Sloppy Tuna Tundra

[Mad4Rnr]

This rig is inspired by the Tuna Tunnel and Sloppy Seconds, it is not a true truggy but it a flat bead instead. First I fab'd some boats-sides and some simple tube work:



You can kind of see the frame material I had laying around that I used for a rear cross member and to square off the rear of the chassis



Front bumper:





Boat sides complete with body mounts:



To get the body as far back as possible I hacked two Hand Bros CMS kits, one Honcho and one SCX10 I had laying around.



I also made all new links, in Honcho lengths, from 1/4" 6061 aluminum and REVO rod ends:



I painted all the chassis parts tonight but only have one teaser pic of the MadDogRC - D-Ring Tab brazed to the rear section:



Hear is all the RC guts I got collected for it; AX10 axles with beef tubes and over/HD gears, MIP d-shafts, FXR with HH 35t pro motor, Axial trans with Robinson gears, new Hitec Ti gear servo, Hitec digital servo with MDRC winch spool...()...




...this rig hopefully will be ready for champs!

[justinart24]

Nice work, super clean build as always.

[Mad4Rnr]

Thanks Justin

I ran this at NWSC so this is a post-dated post...

The servo winch got mounted on a new custom plate I made that's attached to the chassis in two places and the boat side in one place. It's super stout and low profile enough to clear the bottom of the interior.



A truck with boat sides makes installing electronics super easy;



Lastly I installed a MadDogRC - Scale Hawse Fairlead Kit and a MadDogRC - Large Scale Winch Hook. Here we are all painted and assembled:





I used black styrene for the cab back and bed



Some scale accessories and off it went to the Pacific Northwest;

[Desert Rc]

Clean as fawk!

[simp]

Really nice clean work! and the truck looks fantastic.

[z71baja]

Seems like this is a very popular tundra truggy, "sloppy" as its being called. I'm not gifted with any brazing skills like most of ya'll, so I'm on standby for one of this sports best chassis fabricator starts on my rig.


Cool look'n rig. Love the color you chose on the cab

[STANG KILLA SS]

damn thats nice

[Debonair]

Very clean. I think I like this flat bed style better.

[R2j]

Awesome! Love it! I keep saying I need to build another one for myself......shouldn't have sold the last one I guess.

[Waiting Dragon]

I caught the Tuna in action at NWSC!

[wally101]

Originally Posted by R2j

Awesome! Love it! I keep saying I need to build another one for myself......shouldn't have sold the last one I guess.

Ah...but I'm so glad you did! The truck wheels awesome!


Nice build with your Tundy. I dig it!

Scott

[wally101]

I may need to do an interior one of these days. Did you use a dinky bench seat? Looks good

[Mad4Rnr]

Originally Posted by wally101

I may need to do an interior one of these days. Did you use a dinky bench seat? Looks good

Yup, thx!

[doc.hamilton]

Why can you tune a piano but you can't tuna fish? That always cracks me up... but I digress.

This is one sweet Tundra build... another outstanding display of mad fabrication skills!

Thanks for sharing

Cheers,
Todd

[XSRCdesign]

LOVE it!

[briang]

this looks great!! good job!

[Mad4Rnr]

Thanks guys, here are some pics from NWSC:

[rckjeep]

Truck looks great Erik! Have you had any cutting of the power when landing hard on the boat sides? I've had issues with it in my F350. Love the winch mount too

[finishline]

Very clean and simple design! How does it perform, is there anything you would do different if you built it again?

[Mad4Rnr]

Originally Posted by rckjeep

Truck looks great Erik! Have you had any cutting of the power when landing hard on the boat sides? I've had issues with it in my F350. Love the winch mount too

Thanks Dave! No power gremlins in this rig. The winch mount may, or may not be, a prototype...

Originally Posted by finishline

Very clean and simple design! How does it perform, is there anything you would do different if you built it again?

Best performing scaler I've ever built, period. Because of the boat sides, battery placement and lack of tubing the CG is low and neutrally balanced front-to-rear. It is super predictable and stays shiny side up. Also since the body is so far back the approach angle is perfect and long wheel base makes is climb like a beast. Except for a more convient body mount there is not much I'd change actually!