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Is this a WW2 Bantam?

Discussion in 'Jeep Trailer Tech' started by 74Cj5Guy, Feb 16, 2011.

  1. Feb 16, 2011
    74Cj5Guy

    74Cj5Guy Member

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    I searched feverishly for a Bantam and I think I found one. However Im by no means an expert. Its quite a drive from me (600 miles) and I wont buy it unless im sure its a Bantam or at least a WW2 trailer.

    It does not have a title or a data plate. The owner said he bought it at age 16, he is now 55 and bought it surplus at a government auction. The hitch is not stock and he said he made the tail gate for it many years ago.

    So what do you guys think? Also he wants $800 for it, is that a reasonable price? I think between $400-$600 is a better price considering the restoration work I might have to do and the $250 I will spend in fuel to retrieve it lol

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    So is this the real deal?
     
  2. Feb 16, 2011
    windyhill

    windyhill Sponsor

    PA
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    Yes that sure looks like a M100 bantam trailer. Hacked out rear panel, hitch all buggerd up. $400 trailer would be a better deal.
     
  3. Feb 16, 2011
    74Cj5Guy

    74Cj5Guy Member

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    How hard will it be to put the correct hitch on it? I know the tail gate can be repaired.
     
  4. Feb 17, 2011
    49T&C

    49T&C Member

    Archer, FL
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    Yup - its a m-100. Handbrake; corner handles, 4 tie-downs per side & no stake pockets inside. Check to see if it still has the brakes on the inside of the wheels & drain holes/plugs on floor. Someone just cut out the rear panel (should be solid rear) to add a tailgate.

    49T&C
     
  5. Feb 17, 2011
    74Cj5Guy

    74Cj5Guy Member

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    So I just called the people selling the trailer and am now beging the negotiation process at noon lol
     
  6. Feb 17, 2011
    74Cj5Guy

    74Cj5Guy Member

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    Got the guy to Sell it to me for $650, I think its a bit high but I have yet to run across another in this region so Im gonna go for it.

    Only problem is I need to sell those wheels now or I cant buy the trailer.
     
  7. Feb 17, 2011
    74Cj5Guy

    74Cj5Guy Member

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    How hard is this to convert to a WW2 T3?
     
  8. Feb 17, 2011
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    Why ? It's already a WW II trailer and you'll likely never meet anyone in person who would know the difference anyway.
     
  9. Feb 17, 2011
    74Cj5Guy

    74Cj5Guy Member

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    Actually Im a WW2 reenactor and I plan on bringing this to WW2 reenactments for display so it will constantly be surrounded by lots of people who know the difference :)

    Also the trailer is a korean war era trailer, the M100 was made after WW2 and simply had a few things added to it that didnt exist on the WW2 T3s or MBTs
     
  10. Feb 18, 2011
    74Cj5Guy

    74Cj5Guy Member

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    Simply out of curiosity what is so different between the two trailers? and I dont mean this in a sarcastic way at all, it is true curiosity.

    I found photos and compared the two types of trailers. So far these are the things I have found to be different from the WW2 T3 to the M100. A mounting for a tool box on the front, corner handles, a different brake lever and the electrical system was a 24 volt system.

    What am I missing? These all seem to be very easy things to remove or change. The brake handle probably being that hard thing to find?
     
  11. Feb 18, 2011
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    Not sure what wheels were on later trailers but the WWII unit should have combat wheels on it. $$$$
     
  12. Feb 18, 2011
    74Cj5Guy

    74Cj5Guy Member

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    I have not had any luck finding a WW2 Bantam for sale anywhere in a price range I can come close to affording or one that is simply close to me. Im a college student so at this point its my best bet for getting any type of Bantam.

    I have a buddy who will be powder coating the trailer for me for vitually free, so the paint job is taken care of. As for all the little military bits I guess we will see what happens cost wise lolz. I know for now though the existing trailer hitch will be the last thing to be taken care of until I locate a good deal on a military style one. Plus I can town it behind my Suburban for reenactments then until both my jeep and trailer have military hitches.

    I figure I will have it 75% done by the end of the summer, and probably finish it up the next year, that gives me about two years to get all the parts together. Until then I will simply end up fixing the tail gate, getting it all painted and running it as Korean War I guess. At reenactments I can put some canvas over the (incorrect spots) and its WW2 passable till its done.
     
  13. Feb 21, 2011
    74Cj5Guy

    74Cj5Guy Member

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    Here are the pics of my trailer as I took her home yesterday. It was an 800 mile drive round trip and i had an enexpected river crossing in order to get to the trailer lol.

    Anyway NO RUST!!!! none none none, the only rust to be had is light surface rust on the bed, all items that came with trailer still intact and even the hand brake still works!!!!!

    Also I turned the Suburbans odemeter over the 400,000 miles mark on this trip. We bought it in 1994 new and have put on just over 400,000 miles on it now!

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    Last edited: Feb 21, 2011
  14. Feb 21, 2011
    54cj3b

    54cj3b Member

    evergreen colorado
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    Looking at that puddle

    I just got to ask

    Does it float lol

    looks like a good find to me
     
  15. Feb 21, 2011
    windyhill

    windyhill Sponsor

    PA
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    Congratulations! No rust ,cool!
     
  16. Feb 22, 2011
    74Cj5Guy

    74Cj5Guy Member

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    What is the typical selling price of a restored M100 trailer. I have seen numbers on some military restoration web sites between $1,200-$2,000?
     
  17. Mar 1, 2011
    74Cj5Guy

    74Cj5Guy Member

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    So I am currently about to have the trailer sandblasted and painted but before I do that I need to find a new set of tires for it. Honestly I cant belive the tires it has on it made the 358 mile trip from Kentucky to Chicago. These things are old tube tires, I bet they are 60s vintage and are dry rotted to heck.

    So what tires would these have come with from the military? Since Im restoring it to military configuration.
     
  18. Mar 1, 2011
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    York, PA
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    NDT's I reckon. Not sure what size.
     
  19. Mar 2, 2011
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    gutsy call towing it that far on old tires and unknown condition wheel bearings
     
  20. Mar 12, 2011
    74Cj5Guy

    74Cj5Guy Member

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    Honestly the thought had not occured to me to ask on the condition of the tires. I did however have the PO check the bearings and grease them up if need be before I went to pick it up. I stopped every 50 miles on the trip to check if the hubs were warm and they stayed very cool.

    Anyway Monday night is zero hour for the rebuild. As of right now I plan to remove the grab handles seeing as only the front two remain and Im not sure how or where to source new ones to weld onto the back where they got removed.

    Instead of buying a reproduction rear panel Im simply cutting and welding a new one in and stamping in by hand the two virticle ribs (is that what they are called?) onto the panel. Also Im welding in some tubing onto the top of the new panel to continue the rolled edge around the trailer.

    The hitch will remain the same for now as I need to buy and instal a pintle onto my jeep before I go modifying the trailers hitch.

    In all of this though I neglected to look for a suitable WW2 olive drab paint to actually paint the trailer in. Anyone have any suggestions, preferably ones that involve buying from Farm and Fleet, Menards, Lowes or Home Depot.
     
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