New To Me Bantam

Fireball · Sep 19, 2021

Black paint applied before breakfast:

Painting done:

Much better:

My only issue now is the split links being to thick to work with the chain I have. I'll have to swing by the hardware store and get something that works better:

givemethewillys · Sep 19, 2021

Fireball said: ↑

The original tailgate chains are missing from the Bantam Due to the bed sides being bent and the tailgate mounted too low on new hinges the holes no longer line up:

Instead, it has clips in footman loops. It works, but they are a major pain to operate and you can't suspend the tailgate flat with the bed floor:

I wasn't a fan of the original chain setup anyway since the holes are aligned front to back and the hooks won't really hold the tailgate shut tight. I like the Jeep setup with the angled slots. I had extra chains so I ordered some Jeep chain mounts:

Nobody seems to make the tailgate side parts, so I found some angle iron scrap and trimmed it to size with a cut-off wheel in the angle grinder:

I don't have a mill so I had to improvise the slotted holes. I started by center punching some holes where the slot goes:

Then I drilled 3 holes. The outer holes are the final size but I drilled the middle hole undersized in case it wasn't in line with the end holes:

I used the die grinder to remove the remaining material:

Good enough!:

Surface cleaned up and degreased for welding:

Bed side cleaned up and bracket clamped in place and ready to weld:

Welded in place with my ugly but functional welds. I still intend to sit down and spend a week practicing welding someday:

Bracket on the tailgate welded in place:

Fresh coat of paint drying:

Tomorrow, I need to add some black paint, figure out the needed chain length, and attach the chains.
Click to expand...

What a great idea! I need to do something similar with my Spen's tailgate. I was going to use the jeep tailgate off if my '70 donor jeep, and build support brackets on the inside of the rear corners (sort if the opposite of the bantam), and then I think I'll copy your idea of using angle iron to make a jeep chain copy.

Fireball · Sep 20, 2021

Went to the hardware store and found some screw type links that work fine:

There was only one safety chain on it when I got it which isn't legal in Washington. I wanted the chains attached to the frame because if anything fails it will be part of the removable tongue. I replaced two of the casting bolts with eye-bolts and hooked the new chains there:

Now the trailer is officially done.

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