M116A3 Build

...ask your questions in the appropriate forums BUT document your build here...preferably in a single thread...dates for updates, are appreciated....

Re: M116A3 Build

Postby lfhoward » Thu Jun 11, 2020 6:03 pm

EBay acquisitions for the spare tire project:

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My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
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Re: M116A3 Build

Postby featherliteCT1 » Thu Jun 11, 2020 6:53 pm

Nice score .... do you plan on adding mounting flanges for the tire winch?
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Re: M116A3 Build

Postby lfhoward » Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:10 pm

featherliteCT1 wrote:Nice score .... do you plan on adding mounting flanges for the tire winch?

Thanks!

By mounting flanges, do you mean pieces of metal that the tire rests against when cranked up? If so, yes, because otherwise the spare tire would wobble as I went down the highway. I am looking at mounting pieces of L-shaped steel between the frame rails. The winch itself will bolt directly to an existing cross beam.
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
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Re: M116A3 Build

Postby featherliteCT1 » Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:12 pm

Got it
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Re: M116A3 Build

Postby lfhoward » Thu Jun 11, 2020 7:22 pm

featherliteCT1 wrote:Got it

I’ll take pictures of the underside of the trailer when I do the install. The frame of my trailer is basically this:

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The tire will go forward of the axle. Behind the axle could be space for a water tank.
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
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Re: M116A3 Build

Postby lfhoward » Sat Jun 27, 2020 9:53 am

Here are some photos of where I'll be installing the GMC spare tire winch.

It's the beam in front of the axle, right side of this photo:
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Which is the same as the left side of this photo:
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The beam is beefy, so I am not worried about the weight.
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The spare tire winch will be installed like this sketch:
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The angle iron will be a place for the tire to rest against so that it doesn't wobble when on the road. The tube going to the winch will go through a hole in the angle iron to keep it stabilized as well.
Image
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
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Re: M116A3 Build

Postby featherliteCT1 » Sat Jun 27, 2020 3:19 pm

I am pretty impressed with how you drew those lines on the photo. :applause:
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Re: M116A3 Build

Postby lfhoward » Sat Jun 27, 2020 8:03 pm

featherliteCT1 wrote:I am pretty impressed with how you drew those lines on the photo. :applause:

Thank you!
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
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Re: M116A3 Build

Postby lfhoward » Mon Jun 29, 2020 5:33 pm

I’ll cut and drill steel for the spare tire holder soon.

Meanwhile, I worked on cutting interlocking gym mats to fit the floor.

First layer (only 7/16” thick)
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Second layer
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Lined the cupboard floors also
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Loaded some things back in after quitting for the evening. That spare tire has to go! (underneath)
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My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
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lfhoward
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Re: M116A3 Build

Postby lfhoward » Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:19 am

Today I started fabricating the angle iron bracket that will serve to stabilize both the tire and the tube that turns to lower and raise the tire. It’s drawn in here. The only difference will be that it will face backward so that it doesn’t catch and hold road spray from the Jeep.
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The bracket had to be 45 inches long to fit inside the frame rails, and I drilled 3/8” holes 1/2” from each end.
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Punch and drill bits used. The big one was 7/8” for the tube hole, but I had to work my way up with a 3/8”, 1/2”, and finally the 7/8”.
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My workbench showing the bracket, drill, and jig saw I used.
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Keeping the drill holes and the straight cuts well oiled and going at a slow speed are key for not ruining your bits & blades. High temperature dulls them and breaks them.
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Final product with tube and 3/8” bolts in place to make sure they fit.
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I had to grind out the tube hole a bit from the original 7/8” size to make it able to turn easily.
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Bolt, washers, split washer, and nut, all stainless. I will be using thread locker on these when installing permanently.
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The next steps are to degrease the bracket and then paint it to try and hold off the rust. A good prep prior to painting is the key to making it last longer.
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
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Re: M116A3 Build

Postby lfhoward » Thu Jul 02, 2020 1:04 pm

Tools for prepping and painting.
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First I used the wire wheel to remove rust and scale that had built up on the surface. After that I wiped it down with mineral spirits to remove the steel dust, cutting oil, and any other residue.
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Before painting.
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After 3 passes with Rustoleum, using light side to side sprays that overlap. Keeping it light reduces the chances of drips forming.
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I’ll flip it and paint the other side after it dries in about 30 mins. Later, I’ll give the whole thing another coat.
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
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Re: M116A3 Build

Postby lfhoward » Thu Jul 02, 2020 4:01 pm

While waiting for the paint to dry on the spare tire hanger, I got out the side doors again. Time for some SikaFlex 221!
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I remembered that this stuff is messy, but it exceeded my expectations yet again! Super messy. Super duper waterproof. I’ll clean up the random Sikaflex blobs after it dries.
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One more door to seal.
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
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Re: M116A3 Build

Postby lfhoward » Thu Jul 02, 2020 6:27 pm

Second coat. Think it needs a third?

Image
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
User avatar
lfhoward
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Re: M116A3 Build

Postby lfhoward » Thu Jul 02, 2020 6:28 pm

Second door sealed with Sikaflex 221.

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Sealing the door meant disassembling it, coating aluminum parts with Sikaflex, reassembling, and then filling & smoothing over any leftover cracks where the parts come together.

For anyone just looking at the thread for the first time, these are the side utility doors. The openings exist under the aluminum sides but I didn’t have the doors finished until recently. The door openings have been covered over since 2016 when I skinned the trailer.
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Here is a link to another thread I made about routing out the door openings, and I got good advice about how to do it.
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=71480&p=1245767#p1245724
Last edited by lfhoward on Thu Jul 16, 2020 10:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
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lfhoward
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Re: M116A3 Build

Postby lfhoward » Tue Jul 07, 2020 11:53 pm

Random for the middle of the summer, but I just scored a Propex 1600 heater on EBay!

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I didn’t want to let this pass by since they are so hard to find. This unit has a problem with the igniter, which is why it was affordable, but that doesn’t sound too hard to fix. The heater should be here by mid August, since it is coming from across the pond.

Apparently the 1600 series was made in the 1990’s and isn’t made anymore, but Propex still services them. If I can’t fix it myself, I will send it to GoWesty or another North American distributor for service.

Here are a couple of good blog posts about installing and fixing a Propex Compact 1600 (similar to the 1600), so I don’t lose the links.

Installation:
https://vandogtraveller.com/installing-propex-heater-campervan/

Igniter Repair:
https://vandogtraveller.com/propex-compact-1600-campervan-heater-not-igniting-fix/amp/

Propex 1600 Manual:
https://www.propexheatsource.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Propex_Compact_1600_Instructions_2.pdf

Thread I started talking about horizontal propane tanks:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=72870

I’m super excited about this! I had been researching Chinese diesel heaters but propane will be much cleaner to burn. The Propex will use less electricity for start up & shut down since there is no glow plug, allowing for better climate control in winter. I’ll loop back to this at the end of the summer once the heater gets here.
Last edited by lfhoward on Thu Jul 16, 2020 5:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
My off-road camper build on an M116A3 military chassis:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=62581
Tow vehicle: 2008 Jeep Liberty with a 4 inch lift.
User avatar
lfhoward
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