If you've decided you want a military trailer behind your rig, you've probably noticed there isn't just one. Surplus listings mix M100s, M416s, and M101s together, sellers call all of them "jeep trailers," and the prices overlap enough that it's easy to buy the wrong one.
They are not interchangeable. Two of them are quarter-ton trailers built to follow a jeep. The third is a three-quarter-ton trailer built to follow a truck, and it weighs about twice as much. Which one makes sense for overlanding depends mostly on what you tow with and what you plan to carry.
We build a modern M416-style trailer, so we have an obvious bias. We'll flag it where it matters and tell you where each original is the better pick.
The short answer
- M416: The best all-round choice for most overlanders with a midsize SUV, Jeep, or small pickup. Light, simple, and the easiest to find parts and build threads for.
- M100: The pick if you want a period-correct partner for a vintage Willys or M38, or you love the rounded fenders. Slightly narrower and older than the M416, and usually priced as a collectible.
- M101: The pick if you tow with a full-size truck and need to carry real weight, like a slide-in camper box, dirt bikes, or a big water and fuel load. Too heavy and too long for many midsize rigs.
The three trailers at a glance
| M100 | M416 | M101 (A1/A2) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1/4-ton | 1/4-ton | 3/4-ton |
| Era / tow vehicle | Korean War era, M38 and M38A1 jeeps | Vietnam War era, M151 jeep | 1950s on, M37 truck; M101A3 matched to the HMMWV |
| Empty weight | 565 lb | 670 lb | About 1,325–1,340 lb (data plates) |
| Rated payload | 500 lb | 500 lb | 1,500 lb cross-country, 2,250 lb highway |
| Overall length | About 108 in | 108.5 in | About 142–147 in |
| Overall width | About 56.5 in | 60.5 in | About 71–80 in, by variant and source |
| Cargo bed (inside) | About 38 x 72 in at the floor | About 41 x 72 in | About 100 in long (A2) |
| Brakes as issued | Parking brake only | None | A1: mechanical parking brake; A2: surge brakes |
| Recent asking prices we found | $3,500–$5,000 restored | $1,500–$2,000 for solid donors | $900–$1,700 surplus; about $4,000 built |
A note on the numbers: the M100 and M416 figures come from technical manuals, museum records, and published references. The M101 weight figures come from owners reading the data plates on their own trailers, and overall-width figures vary by variant and by source. Prices are individual listings, not market averages.
M100: the jeep trailer with the round fenders
The M100 is a 565-pound, quarter-ton U.S. Army jeep trailer from the Korean War era with a 500-pound payload and a cargo bed about 38 by 72 inches at the floor. It was the trailer for the M38 and M38A1 jeeps and closely resembles the WWII Willys MB-T and Bantam T3 trailers.
It was built to be amphibious. The Estrella Warbirds Museum notes that the M100 is watertight, floats with its load, and has drain valves at the front and rear of the floor. The Army technical manual lists 7.00-16 tires and a cable-operated parking brake, and nothing else for stopping.
For overlanding, the M100's strengths are:
- It's light. At 565 lb empty, it barely registers behind most modern vehicles.
- It has the classic look, and a matched M38 and M100 pair is a real collector set.
- Restored ones show up already set up for camping. One recent listing for a restored 1954 Dunbar M100 included a Lock N' Roll hitch and crossbars for a rooftop tent at $3,500.
The weaknesses:
- It's the smallest bed of the three, and the 500 lb payload runs out fast once a tent, water, and a cooler are aboard.
- Prices reflect collector demand. D&L Bensinger listed a fully restored M100 at $5,000, more than most solid M416 donors.
- It's 70-plus years old. Expect more rust repair and harder-to-find original parts than on an M416.
If you're putting it behind a vintage military jeep, the M100 is the right answer. If you're putting it behind a 2026 4Runner, you're paying extra for history.
M416: the overlanding default
The M416 is a 670-pound quarter-ton military trailer built for the M151 jeep, with a 500-pound payload and a roughly 41 by 72-inch bed. It's the trailer most overland builds start from, and for good reason. We cover it in depth in our M416 trailer guide.
Why overlanders pick it:
- The proportions work. At 108.5 inches long and 60.5 inches wide, it tucks in behind a midsize SUV or Jeep and is easy to maneuver by hand.
- It's the most documented of the three. Forums like Steel Soldiers and Expedition Portal have solved nearly every problem you'll hit, from floor replacement to lid design.
- Solid donors are still findable. The listings we tracked for our restoration cost breakdown ran about $1,500 to $2,000.
The weaknesses:
- The 500 lb payload rating is the real limit. Most serious builds replace the axle and suspension to get past it.
- No brakes as issued.
- Like the M100, it's a quarter-ton design. If you need to haul heavy, it isn't the right platform even after upgrades.
M101: the three-quarter-ton option
The M101 is a three-quarter-ton military cargo trailer that weighs about 1,340 pounds empty and is rated for 1,500 pounds cross-country and 2,250 pounds on the highway. It was designed as the trailer for the Dodge M37 truck, and later versions were paired with newer trucks, including the HMMWV for the M101A3.
It's a different class of trailer. A 2017 Overland Bound listing quoting official figures put the M101A2 at 147 inches long, with a 100-inch cargo box and 14 inches of ground clearance. That's roughly three feet longer than an M416.
The variants matter more here than on the jeep trailers:
- M101 and M101A1 use M37-style 5-hole wheels with 9.00-16 tires, according to owners on Steel Soldiers. Brakes on an A1 are mechanical and for parking only unless someone has added a surge setup.
- M101A2 moved to an 8-lug wheel pattern that matches the M880 truck and added hydraulic surge brakes.
- M101A3 was made wider to match the HMMWV and uses HMMWV wheels with run-flat tires, per 4 Wheels & A Motor.
The same 4 Wheels & A Motor writeup notes the M101 was designed to be towed by a 3/4-ton or larger truck and restricted to 15 mph when towed cross-country.
Why overlanders pick it:
- Real payload. Three to four times the rated capacity of either jeep trailer.
- Surplus pricing can be low for what you get. Eastern Surplus listed M101A1 and A2 trailers at $1,400, and a clean 1989 M101A2 with surge brakes was advertised at $900 OBO.
- The long bed suits a contractor-style topper. One converted 1993 M101A2 with an 8-foot topper, electric brakes, a tent, and an ARB awning was listed at $4,000 on Expedition Portal and sold in August 2026.
The weaknesses:
- Weight. Loaded to its highway rating, an M101A2 grosses roughly 3,590 lb. At the 10 to 15 percent tongue weight GMC recommends, that's about 360 to 540 lb on your hitch, more than many midsize SUVs and Jeeps are rated to carry.
- Length and width. It's harder to turn around on a narrow trail, harder to back, and less likely to fit in a garage.
- Surge brakes can be a nuisance. Owners on ih8mud report them engaging when backing uphill with a heavy load, and some swap to electric brakes.
What all three have in common
Buying any surplus trailer comes with the same three chores.
Paperwork. Surplus trailers often arrive with only a bill of sale or a DD Form 1348. Eastern Surplus, for example, states its M101s are "supplied with Bill of Sale only." Getting a title or registration varies by state. Our guide on how to title a surplus military trailer walks through the process.
Wiring. Military vehicles of this era ran 24-volt electrical systems, and surplus trailers commonly need their lights converted to 12-volt and a civilian plug fitted. The OF4WD writeup on its M101A2 trail-maintenance trailer describes exactly that conversion.
Hitching. All three were built to hook to a military pintle hitch. Most civilian owners either run a pintle on their receiver or swap the lunette for a 2-inch coupler or an articulating hitch.
Brakes and the law. In Texas, DPS rules require trailer brakes once a trailer's gross weight exceeds 4,500 pounds. None of these three should reach that at its rated payload, but other states set lower thresholds, and adding brakes is wise on steep terrain regardless.
How to choose
Start with the tow vehicle, not the trailer.
| If you drive... | Look hardest at... | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Vintage Willys M38 or M38A1 | M100 | The trailer it was issued with |
| Jeep Wrangler, 4Runner, Tacoma, Bronco, or similar | M416 | Light enough for typical midsize tongue limits, compact enough for tight trails |
| Half-ton or 3/4-ton full-size pickup | M101A2 | Uses the payload; the truck can handle the tongue weight |
| HMMWV or a vehicle on HMMWV-style wheels | M101A3 | Matching width and wheels |
Then think about what you carry. A couple with a rooftop tent, a fridge, and a weekend of water fits the quarter-ton class, if you watch weight. A family hauling bikes, extra fuel, and a week of supplies starts to outgrow it.
If you're not sure what your vehicle can handle, our guides for the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator and Toyota 4Runner go through the manufacturer towing and tongue-weight numbers, and how to pick the right tow vehicle covers the general checklist.
Where a modern M416-style trailer fits
There's a gap between the three originals. The jeep trailers are the right size but carry only 500 lb as issued. The M101 carries plenty but is too big and heavy for many midsize vehicles.
That gap is what we designed around. The YOLO YT416 Overland Edition is a 1,100-pound all-steel M416-style trailer built in North Texas with a 48 by 72-inch bed, 1,100 pounds of cargo capacity, and an $11,495 list price. Its bed has about 17 percent more floor area than an original M416's 41 by 72-inch bed, and its 1,100 lb cargo capacity is more than double the M416's and M100's 500 lb ratings.
It ships with the upgrades most surplus builds end up adding: Timbren axle-less independent suspension rated at 2,200 lb, Dexter electric brakes, 31-inch Falken Rubitrek A/T tires, a bolt-on rooftop tent rack, electric lid actuators, E-track, and a tongue that extends up to 20 inches. At 72 inches wide and 132 inches long with the rack, it sits between an M416 and an M101 in size. Every trailer comes with a federally recognized VIN and a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin, so registration is a normal DMV visit.
Where it loses: It isn't an original and has no military history. It weighs more than an M416 or M100, so it adds more to your tongue weight. It doesn't carry an M101's 2,250 lb highway rating. And a surplus M101 at $900 to $1,700, or a solid M416 donor at $1,500 to $2,000, is far cheaper to start with if you enjoy building. Our comparison of off-road trailers under $15,000 lays out how it stacks up against other new trailers too.
If the modern route fits how you camp, the full spec sheet, current pricing, and lead time are on the YT416 Overland Edition product page. If an original fits better, buy the one that matches your tow vehicle, check the floor and the paperwork, and enjoy the build.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the M416, M100, and M101 trailers? The M100 and M416 are quarter-ton jeep trailers rated for 500 lb. The M100 was built for the M38 jeep and has rounded fenders, while the M416 was built for the M151 and has square fenders and a slightly wider bed. The M101 is a three-quarter-ton truck trailer that weighs about twice as much and is rated for 1,500 lb cross-country and 2,250 lb on the highway.
Which military trailer is best for overlanding? For most overlanders towing with a midsize SUV, Jeep, or small pickup, the M416 is the best starting point because it is light, compact, and well documented. The M101 suits full-size trucks that need to carry heavy loads. The M100 suits owners of vintage military jeeps.
How much does an M101 trailer weigh? Owners report data-plate empty weights of about 1,325 to 1,340 lb for the M101A1 and M101A2. Loaded to its 2,250 lb highway rating, an M101A2 grosses roughly 3,590 lb.
Can a Jeep Wrangler tow an M101 trailer? Possibly when lightly loaded, but it is a poor match. A loaded M101 can put 360 to 540 lb on the hitch at 10 to 15 percent tongue weight, which exceeds the tongue rating of many midsize vehicles. Check your vehicle's published towing and tongue-weight limits first.
Do M100, M416, or M101 trailers have brakes? The M100 has a cable-operated parking brake only, and the M416 has no brakes as issued. The M101A1 has a mechanical parking brake, and the M101A2 has hydraulic surge brakes. Many overland builds add electric brakes.
Are M100 trailers worth more than M416 trailers? Usually, yes. Restored M100s commonly list for $3,500 to $5,000 because of collector demand, while solid M416 donors have recently listed for about $1,500 to $2,000.
Do surplus military trailers come with a title? Often not. Many are sold with only a bill of sale or a DD Form 1348, and the titling process varies by state. Check your state's requirements before you buy.