1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Subway4X4's New OLD 1946 American Bantam Trailer Build

Discussion in 'Other Builds' started by Subway4X4, Nov 11, 2018.

  1. Nov 11, 2018 at 3:21 PM
    #1
    Subway4X4

    Subway4X4 [OP] Shameless Copy Cat

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Member:
    #169260
    Messages:
    11,647
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lloyd
    NY/NJ
    Vehicle:
    05 Speedway Blue DCSB OR TRD
    Everything TW members recommend
    Bought a Trailer

    Model: Bantam T3-C
    Serial Number :1841
    Built: 1946
    American Bantam Car Company in Butler, PA
    GVW: 1050 lbs
    Payload: 500 lb
    Dimensions:
    38" X 72" floor X 18" Bedside Height
    Upper opening (at its widest): 48" X 72"


    Original Tag:
    3EB72BE7-FF26-4897-B0EF-5511C40C445A.jpg

    Overall objective for the trailer:
    Still tossing around ideas. I think I want to keep it as true to the original model as possible.

    Bringing it home:
    IMG_3550.jpg

    Home:
    IMG_3560.jpg

    Here's a color brochure:
    IMG_3571.jpg


    Here's a 1946-ish newspaper ad (I paid twice as much in 2018 dollars.)
    IMG_3572.jpg


    Here's a model iteration. My Bantam Trailer still has the original, built in, metal stake holders.
    IMG_3569.jpg


    Here's a canvas covered version of above.
    IMG_3570.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2018
    uurx likes this.
  2. Nov 11, 2018 at 3:21 PM
    #2
    Subway4X4

    Subway4X4 [OP] Shameless Copy Cat

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Member:
    #169260
    Messages:
    11,647
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lloyd
    NY/NJ
    Vehicle:
    05 Speedway Blue DCSB OR TRD
    Everything TW members recommend
    Reserved #1

    Rotted floor. Left and right bed sides are sound. Front and tailgate is a little rough.
    3E76D25B-F246-4B1F-82C3-AD375569B0BB.jpg 48EA9F6E-1B09-43C9-B6A0-FE7100F1A329.jpg


    Floor gone!
    8D175F47-99B3-46B8-8842-0E6E58EDE199.jpg

    Looks like the floor is 16 gauge (best guess)

    I’ll try to replace with 14 gauge.

    Floor dimensions:
    38” W x 72”L

    C-channel frame has surface rust but looks solid. Probably will just clean and prime and paint.

    Tailgate and Front bedside panel needs work.
    Edit: 1/12/2019:
    Tailgate replaced with 1/8", 1"x1" square top tube, 1"x1" angle and flat reinforcement. four weld-on 1" x 3" mild steel hinges.

    Front bedside panel replaced with fold-down version: 1/8", 1"x1" square top tube, 1"x1" angle and flat reinforcement. four weld-on 1" x 3" mild steel hinges.

    Springs, hangers, ubolts all look good.
    Edit: New axle ordered: Taco Bolt 6 x 5.5" bolt circle, 53" inside hub to inside hub. Future brake capable.

    Edit: 1/18/2019: Springs might need to be replaced:
    35.5" eye to eye. 2" wide, 1.75" tapered at eye.
    Edit 2/28/19: found that current springs are wrong size and not matched. Left sags lower than the right sides.

    I just confirmed that the leaf spring is the exact spring used for 1945-53 Jeep MB, GPW, CJ-2A, CJ-3A.
    1.65” x 35.5” eye-to-eye. No taper.
    I’ll use 10 leaf springs and pull leaves if the ride is too stiff or bouncy. https://www.quadratec.com/products/918201_02.htm
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2019
  3. Nov 11, 2018 at 3:22 PM
    #3
    Subway4X4

    Subway4X4 [OP] Shameless Copy Cat

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Member:
    #169260
    Messages:
    11,647
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lloyd
    NY/NJ
    Vehicle:
    05 Speedway Blue DCSB OR TRD
    Everything TW members recommend
    Reserved #2

    Bedsides, front panel and Tailgate.

    The top edges are rolled around solid metal rods (or tubing, not sure yet.) They are continuously formed from the side panel sheet metal.

    The rolled bedside lips are sound. The front and tailgate rolled lips are torn in a few places and I MIGHT be able to weld back, grind and make it look OEM. If not, I’m thinking of welding steel tube to the upper edges of fresh/new 1/8” steel tailgate and front panel to mimic the rolled lips. Still pondering this.
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2018
  4. Nov 11, 2018 at 3:22 PM
    #4
    Subway4X4

    Subway4X4 [OP] Shameless Copy Cat

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Member:
    #169260
    Messages:
    11,647
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lloyd
    NY/NJ
    Vehicle:
    05 Speedway Blue DCSB OR TRD
    Everything TW members recommend
    Reserved #3

    Hitch, Coupler and Wiring.

    I believe the hitch coupler is not original. It’s for a 1-7/8” ball. I’ll need to research this.

    Edit 2/28/19: I replaced hitch coupler with a class IV rated 6500 lbs, for two inch ball. Two 1/2” x 3.5” Grade 5 bolts are fastened vertically into tongue. And one massive 5/8” x 4.5” Grade 5 horizontal through bolt.

    I’m gonna be top loading my not-yet-acquired 12.5 foot fishing kayak, and want to keep the center of gravity of the kayak forward of the trailer axle. So I think I want to extend the trailer tongue length. It’s currently 32” from the leading edge of the trailer box. I’d like to add about a foot more of trailer tongue length. Edit: Just calculated that I need to add 6 more feet of tongue length. But I’m not quite sure how this would affect the handling/tracking of the trailer. Edit: Just calculated that I need to add 6 more feet of tongue length.


    The taillights are classic, circa 90’s off-the-shelf auto parts store trailer lights wired via wire nuts to a flat four connector. The entire light set and wiring harness will be replaced. I need to research a LED trailer light set that would still match the era of the trailer.


    For future reference.

    Axle, wheels and tires:
    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/nj-b-s-thread.274779/page-3563#post-19313265


    U-bolts:

     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2019
  5. Nov 11, 2018 at 3:23 PM
    #5
    Subway4X4

    Subway4X4 [OP] Shameless Copy Cat

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Member:
    #169260
    Messages:
    11,647
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lloyd
    NY/NJ
    Vehicle:
    05 Speedway Blue DCSB OR TRD
    Everything TW members recommend
    Reserved #4

    For adaptations to trailer my fishing kayak.

    14EA6972-6DF3-4507-829B-91D35A53E046.jpg

    A4DFF24B-9665-40B6-8A54-A2CFD59A01E9.jpg

    12/9/18
    Need to extend the tongue. Somehow add 6 feet to the end of this. To clear the nose of my kayak and give me turning room clearance from my rear swingout.


    Ideas:

    Folding tongue
    Folding tongue instructions
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2018
  6. Nov 11, 2018 at 3:25 PM
    #6
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2013
    Member:
    #112077
    Messages:
    18,347
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kirk
    Central Michigan
    Vehicle:
    04 trd x-cab 4 x 4 3.4l
    Reserected from the dead.
    Looking forward to whatever direction you take this trailer. Of course, pictures are required.
     
    Subway4X4[OP] likes this.
  7. Nov 19, 2018 at 10:28 AM
    #7
    Subway4X4

    Subway4X4 [OP] Shameless Copy Cat

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Member:
    #169260
    Messages:
    11,647
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lloyd
    NY/NJ
    Vehicle:
    05 Speedway Blue DCSB OR TRD
    Everything TW members recommend
    11/11/18

    Cut out the rotted floor.

    Will weld in 36” x 72” 14 gauge sheet metal.

    749758A1-8407-44BF-874E-43BAB87734B6.jpg
     
    koditten likes this.
  8. Nov 22, 2018 at 7:12 AM
    #8
    Grand dude

    Grand dude Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2016
    Member:
    #192126
    Messages:
    6,246
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dave
    lehigh valley, PA.
    Vehicle:
    2016 trd or dcsb & 2002 trdor exclb
    cool stickers and a baseball card With clothes pin, sounds awesome ! wicked
  9. Jan 5, 2019 at 4:32 PM
    #9
    Subway4X4

    Subway4X4 [OP] Shameless Copy Cat

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Member:
    #169260
    Messages:
    11,647
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lloyd
    NY/NJ
    Vehicle:
    05 Speedway Blue DCSB OR TRD
    Everything TW members recommend
    Finally getting somewhere.

    Trailer tongue is mocked up.15277F39-E5E5-42A8-9301-C3322F28BFE9.jpg

    8.5 feet of tongue length. Should clear my kayak without using a hitch extension in my truck receiver.

    New front and and rear 2 x 3 cross braces.
     
    Nimble9 and Skierrichy like this.
  10. Jan 19, 2019 at 1:39 PM
    #10
    Subway4X4

    Subway4X4 [OP] Shameless Copy Cat

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Member:
    #169260
    Messages:
    11,647
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lloyd
    NY/NJ
    Vehicle:
    05 Speedway Blue DCSB OR TRD
    Everything TW members recommend
    Extended tongue for kayak capacity
    7F4F0E31-2B87-4167-95A4-0B3D6BD94AC0.jpg
     
    Skierrichy and koditten like this.
  11. Jan 19, 2019 at 1:43 PM
    #11
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2013
    Member:
    #112077
    Messages:
    18,347
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kirk
    Central Michigan
    Vehicle:
    04 trd x-cab 4 x 4 3.4l
    Reserected from the dead.
    Are you putting cross bolts on the tongue coupler.? The bolts that you have in there now are not the strongest way to attach the coupler.
     
  12. Jan 19, 2019 at 1:51 PM
    #12
    Subway4X4

    Subway4X4 [OP] Shameless Copy Cat

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Member:
    #169260
    Messages:
    11,647
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lloyd
    NY/NJ
    Vehicle:
    05 Speedway Blue DCSB OR TRD
    Everything TW members recommend
    Axle and fender removal.

    Old stuff
    41015E96-9A95-4A9E-979E-41A33BC6B382.jpg


    2 u-bolts, four different sized nuts
    B1CEFE0B-5B57-494B-969A-A9E5453659C3.jpg


    Need to weld these perches onto the new axle
    C5FCFE57-FA6C-4E3B-8CE1-FDD60F2007E0.jpg


    New U-bolt plate is made for standard 1.75” width springs. It appears that someone installed the wrong width springs in this trailer’s 70 year life.

    @Grand dude found me the elusive 1.75” x 35.5” CTC leaf springs at a military reproduction website. https://quartertonparts.com/product/mb-gpw-cj2a-cj3a-m38-a-612-8-leaf-front-spring-new/
    396A3E67-BE44-4F92-A1F1-427DC7EA96D9.jpg


    Axle bolted on and wheels installed. Everything is mocked up, nothing welded until I finalize my spring and fender purchases.
    AC3AB89A-DB9A-49FC-8541-6ED35A91F242.jpg 43FDF8B7-12C4-4E73-82C4-B342B8911A62.jpg
     
    Grand dude and Skierrichy like this.
  13. Jan 19, 2019 at 1:54 PM
    #13
    Subway4X4

    Subway4X4 [OP] Shameless Copy Cat

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Member:
    #169260
    Messages:
    11,647
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lloyd
    NY/NJ
    Vehicle:
    05 Speedway Blue DCSB OR TRD
    Everything TW members recommend
    Yeah. I haven’t finalized my tongue length. Once I do that, I’ll drill the holes for the cross bolts.
     
    Grand dude likes this.
  14. Jan 19, 2019 at 1:55 PM
    #14
    jowybyo

    jowybyo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2013
    Member:
    #116863
    Messages:
    6,095
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Joe
    Baltimore, MD
    Vehicle:
    '14 MGM DCSB Postrunner 4wd Conversion, Debadged
    Fishing kayak? That’s a god damn boat, Lloyd.
     
  15. Jan 19, 2019 at 1:56 PM
    #15
    Rexfordian13

    Rexfordian13 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2014
    Member:
    #143761
    Messages:
    1,492
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    J
    Albany/NY Capital District
    Vehicle:
    2015 TRD Sport DCSB MT
    Hey Lloyd...looks great! Your progress is faster than mine. This one has been in the family for at least 40 years. I’m in the process of resurrecting it!D0660AA7-3C14-4400-97BF-313FA7C5118D.jpg8E789103-27D3-4C02-9F44-6E376CDC7D68.jpg
     
  16. Jan 19, 2019 at 2:01 PM
    #16
    Subway4X4

    Subway4X4 [OP] Shameless Copy Cat

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Member:
    #169260
    Messages:
    11,647
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lloyd
    NY/NJ
    Vehicle:
    05 Speedway Blue DCSB OR TRD
    Everything TW members recommend
    Correction: Double-hulled Fishing Kayak. Lol
     
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2019
    jowybyo[QUOTED] likes this.
  17. Jan 19, 2019 at 2:29 PM
    #17
    Grand dude

    Grand dude Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2016
    Member:
    #192126
    Messages:
    6,246
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dave
    lehigh valley, PA.
    Vehicle:
    2016 trd or dcsb & 2002 trdor exclb
    cool stickers and a baseball card With clothes pin, sounds awesome ! wicked
    Lloyd I looked into how brake mounts were setup in reference to the spring perch, I saw a couple were parallel to the spring perch
     
  18. Jan 19, 2019 at 2:52 PM
    #18
    Subway4X4

    Subway4X4 [OP] Shameless Copy Cat

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Member:
    #169260
    Messages:
    11,647
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lloyd
    NY/NJ
    Vehicle:
    05 Speedway Blue DCSB OR TRD
    Everything TW members recommend
    Nice. Thanks for looking out bud!!!!
     
  19. Jan 19, 2019 at 3:25 PM
    #19
    jowybyo

    jowybyo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2013
    Member:
    #116863
    Messages:
    6,095
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Joe
    Baltimore, MD
    Vehicle:
    '14 MGM DCSB Postrunner 4wd Conversion, Debadged
    More like double hull commercial fishing vessel.
     
  20. Jan 19, 2019 at 4:01 PM
    #20
    Subway4X4

    Subway4X4 [OP] Shameless Copy Cat

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2015
    Member:
    #169260
    Messages:
    11,647
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Lloyd
    NY/NJ
    Vehicle:
    05 Speedway Blue DCSB OR TRD
    Everything TW members recommend
    Naw. That’s next month, when the motor gets installed.
     
To Top