailer apparently the original paint is a CARC paint and its toxic but really strong, im wondering if id be better off scuffing up and painting over the original or if i should sand it down / angle grind and paint on bare steel.