M718A1 restoration

[Hambone]

" I took my time and completed it to the best of my ability. Hambone"

Well, you did a mighty fine job young man!!

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Thanks Dan, one thing you don't realize is the one you built years ago got me motivated to build one, you got me hooked. And thanks for that, mission accomplished.

[rickf]

I think you did a pretty fair job myself.

[Hambone]

Got my splint kit installed, took a while to find a complete one in good condition.

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[Hambone]

Finally finished other than mounting spare tire, now I need a way to haul it around, don't think the 50 year old canvas can take many 70mph trips on a open trailer. I've been looking at a 8.5x16x7 enclosed trailer, need a 80" ramp door height so the jeep will fit, prices are up over $2K on these trailers over the past 2 years, I found one of these for $7900, think I may pull the trigger. I'm trying to convince my wife we can camp in it at shows and other places, not sure I'm very convincing.

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[rickf]

You can camp in them but the amenities list is a bit sparse. If you can swing the money you are better off with a fifth wheel enclosed trailer. About double the money but a lot more room and you can build more or less permanent living quarters up front. And the overhang in the front is where the bunks go. One thing you really have to watch for on pull behind enclosed box trailers is weight ratings. 90% of them are rated at 7,000 lbs. Two 3500lb. axles. Well, once you figure in the weight of the trailer and any spares you are carrying you have very little room left for the vehicle. Anytime I look at enclosed trailers I always, ALWAYS look for at bare minimum a 10,000 lb rating. Another thing that gives you is bigger bearings and you are not always running right on the edge of the limits on the bearing capacity. My box trailer is rated at 10,000 lb. but it has eight lug axles and when I checked into the brakes and bearings it turns out they are 6,000 lb. axles which gives it a 12,000lb. rating. You still need to go by the rating sticker but nice to know you have a cushion. Be real hard to get that much in a 16 foot trailer!!! I am actually looking for a decent 20 footer that I can swap the axles to from this one.

[Hambone]

I think 16' is as big as I want, don't have 5th wheel set up and damn sure not buying a diesel, not planning on pulling it across country. Planning on adding 2 windows, queen size air mattress, 2 fold up chairs, outside awning and I have a 110v stand alone air conditioner, us country boys don't need all that fancy stuff, though I did give the tent up many years ago.

[rickf]

I can tell you right now that once you put all that in a 16 foot trailer there will not be room for a whole lot else. That is basically what I do for shows. The air mattress in one front corner and the camp toilet in the other front corner and a folding table on brackets for the E-track on the side wall for the cooking chores. The mutt will have to live outside rain or shine. And you do not need a diesel just for a fifth wheel trailer, I see a lot of F150's pulling them anymore. It is all in how much weight you are putting in the trailer. remember, a fifth wheel puts the weight in the center of the truck, unlike a bumper pull. And they are a LOT easier to maneuver around. I always like to think ahead when making a trailer purchase. 16 foot is ok for a Jeep but if you want to put a medium size car in there down the road you will be looking for a new trailer.

[csmith]

Finally finished other than mounting spare tire, now I need a way to haul it around, don't think the 50 year old canvas can take many 70mph trips on a open trailer. I've been looking at a 8.5x16x7 enclosed trailer, need a 80" ramp door height so the jeep will fit, prices are up over $2K on these trailers over the past 2 years, I found one of these for $7900, think I may pull the trigger. I'm trying to convince my wife we can camp in it at shows and other places, not sure I'm very convincing.
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trailer.jpg

Almost bought one about 6 years ago, had a workbench and cabinets in the front, black & white checker floor tiles, AC, I was planning on putting fold down racks on each side with cables hooked to the top. Told my wife and she said great idea, go ahead, you and Ian (my son) can go but I'll be staying in a hotel. Did not buy it, not because of that but because I had no good place to store it. Still think it would be a good idea.

[csmith]

Hambone, beautiful job, beautiful rig! Well done!

[Hambone]

Finally finished other than mounting spare tire, now I need a way to haul it around, don't think the 50 year old canvas can take many 70mph trips on a open trailer. I've been looking at a 8.5x16x7 enclosed trailer, need a 80" ramp door height so the jeep will fit, prices are up over $2K on these trailers over the past 2 years, I found one of these for $7900, think I may pull the trigger. I'm trying to convince my wife we can camp in it at shows and other places, not sure I'm very convincing.
IMG_1290.JPG
trailer.jpg

Almost bought one about 6 years ago, had a workbench and cabinets in the front, black & white checker floor tiles, AC, I was planning on putting fold down racks on each side with cables hooked to the top. Told my wife and she said great idea, go ahead, you and Ian (my son) can go but I'll be staying in a hotel. Did not buy it, not because of that but because I had no good place to store it. Still think it would be a good idea.

Took the wife with me to check out the trailers yesterday, at least I didn't get a cursing or dirty look, I've been showing her how people have been converting them to campers. It won't be as nice as the camper we had when the kids were young but a lot nicer than the tent we camped in back in the early days. If it decides to storm, I will load the jeep up and head to the hotel.

[Hambone]

Hambone, beautiful job, beautiful rig! Well done!

Thanks for the comment Clell, sometimes I think I went overboard but now when I walk in the shop it puts a big smile on my face, it was definitely worth the effort and I'm very proud of it. Hopefully the boys will enjoy it in the future.

[rickf]

Once you get to a certain point in a restoration it becomes an obsession to make it all that it can be. With a 718 I can fully understand doing that since there are really not that many of those around. But to do the type of restoration that you did on an ordinary 151? To me that is kind of a waste of money. Yea, it looks fantastic but, it looks just like all the other ones.
Now, you need to start getting those little mini motorcycles done in that same condition and you will more than pay for that 718 restoration PLUS the trailer! Those little things are bringing insane money right now!

[Hambone]

Transportation problem solved.

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[rickf]

You say you are going to camp in it right? How you gonna open and close the door from the inside? It only has a utility trailer door latch on it. That is the same setup I have on mine and I just built a slide bolt setup for the inside and a bracket to lock the outside latch so it could not be locked closed from the outside. If someone came buy in middle of the night and saw the latch open and thought they would be a good Samaritan and close the latch you have a major problem, You ain't gettin' out till someone lets you out! Don't think the missus will agree to that setup.

[Hambone]

I’m going to install windows, RV latch and a lockout for the bar latch. Going to fix it up like this one.

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