New-B thinking about buying a M101A3 - Have Questions

[bob95065]

I am thinking about buying a a M101A3 trailer for hauling firewood and construction materials when I need the extra capacity. I'll pull it with a 1997 Dodge Ram 4x4 diesel which should handle it no problem. I have some questions about the trailer and purchasing surplus equipment through the government:

1. Does anyone know the bolt hole pattern for the rims on the trailers? My truck will take wheels from a H2. I don't know if the military version is compatible.

2. The trailers I see for auction are all listed condition F7 which is repairable material. Can anyone let me know from experience what kind of condition I can expect to find the trailers in? I don't have a flatbed so I will pull the trailer home behind my truck. the reason I am asking is I have a 7 hour drive one-way to bring the trailer home. What materials/parts should I bring with me when I pick it up? I guess I am looking for what I should expect to do to the trailer before I start for home.

3. Are parts available for these trailers from commercial sources? Where can I get parts?

4. What is the distance from the lunette to the ground when the trailer is level? I would like to know do I get the right hitch for my truck.

5. In general how much time should I expect to pass between winning and auction and picking up the trailer?

6. Do I get to make an appointment or does the seller give a window of time for pick up? Is there a link to the pick-up procedure?

7. Is the brake on the trailer only mechanical or does it have an electrical component? I have seen trailers like this that have brakes that are disabled when the tow vehicle is put in reverse gear ( brake is disabled when the reverse lights come on). Is there a way to disable to brake when backing up?

I am a competent mechanic and am well equipped with tools. I have a compressor on my truck for filling tires and will bring plenty of tools. I appreciate your reading this post and look forward to any insights you can provide.

Thanks,

Bob Elliott

 

[KsM715]

1. 8lug chevy rim. I dont know if thats the same as your dodge.

2. pay no attention to that code. its useless as far as buying surplus trucks and trailers. If you can't preview in person see if you can get someone local to the sale to go look. You can usually tell by the pics if it has major damage or problems, aside from wheel bearings or rusted up brakes.

3. Parts are available from members here or the usuall big name surplus dealers

4. 21-26 inches more or less depending on which way the lunette ring is flipped.
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/trailers/69029-m101a1-lunette-height.html

5. Anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months. (lately the EUC's have been getting returned faster but there is no way of knowing, you submit it and wait)

6. Once your EUC clears you have 10 business days to make an appointment to pick it up.

7. The brakes are mech. only. There is a hole in the surge brake set-up to slide a pin thru to lock out the brakes for backing up. You will have to get out of the truck for this.

 

[number9]

The M101A3 are great trailers. Look at the pics of each trailer very closely, look for good paint, scratches, dents, rust, look at the pics of the data plates, nice plates with nice rivets are usually a good sign the trailer is in nice condition, look at the tires & wheels closely in the pics, good tread, black sidewalls and nice clean black paint on the wheels are also good signs the whole thing is in good condition, as is the paint inside the bed. You can get some NICE trailers if you pay close attention. I've been lucky enough to get an M116A3 and M101A3 that were fresh, crisp out of rework.

You'll need to make a 7-pin plug or 4-pin plug with bullet connectors on the end to connect to the wiring on the trailer and your truck. I've got one I can take pics of and post up later to show. Then you'll need to take some 1156 and 97 bulbs with you to swap out the top two bulbs in the tail lights and you're good to go. Some guys get the magnetic lights to bring trailers home, but the way I see it, if your gone pull it with your civy truck all the time anyway, you'll end up doing these things when you get it home, so why not just do it AR pick up and be done. Only takes about 10 min.

H2 wheels will fit on these trailers. I run chrome H2's on my truck but I haven't mounted one on the trailers.

Pickup is pretty painless usually. They give you 10 business days from the time your EUC clears BUT, most places only loadout 2-3 days a week sonthat cuts you to 4-6 possible days to pick up, you'll have to keep an eye on your account EUC status and email donut don't sit in your in-box a few days and pass up the first couple days you could pick up and put you in a spot.

The safety chain hooks are too large for most civy trucks toe hitch. I hang two 1/2" threaded quick chain links off my hitch. The mil chain hooks hang in them fine.

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[bob95065]

Thanks for the replies. I saw that there is a Inspection/Load Out board. I'll post there to see if someone lives close to the base for inspection.

number9, is there a post that details how many 1156 and 97 bulbs are needed and where they go? Those are common bulbs. Do they fit the stock trailer sockets? I agree with you about changing the bulbs. I am going to pull it behind my Dodge anyway. It makes sense to swap them out on the spot.

Are the militry bases ok with you working on the trailer on site?

 

[Recovry4x4]

You need 2 ea of the 1156 and 97 bulbs. Only the top 2 bulbs in the lights will need changed. GL lots vary in the amount of time they will give you. With trailers, I usually hook up and bolt and work on it at the first fat spot in the road, Waffle House or the like. The M101A3 is an awesome trailer for sure. Be advised though, it does share the common 8 lug pattern but the rims are the deep backspaced H1 rims, anything else will stick out a bit!

 

[bob95065]

I was asking about the rims because I can use the spare from my truck if I get a flat in the field. I also have on-board air on my truck so I can fill a tire if I need to. That may come in handy if I win a trailer.

 

[ryker725]

Good luck with the bidding!!! I won a M105 a few weeks ago and can't wait to go get it. Pics of it look promising!!

 

[number9]

The M101A3 with the HMMWV wheels and 37" tires will have run flats in them. They are HEAVY. Removing the run flat is a PITA, but doing that or going to a smaller tire will lighten them up a good bit.

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[number9]

Here's the trailer wiring info to hook up your truck to the trailer connectors. There will be a cover on the left side of the tongue, take the 4 screws out and remove the cover and you'll find the connectors where you unplug the Mil trailer wire and connect your pig tail you make.


4-pin Flat Plug

Color_____Function__________MV Circuit #
Green_____RH Turn & Brake___22-460
White_____Ground___________Ground to trailer
Brown ____Tail / Marker_______21
Yellow_____LH Turn & Brake____22-461

12Volt bulbs = 67 and 1156 bulbs

The other circuts are for black out lights - dont need on civy truck


The bullet connectors below snap onto the Mil connectors nice and tight.

[FONT=&quot]NAPA/Baldwin #784341 [/FONT][FONT=&quot].157" dia. male "bullet" connectors
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]NAPA/Baldwin #784353 .157 dia. female connectors [/FONT]

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[bob95065]

The M101A3 with the HMMWV wheels and 37" tires will have run flats in them. They are HEAVY. Removing the run flat is a PITA, but doing that or going to a smaller tire will lighten them up a good bit.

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What size are the tires on these trailers? I run 265-75 R16 on my truck.

 

[number9]

A3 has 37x12.50x16.5 on HMMWV wheels.

Think the A2 has 285/75-16 or something close to that on regular steel wheels.

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