CasualThursday's Bantam T3-C noob build

[casualthursday]

Hey everyone,

I picked up a 1948 Bantam T3-C at an auction in late July and wanted to share my progress so far. This may or may not qualify as a true expedition trailer, but I plan to haul it around the woods, to the river with my kayak, and on the beach. Close enough, I guess.

Please enjoy my posts as I update them, I'm learning a lot along the way.

Here's my "barn find" on the day of the auction:

I had the seller air up the tires and made the 40-ish mile trip to a friends house to let the trailer sit while I ordered proper tires/tubes. Big thanks to Robert Bills for the advice while ordering my tires.

New tires and tubes mounted!!

Then I broke down the bows/rack/canvas and sold them. My plans did not include these items.

Looking better already....

I learned a valuable lesson while handling these old trailer parts... BE CAREFUL. The lens was a total loss and had to make a quick trip to Auto Zone.

 

[casualthursday]

Pulled the fenders off. Took a lot of PB blaster and even a cutoff wheel to get em free.

Old and rotten floor panel before, during removal and after....

 

[Mark Harley]

Great progress. Not bad shape either.
Did you sell the racks and bows to a restorer?

 

[casualthursday]

Great progress. Not bad shape either.
Did you sell the racks and bows to a restorer?

Thanks very much... and yes, I did sell the rack (and canvas) to someone who is currently bringing it back to life.

 

[FAW3]

You found a nice one! Enjoy it, the T3-C is perfect behind a JK.

My OEM floor is pretty much shot and covered now by a wood panel. Be watching your progress with the floor replacement.

 

[casualthursday]

More updates!

Additional frame floor support being welded in:

Cleaning up and bedlining the frame, then cutting out more rotten parts and priming:

Stripped and bedlined the fenders. Also got new fender hardware and bedlined that:

 

[FloridaFJ80]

Great progress keep the pocs coming

 

[casualthursday]

Another update after the long weekend:

New floor is in!

Removed all of the old tail lamp hardware to make way for the new stuff:

Mocking up and drilling for the new tail lamps:

Let there be light!!!!

The tailgate was in very bad shape....and I had extra diamond plate.... and my brother-in-law was in a welding mood.

Old gate off and ready for surgery. Bye-bye old tailgate skin:

We ended up using the original side frame edges, but buying new angle iron for the bottom and top edges.

Mocking up the new tailgate frame:

Traced the new frame and subtracted a 1/2 inch to retain the original design:

Tacked the finished assembly on to the body:

Bedlined (for now) and finishing the hinges:

Obligatory Jeep picture:

 

[casualthursday]

Update!

Back from sandblasting.... paint is going on right now.

 

[Sersan]

Hi,

Nice job! Keep going

 

[casualthursday]

All painted and bedlined. Better pictures coming soon....

 

[LakeNorman_FJ40]

Great progress. Lid in your future?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[grnhornetcustoms]

What gauge diamond plate material did you use for the floor and tailgate?

 

[casualthursday]

- No lid plans right now.... gonna use it over the upcoming season and see what my needs are.

-I used 1/8" diamond plate.

A few updates: replaced the bearings with a full set of new parts from Ron Fitzpatrick.

Old and grungy stuff coming out. Was in pretty good shape for likely being the original equipment.

Stack of new parts.

Always need a beer when wrenching...

Putting everything back together.

All done and ready for a test pull.