Subway4X4's New OLD 1946 American Bantam Trailer Build

You can contact the site and let them know that your Bantam (by serial number) still exists, or maybe the previous owner did and you can update. Mine is also a T3-C but looks earlier...I have tubing supports by the tailgate where it looks like you have sheet metal. It’s also interesting to find the hole for the blackout switch for caravan driving, the place for an axle brake lever, the patched drain hole in the floor, etc. interesting story behind these trailers. I’m up in the air between a desert tan box and navy fenders or possibly the original red or green.

 

Actually, wrong link...stoopid tiny computer phone. Try this one.
http://bantamt3c.com/

I’m # 1723

 

Wow. Cool!

I can’t seem to find SN 1723

1715 is the closest one I could find.

Link?

 

Trying to figure out the suspension. Based on my research, the leaf spring suspension is supposed to be a carry over from surplus parts from 1945-ish Willys, GPW, MB, CJ-2A and CJ-3A post-WWII military vehicles.

Apparently, in its 70+ life, human ingenuity has morphed the suspension.

1945 spec is 10 leaf, 1.75 wide, 35.5” eye-to-eye. The current suspension is not to spec.

The top two spring packs came off the trailer: 4 leaf, 35.5” eye-to-eye, 2” wide which was ground to a 1.75” taper on both ends to fit in the spring mounts.

Both spring packs are different/unmatched packs, probably changed at different times. The front spring bolts were also slightly different from each other. The rear shackle bolts were all different, two had square nuts (which I believe is correct for the era) which could not be impacted off the bolt. Breaker bar was the tool of choice. Plus brute strength.

The bottom is the correctly spec’d leaf pack. Just ordered one to verify fit. I’ll order the second one soon.


The rear shackles are not correct for my 1946 model year. It is correct for the 1947 model around SN 13661. The correct shackle is the “U” shackle depicted on the bottom of the pic.

I’ll stay with the double plate shackle, because the shackle frame mount was already modified to fit the standard two plates and it looks sound.


Had to special order specific brass bushings for the front leaf eyes (3/4” OD x 9/16” ID x 1-3/4” L) and rubber bushings for the rear spring eye (7/8” OD x 7/16” x 1-3/4” inner length x 2-1/4” outer length.)

Also ordered super hard to find U-bolts: 2-3/8” radius x 7” length x 1/2” bolt diameter. They’re hard to find because my new axle with 6 lug Toyota hub is 2-3/8” diameter. That’s not the standard axle diameter for Jeep era vehicles of the time. I believe the Jeep standard is a minimum 2-1/2” diameter.


Still have more to do, but it’s getting there.

Thanks to @Grand dude for the link to the specialty web store. http://www.stengelbros.com/

 

Bushings and 7” long x 2-3/8” radius ubolts came in! I screwed up measuring the ID of the rear bushing. I ordered 7/16” inner diameter. I should’ve ordered 3/8” ID. Oh well. Found a nice grade 5 7/16” x 3” Flange bolt at Tractor Supply. Just drilled out the lower shackle hole to 7/16” and voila... back in business.

Pressing in the rear rubber bushings.




In goes the front bronze bushings



Ubolts are the perfect length.

 

@Grand dude

Quadratech had the springs.
https://www.quadratec.com/products/918201_02.htm

 

thanks ..wanted to add it to my trailer book marks for further references

 

For my reference:

 

Starting to take shape. Need to install the longer tongue and start the wiring.

 

Wiring has begun.

LED

$19 MICTUNING 20 LED Trailer Tail Lights Bar Waterproof, DC12V Turn Signal and Parking Reverse Brake Running Lamp for Car Truck Red Amber White (2 Pack)

tailights. Red Stop, Amber turn, White is reverse.


LED side

$11 Partsam 10pcs 3.8" Amber/Red 6LED Side Marker Indicators Clearance Light for Truck Trailer RV Camper Motorcycle Motorhome(5Amber +5Red)

markers: Amber and Red

Junction

$10 ABN Electrical Wire Connector Junction Box 1-Pack Trailer, Camper, RV Light 7 Gang/Pole Automotive Wiring Rewiring

box IP65


7 pin wire

$47 True Mods 16ft 7-Pin Trailer Plug Cord Wire Cable [7-Way Trailer Wiring Harness] [Brake & Light Control] [10-14AWG] 7 Prong Trailer Light Wiring Connector for RV

harness, 16 feet.


Extended tongue is ten feet.

Welded on the freebie tongue jack. Thanks @HolyHandGrenade !!!!

 

Plan for this weekend: finish the wiring.

This is why I hate electrical work

 

All wired up! 7 Pin Standard.
Junction box:


Side markers, rear tail, stop, turn and reverse lights.

 

I suck with electrical...what's the junction box for?

 

Holy crap! Thanks for putting it on paper

 

Looks sweet
Your beating me

 

Nice.

Looks just like a modern M1101 trailer.

 

These are the leafs I’m trying to make work, I still owe you axle dia. measurements...I can almost see them as the snow melts!

These are made in India as Jeep replacement parts...think I got the set for $100?

 

Finally welded on the floor pan of my trailer. I just had it laying on the bed. Life got in the way and stalled the project. Needed it welded to support the bed structurally.

Now does double duty hauling all my DIY crap and fishing kayak.

Going to town dump:



Going to kayak bass tournament

 

How’s your trailer project? I’m pretty much done.