basic trail rig

[maley607]

Alright guys, so after learking on here bout as long as I've been in the hobby, and doing a few builds without posting, a buddy has convinced me to finally do a build thread. So rather than post up past picks, I figured I'd just throw out whats coming together as of late.....

This trail finder has been sitting around as a roller since August waiting for parts to pile. I was stoked to see the kit come out and jumped on it fast. Sold the body planning a 4-runner and assembled the chassis. As time went on I lost inspiration for the build with it continuing to fall on the back burner. Then I looked through a previous builds pics. I finished it just in time for Moab last year, happen to be the "test run""thumbsup". Anyway, I stumbled across this pic of a yota from Potato Salad and it hit me like a brick to the face :shock:...

Inspiration was on! We'll skip the unboxing and chassis assembly. Other than being a stickler for realism and mounting accordingly rather than instruction its factory. Steering servo was placed on the driver's side where the steering column is. Transfercase was installed so propshaft was run down the proper side of the trans. Wish the pumpkin had been on the driver's side, but I wasn't about to have the suspension mount under. I added a set of shooter shackles to the rear during her time sitting around. And I sold the two speed and installed a built scx10 trans. Figured I'd already be using third channel for a winch, and got too many electronics to buy more...well.

 

[maley607]

Parts piled up so it was time to get started "thumbsup".

I assembled the cab with a inner fender/radiator support kit. Mounted up some invador tires, turned out to look perfect...until the pits are released ;-) And decided it was gonna run that weekend. Wired it up with HH motor and esc, Savox steering, and Axial transmitter/reciever (for now).

and it was ready for a shake down :ror:

 

[BoardN88]

YOO MOE!!! I Must say this is your best build to date!"thumbsup" Alot of fun building that apposed to all our normal Axials... Oh that wraith looks familiar in those pics from scaling last weekend, what none from today? brotha!

 

[maley607]

I didn't expect much for leaf springs, and knew it wouldn't have kept up with my previous rigs. But frankly I was amazed at the trailfinders capability. And the Invader's were awsome. I was puckering pretty good at times worried for damage. Then she rolled and we were good lol.

But there was a lot to do before the next weekend and when I got home I got to it. The interior went in and electronics got reorganized a bit. Was also itching to try the overdriven front I'd seen discussed on here. So the input got flipped back around in the tcase, and I spun the crossmember instead.

I got to the shop the following morning and my boss had my bed ready for me hot off the band saw. So the work load was on, and the week looked full.

But when it came down to it I couldn't cut out the doors. I wasn't ready for tube work, and was worried about the cab strength in the mean time. But I just wasn't happy with how the build was looking. Until an idea came up..

It was a cram, but got it set up for the weekend. After another test run today the tranny mount isn't working out, too weak. Thinking of doing a new derlin crossmember but we'll see what comes out. And I am being proven to be too skeptical of its abilities, and looking forward to see how far this rig will go as I"m getting less timid with it. Needless to say it's a 1.9 Wraith lol.

 

[catpwred]

little rig looks gd hows the axial tranny workin out? love the half doors

 

[maley607]

YOO MOE!!! I Must say this is your best build to date!"thumbsup" Alot of fun building that apposed to all our normal Axials... Oh that wraith looks familiar in those pics from scaling last weekend, what none from today? brotha!

Yeah it was a nice change of pace from Axial's. And its almost ready for tube, the real fun of the build "thumbsup"

 

[maley607]

little rig looks gd hows the axial tranny workin out? love the half doors

Thanks. The scx trans is doing good. Like I said earlier the mount needs to be redesigned, just layered sheet steel right now. But the gearing seems to be working out great! Nice and low.

 

[easleycrawler]

I think this is my favorite tf2 yet, great job on it. If you decide you need to part ways with it, just let me know."thumbsup" Why don't the bed line up with the cab correctly?

 

[maley607]

I think this is my favorite tf2 yet, great job on it. If you decide you need to part ways with it, just let me know."thumbsup" Why don't the bed line up with the cab correctly?

Thanks man! The body misalignment though, not sure. Seen other people complain of it on here too. The passenger front corner of the bed was way low making the bed out of square. While I was bobbing the bed I heated it and tweeked it back for the most part, but lost a bit while finishing the bob. Thinking of getting a Tamyia bed to try, but I'll prolly wait a while.

 

[maley607]

Alright guys, a little update. WHO DOWN WITH RPP?... YOU KNOW ME!!!;-) The last of my RPP came in. A back-ordered 3-link, so its time to start rocking the King 90's. As expected both kits beautifully engineered. But ran into issue with panhard install. Had to drill the mount holes for the panhard bracket, as I have my steering mounther on the drivers side. And I already was thinking on rebuilding the axle truss for a more scale appearance "thumbsup". The front end was too high for my liking with the 90's, the pre-runner appearance wasn't fitting to the build. So I threw on some 110 silver RC4WD shocks from a previous build to even the ride height out. Front is still a little high. Thinking about changing my motor mount to be lower, stronger, and incorporated to shock hoops. I didn't get quite as much of an improvement on flex as hoped, but I'm happy with it. "thumbsup"









before



after





thanks for looking guys!

 

[maley607]

Re: basic trail rig.....dubbed "Tater Salad"

Got out for a shake down on the three link this afternoon. Seems like a great improvement on drivability. Doesn't quite flex the height of the Invadors, but more than enough. And although I wish I could see more by eye, the xvd's were a great addition to the overdriven front for steering. "thumbsup"

Gonna be slow going, but I think its time to drag her into the shop to start playing with tube :mrgreen:

 

[BoardN88]

Time for some tube work brother!

 

[maley607]

Alright guys been slacking but got a bit of an update. Had the project on hold a bit ordering and reordering different benders with my tool accounts. But ultimately went back to using the home made bender I was looking to better. Still hoping to find a way to do tighter bends without kinking the tube. Anyway work ended up at a brick wall for most of today, so I took on my own project to pass the time :ror:..... Sorry, shop pics suck.

And the unsecured, upper cage complete "thumbsup"

Also hit up Rock Garden for a another run a bit ago. Got a couple hours on the rock with the guys before stripping the spur gear, then blowing the slipper clutch. Thinking it's time for a Robinson unit but it was a great time.

Quickly running out my stash of materials, but I think I'll be able to stretch it. We'll see when I can get back to fabricating. Thanks for looking guys.

 

[maley607]

Well another day slow at work buys you guys another up date "thumbsup". Tube plans on this build have back and forth all too many times. But one idea has been sticking in the back of my mind throughout. So at a bit of a whim this morning I got after it, and am quite happy with the results. Yet to drill and tap a couple holes in the mount plate. And still need to fill a thin gap in the bed. But other than that from the bed back should be good. Anyway, onto the pics.

first something had to go...

and be replaced...

then things fell together, and this is what came out...

Rocker gaurds/lower exo up next. Unfortunately I all but ran out of tubing today. Just have to see when I can pick up more...prolly will tomorrow due to boredom, but my paycheck hopes not. Let me know what ya think guys. Until next time....

 

[Joe$]

I love it. Any tubing tips for a newb? Your tube work looks so nice!

 

[crawler nut]

This is 1 of the coolest TF2's I've seen.

 

[tozrovr]

Just awesome man. Love the progression

 

[maley607]

I love it. Any tubing tips for a newb? Your tube work looks so nice!

Thanks man. Noob tubing tips, sure a few of what I found most helpful learning. (1) Fitment would be the most crucial. There should be way more time spent checking and rechecking fitment of bends, cuts and notches than everything else. If two tubes in plan are the same, do them at the same time. Welds and end result will be easier and come out better because of it. (2) A sharpie is is a great tool for fitment, finding high/low spots. Example-next time you do a notch, cut your angle, cut a light center line, then color tube edge with a sharpie before filing with a rat tail (don't go higher on file than tube is round). Recolor as needed and continue filing until a single pass scars ink off all of edge evenly. (3) If going for matching bends do them at the same time. Example starting my sliders today; one mount tube was bent four times to get right angle, then duplicated three more times before shortening and notching to proper length. Hope it helps, and good luck!

This is 1 of the coolest TF2's I've seen.

Thanks man. :mrgreen:

Just awesome man. Love the progression

Thanks man. Stages are coming together "thumbsup"

 

[BoardN88]

Moe, your sickest build to date bro! Can't wait to see it all done.

 

[Joe$]

That's a huge help. A couple things I wouldn't have thought of. Thanks
Do you spot weld then braze or just braze? All I have right now is a brazing kit.