Pics of the new trailer......

Here are a few pics I took on Sunday. I will get more detailed pics later this week. It was filled with snow, so I had to melt all that and found out the guy used it to store compost so it was full of 'goo' and I need to get it to a car wash and power wash it. Problem was it was like 5 degrees all weekend....

 

Nice Bantam. Wish I could find one of those, but I'll probably end up with an M416 since I seem to find a lot more of those. I like the Bantam, since they were a PA company. How's the floor? Did the Bantam come with a standard ball receiver or did it have the military lunette / pintle set up?

 

The floor is 95% solid (2 or 3 small areas w/holes) but it's sagged pretty bad. It has a Fulton 1 7/8 ball hitch from the factory. I lucked out on this one. It was in the background of a picture listing other Jeep items for sale. I emailed the owner and asked if he wanted to sell it. He say no. I emailed him again and attached a $$ amount, he said 'Yes'. I almost felt guilty. He obviously didn't know what he had.

It's really not as rusty as it looks. Why the PO painted it a 'rust' color I will never know.....

 

Your trailer appears to be almost 100% original and is an extremely rare find. With the exception of the tailgate hinges, coupler wheel and tires, everything is there. Your Arrow tail light would be almost impossible to find, and the original safety chains nearly as impossible. (Can't tell about the tailgate chains, because there isn't a photo.)

Your quandary is whether to truly restore it or modify it to suit your offroading style. If it were mine, I would restore it to 100% original (with original paint color) and then look for a YOM (year of manufacture) license plate to complete it.

I obtained my 1946 Bantam T3-C from my father in 1998, who purchased it from the original owner in 1965. The modifications I made were designed to be "bolt on" and did not require any drilling. I restored and kept all of the original parts not currently used (tailgate chains and safety chains, springs, Fulton coupler, etc.), so that I can return my trailer to 99% original if desired. (The only parts I cannot return to 100% original are the tail lights, which are 1950 Pontiac tail lights installed by the original owner. I kept these because they fit perfectly, look good, and were on the trailer when my father purchased it. Nostalgia I guess.)

I know you are thinking about making some modifications to make your trailer more trail worthy and to better match your jeep. There is nothing wrong with that, as jeepers have been building their Bantam trailers to match their Jeeps since the 1950's. My only caution would be that you now own a piece of history, including some very rare and valuable parts, and it would be a shame to do any modifications that could not be reversed in the future.

Congratulations.

 

A few people have mentioned that this is a very rare find. I know you don't know for sure, but how many are out there (estimate) in 100% original condition? Just curious.

 

There is no way to know how many 100% original Bantam T3-C trailers exist. However, based upon the photos I have seen on the Internet and in person, I have only been able to identify nine.

 

Sweet find!

:drool:

 

I'd address the tailgate issue, maybe paint it, and then run as is. Service the wheel bearings/hubs.
They are very capable and I've hauled mine over a lot of trails, even thru the rocks. You'll be surprised how well they do in stock form.
Although my trailer wheels/tires match those on my Jeep, it's all about personal taste. My wheels are 7" wide, and they do stick out beyond the trailer fenders; I have never rubbed a tire on the fender that I know of; and the springs are still the stock springs. I still have the original wheels/tires that came off it if I ever want to go back.
Nice find !

 

Is that an Arrow tailight?..


I thought this was it...


As that one is the same one I have on my T3-C

 

I'm gonna let an expert like Robert Bills answer that one. All I can figure is there were different versions. The tailight on mine has 'Arrow Reflex' molded into the center of it. It's definitly an Arrow light, but that all I know. Everyone that's seen the picture so far says it's original though....

 

I'm not saying it's not original, just nothing I have seen before. It could very well be a different light Bantam decided to use. Robert would definitely be the go to guy on this one.


W

 

I wonder if this is a difference between a military and civilian Bantam?

Robert, any ideas?

 

I am not an expert on Arrow tail lights. The "go to" guy on these is Bill Norris, who subscribes to the Yahoo Bantam Group. He has some photos of his original Arrow tail light posted there.

As for the difference between civilian and military Bantam tail lights - they are totally different. Go to the "focus on trailers" page on www.jeepdraw.com and look at the lights on the trailers pictured there.