My '45 Bantam Resto-Mod

[Robert Bills]

I used '50 Pontiac tail lights in mine. Fit the hole perfectly.

Unfortunately originals are hard to find because they are popular with hot rodders. Bob Drake Reproductions makes repros, although pricey. https://www.bobdrake.com/ItemForm.aspx?Item=HR-13405

 

[Lilbluerunner]

Those are a bit more money than I'm willing to pay. I've been known to back the trailer lights into things lol. I'd be pretty mad if I destroyed a pair of $125 tail lights!

 

[Willman]

Nice Build. Looks like your almost ready to sand blast and paint!


Mine kept hitting things out on the trail.....So i did this:

Before:

After:

Sold my trailer last summer.....Bummed i did it. I sure miss her.

 

[Lilbluerunner]

My plan for now is to fill in the holes from the original lights with steel and mount some surface mount oval LED tail lights. I would like to add a clear LED reverse light above that.

 

[M35A2]

Speedway has repop 50 Pontiac tail lights reasonably priced.

 

[Robert Bills]

Speedway has repop 50 Pontiac tail lights reasonably priced.

Speedway? Have a link?

 

[OverlandKyle]

Speedway? Have a link?

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Search?query=Pontiac+tail+lights

I've used them for other stuff... Pretty good

 

[Lilbluerunner]

Worked on the Bantam again today. I filled the holes that the original tail lights were in. I then mounted some oval surface mount LEDs on the back. After the tail light situation was under control I moved to the side steps. I made the steps 10" wide as measured from the frame. I will be widening the fenders to cover the larger tires so I should be pretty close. My intention was that if I was on a tight trail that the steps would "nerf" off a rock or something before tearing up the fender.

I was hoping to mount a fuel can on the step in front of the fender but I didn't like how it looked with a plastic fuel can that I had and a metal "Jerry" can that I bought off of Amazon was also to tall. I have decided to build a basket/platform to hold 4 red plastic Blitz style jugs in front of the tub on the tongue.

 

[OverlandKyle]

Your tires look pretty close to the fender.... Will it rub when fully loaded?

 

[Lilbluerunner]

I haven't loaded it down yet but I think it may. I'm going to widen the fenders to cover the tires better. I'll add some longer shackles then to give it a small lift. A SOA lift is too tall.

 

[jscusmcvet]

Nice work. Did I miss it or have you done the floor? If so what did you use?

 

[Lilbluerunner]

The previous owner had laid a sheet of 11ga over the original floor to cover the rust holes. When I pulled up the floor last weekend to clean up the old floor I just reinstalled the 11ga since it was already the right size and I already had it. Sheet steel isn't cheap and anything I can reuse I will to stretch my trailer funds. I stitch welded it around the edges of the tub but I need to crawl under it and weld it to the crossmembers in a couple of places so it doesn't rattle.

 

[Lilbluerunner]

Worked on the trailer a bit today. Got the steps/nerf bars done on the other side. I must say they came out much nicer. I might have to redo the pass. side.

I was looking at the fenders on this and they are both tweaked a bit. I was going to section them in the middle to widen them for full tire coverage but I may just switch to a Jeep style trailer fender. I took some measurements off the originals and the local trailer supply doesn't list any like them. Close but not quite the same size. I was thinking a Jeep style fender would be easier to fit than dealing with a different radius than the original round. Something like these http://www.crofttrailer.com/jeep-type-flat-top-fender/#page=page-1.

 

[Lilbluerunner]

Worked on the trailer a bit today. I redid the passenger side front step and it looks much better.

I didn't like the tongue that was on this from the start. The PO welded in a piece of 2*3 rectangle tubing and welded a bulldog style couple onto that. It was a bit short especially since I wanted to add Jerry cans and a toolbox to the tongue eventually. I had to cut the original tongue angle pieces a little farther back than I wanted but there really wasn't an easy way to do it. He had welded so much steel plate to across under and around the original channel that I couldn't cut it out and save it. I tried cutting the welds with a cutoff wheel on an angle grinder but it was too far gone.

Out comes the blue tipped wrench and off goes the old tongue! :wings:

 

[Lilbluerunner]

Once I had the old tongue cut off and out of the way it was time to clean up the frame with a grinder. I'm sure everyone knows how fun it is to sit under their trailer and grind down old weld and rust so I skipped the pics.

I had ordered a Curt 48" hitch extension from Amazon and added another 12" of 2.5" square .25" wall tubing in front of it to give me 40" from the front of the tub to the tip of the tongue. I ran the tube back under the tub and welded it to the first cross member. The original A frame were way wide since I had to cut them off behind all the scab plates the PO owner had welded on. I just used a framing square, soapstone, torch, and angle grinder and made some gussets to tie it all back together. I used 1/4" plate for the gussets so it will be plenty strong. I added some plates under the top gussets to tie the C-channel to the main tub but I didn't get any pics of those.

I have started on my homemade Max Coupler copy but haven't finished it yet. I work in a machine shop so the last thing I want to do after 10+ hours is more machining!