What did I get myself into?

[OverlandKyle]

Had been looking for awhile for a nice cheap trailer to build up and eventually carry a RTT... Came across a 1950 Bantam T3-C in central jersey so I went and looked at it.... Bought it for a decent price as it needed some work done to it.... Namely rust.... The floor is a goner but the frame is solid

I have ZERO experience with metal so I'll be learning as I go, this will not be an restoration but rather a project to make it into a functional trailer.... The smaller dents and whatnot will be left alone but the rust needs to be addressed

I will be headed to the metal supply place tomorrow to get a sheet of 14 gauge steel cut to 72x38 so I can find a welder to weld it in for me unless anyone is local and can help me out (08035)

The bottom 6 inches or so of the front wall is starting to lose the battle as well so I was thinking of cutting out that area and getting a 38x12 piece and getting it welded to the edge of the floor piece like an L on its side as I have to pay for a full 4x8 sheet anyhow and both pieces can be made from one sheet.... Or have one long piece of 38x96 and have the metal shop bend it on their brake to have an L that's 72 on the long side and 24 on the short side and slide the whole thing in and thus reduce the amount of welding and perhaps add strength?

Again I know jack about metal.....

Any advise will be greatly appreciated

Pics!

The entire floor is here

 

[RonapRhys]

I would suggest that if you can do the bend and not weld, you'll be happier (mostly due to lowered costs). Not that you won't end up welding the new pieces in, but it'll save you two sets of welds.

I've got an M416 that I'm building up now and I'm likely going to have a new tub built, but that's due to my plans. If I had access to a brake (especially a box and pan brake), I'd be much happier - but that ain't gonna happen.

 

[4RF RDS]

You can get complete OEM stamped floors for the batam and the M416. Google M416 trailer arts. There are a couple of decent suppliers out there for all the OEM (military) parts.

 

[OverlandKyle]

Update

Stopped by the metal supply store.... Fazzios in South Jersey.... Got about 120 dollars worth of steel... Had them bend up 1/8 for the floor and front wall as one unit to make it easier for me... Will run angle iron on the sides to help support it all

I've gotta finish grinding off all the old rust and paint to expose enough weldable steel

I have a unopened gallon of Herculiner from a old project that will be slapped on after all the welding is done this Thursday by the body shop guy that my father uses..

Should be plenty stout when all is said and done

 

[OverlandKyle]

Did some more work today

This stuff isn't easy to do when you've got a torn rotor cuff in your right shoulder.... Lifting is almost impossible.. Lots of pushing and dragging things in place

Found the data plate and while falling apart, I think I can make out the serial number to be 4445 which would make it an 1946 model but the registration that came with it from the PO indicated that it's a 1950 so I'm not too sure here

 

[njjeepthing]

Wow, that thing was rusty! Good Luck!

 

[HAFICON]

Well certainly a nice restore... What thickness steel you running for the deck?

 

[OverlandKyle]

Well certainly a nice restore... What thickness steel you running for the deck?

It's 11 ga.... 1/8 steel as I didn't want any deflection in between the cross members as the stock floor is prone to doing

 

[highlandercj-7]

Nice fix. Glad you decided to have it bent. That's more sturdy and way less welding.

 

[OverlandKyle]

Made some more progress today..

Just gotta grind down some of the welds and then scuff it up for the Herculiner

 

[Cdiggy]

Stopped by the metal supply store.... Fazzios in South Jersey.... Got about 120 dollars worth of steel... Had them bend up 1/8 for the floor and front wall as one unit to make it easier for

That place is great! If you are nearby they are definitely worth the stop. Inexpensive and they have everything.

 

[OverlandKyle]

did some more work on the trailer today.... started to lay down some of the herculiner coating which you can see drying slowly in the pictures and also added two steel plates on both sides up towards the front to mount accessories whenever I get them... getting as much as I can done before the next round of bad weather rolls in

 

[parcours]

I know the feeling...

I started the same way... In the end though, it's worth it.

 

[OverlandKyle]

Took advantage of the 72 degree weather here in Jersey to hurry and finish what I can do with the trailer.... As I have no money nor the knowledge of how to weld, I got a 4x6 piece of 3/4 plywood, went to joann fabric, found a roll of marine vinyl in their clearance bin, cut it to size and stapled the hell out of it on the edges and underdeath.... It should work.... I think..... As the bantams have stake pockets on the inside, it is secured to those

 

[OverlandKyle]

Some more progress today.... Bolted on pseudo bedsides using the stake pockets for my RTT support.. I was able to get a smoking deal off never used yakima sportsman 300 ladder racks for a great price so that's what I'll be using... It's finally coming along

This one came out blurry for some reason