Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Shortening the rear links will make it more scalish looking. But I’d personally leave it be for the departure angle.

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

I’m leaning toward leaving it alone just for budget concerns.

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

So I talked to Mom yesterday afternoon and I received a less than enthusiastic response to this?

She said just wasn’t comfortable accepting such an “expensive” gift from a neighbor. I tried to explain to her that it was a very budget oriented build and reminded her of how much I had quoted her when she asked about the cost.

Just she just wasn’t seeing this the same as I was.

She said she didn’t have a problem with me allowing *Johnny to use Lo-Do, but she wasn’t comfortable accepting it as a gift, she said she couldn’t afford or have the knowledge or ability to replace anything that might break, and didn’t want Johnny working on it as he might break it.

I was really kind of bummed to be honest. I kinda felt deflated last night and skipped working on Lo-Do last night. 😏

After talking to my wife and reflecting on the situation, I guess I can see her point.

I’m still a little deflated, but he will still get to use the truck. I can work on it if (more likely when) something breaks and this morning I remembered that he would have to charge the batteries.

That completely slipped my mind.

I wouldn’t allow my boy to charge his Lipos without me supervising, and I wouldn’t want him doing it either.

Plus I would have to purchase another Lipo Charger which I didn’t take into consideration.

Mom gave me lemons, I’m going to make lemonade.

The only real difference is that it will be “my” rig, and not his.

But I built it for him, so in my mind, it’s still his!🙂

More to come...




*Not his real name.

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

I have a old nimh fast charger you can have that would be a lot safer than lipo batteries! If it wase I would get rig all sorted wrap it up like Xmas present an just drop it on there door step Xmas day!!

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Very generous offer and I appreciate your and everyone else’s generosity.

I think I’m just going to follow Mom’s lead at this point. I don’t want to rock the boat and make her mad as me.

That would just make things worse.

As it is, he’ll have a rig to drive. In the end that’s all that I really wanted to do with this build.

Maybe over time, Mom will come around? 🙂

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Fair enough.

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Anyways, I got back out in the shop this afternoon and got a little more work done on Lo-Do.

Got the cage mostly attached to the body. Just need to grab some fuel tubing to fill the gap at the top between the cab and the cage.

https://i.ibb.co/3v7HGRP/EAE82318-22...3036882516.jpg

Got the Canyon Trail tires it will run reinstalled.

Got the spare to fit inside the cage.

https://i.ibb.co/9HthwM8/DE95120-C-C...-BE31536-D.jpg

And lopped off about 1 1/4 inches off the rear of the frame.

https://i.ibb.co/Kx65prN/2-B7-FEFE8-...9-BEF58-DB.jpg

Just need to pick up some aluminum angle and neodymium magnets to create a front body mount, pick up the fuel tubing to finish attaching the cage to the cab, and go some minor tweaking to the steering.

Getting pretty close to finished. 👍🏼

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Atleast he can still drive it. I can kinda see her point. All in all, this is a very genrous thing youve done for him dez. People like u n a majority of us on here would do somethin like that for someone less fortunate (im sure thats spelled wrong lol).
Has he seen it yet? Bet he flips his lid wen he sees it

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Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Not yet!

I haven’t seen him much the last month.

School started about 3-4 weeks ago, I was traveling a bunch the first part of the month as my wife was in the hospital for some testing, and Ive been keeping the garage door closed as I didn’t want him to just ride up into the garage and spoil the surprise. :twisted:

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

I vote this thread of the year.
It's all in here, the action, drama and suspense. Perfect !!!
Keep up the good faith bud, you're a true inspiration on many levels.

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Looks good with the wheelbase left but frame rails chopped.

Bummer about the gift side of things but at least he can still drive it. Which was the main goal. Keep up the great work.

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Man, the rig came out looking EXCELLENT - especially for a super-budget build!

As far as how the mom reacted, maybe she just isn't "hip" to the way the concept of paying it forward is extra-popular in crawling circles.

Or - she's nervous about stranger-danger, which (sadly) in today's world has ramped up to ridiculous levels... :cry:

Major props to you for the whole thing, and in the end you scored by feeling good during the build (because you had such generous intentions), contributed to the forum by letting us see how these sweet inexpensive parts all worked together, and ending up with what looks like a perfectly capable rig! "thumbsup"

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

🤣

I’ve seen it done here on RCC before.

Maybe it’s just us Crawlers?

It’s growing on me, I know it will perform pretty well with nothing out back to catch on.

It is what it is. I’ll respect Mom’s wishes.

Thanks.

Could be, she just really didn’t like the idea of it as a gift. And the stranger-danger thing is something that I completely missed!😲 That’s something I should have taken into consideration.

Enjoyed seeing what I could come up with and seeing the generosity of numerous RCC peeps offering to help. That’s just awesome!👍🏼

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Dez,
Fantastic idea and execution! As for the mother's concerns, in the long run, I think it will work out fine. He can still use it, and since you were going to be helping him fix it when it broke anyway, nothing really changed except maybe for where the rig will reside when not in use. Eventually I could see it being under "permanent" loan, and by then Mom will likely have softened to the idea anyway.

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

give it some time then give the kid a opertunity to work it off doing chores or something that mite change moms view about it then its no longer a gift its something the kid wants and is willing to work for it

thats how i got my first sail boat grampa wanted to buy me one but mom sead no but she let me save and work to buy one myself i sailed that thing till it fell apart lol

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Hey this is great Dez! You rock!

Truck is looking rad, I’m sure he’s going to love wheeling it.

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Great looking truck!

It's rare these days when people give gifts without expecting something. So I can understand why she was uncomfortable. But it sucks that it's for her child and she can't see that. You tried.

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

It’s be fine, probably better as I can help him fix it and keep an eye on it when it gets to cold or it’s snowing and we stop crawling. 👍🏼


If Mom is comfortable with the chores in exchange for the rig, that might be the path to follow. 👍🏼

I have to admit, it turned out better than I had imagined. I was thinking it was gonna be as ugly as sin, but the bargain body and budget bed cage make it look really nice.

Yea, after a little reflection, I can understand. Mom’s just being a Mom. I’m cool with that.

In the end, it’s probably better as I can supervise and help.

Who knows what would happen if it was to go home and there was not an adault around. I know how destructive my friends and I where with our stuff.

My Uncle used to call us “The Destroyers”. 🤣

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

I started fabbing up the front body mount for body this afternoon and the body and cage got attached to the chassis in the rear with a couple of zip ties.

*Good old fashioned red neck engineering and hinged body system all in one!

Used a metal bracket, some neodymium magnets, and some E6000 to start the front body mount.

Letting everything set up over night and finish installing the magnets on the inside of the body tomorrow.

Other than a few tweaks to steering alignment, that should about wrap it up. 👍🏼

We have a GTG on the 12th, so it should make it’s debut then.

I’ll get some pics up tomorrow.





*Patent Pending! 🤣

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Delayed in getting pics, been out of town.

Front body mount.

<a href="https://ibb.co/gRqL9MT"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/Kr4phjq/5-C9-BF2-AD-63-A3-4625-997-A-68-CEC11-E52-F3.jpg" alt="5-C9-BF2-AD-63-A3-4625-997-A-68-CEC11-E52-F3" border="0"></a>

And my Patent Pending body mount/hinge system.

<a href="https://ibb.co/2vcYLCf"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/pf4rsM9/996399-F4-C7-A7-4-B4-A-94-B3-11-D1-EB0789-DD.jpg" alt="996399-F4-C7-A7-4-B4-A-94-B3-11-D1-EB0789-DD" border="0"></a>

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Don't rush to the patent office just yet...

Some plastic p-clamp/cable clamp/adel clamps look like they'd work perfect for your hinge, using the existing screw hole on top of that bumper mount. Even these cheap ones have held up much better than I thought they would: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-...5UVB/202878268

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Hi Dez,
Great project on a honorable intent! Kudos to you!
I have been in a similar mom/neighbor situation with a neighbors kid by just replacing a broken brake lever on his bike. Brake lever from the parts bin. His Mom wanted to pay for it. And this was just about an old, worn, outdated brake lever. I can imagine how a Mom reacts on a multi-hundred dollar toy. Johnnys Mom could never afford such an expensive toy and she will not be indepted to you. You have to find an arrangement with her which is suitable for both of you. Maybe you call Johnnys rig your loaner and Johnny can adpot it and take care of it under your supervision. He can drive it around with you and wrench on it. He can take it home for show and tell but without batteries. So Batteries stay save at your place.
Anyway, keep on the good work and keep your spirits up! "thumbsup"

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

What!?

You want me to spend another $2.00?

Preposterous!🤣

I understand Mom’s position better now. It’s something I never took into consideration.

But it’s all good. However it works out. Johnny will have a rig to drive and potential own if we can figure out a means upon which are agreeable to Mom and Johnny.

If he wishes to learn to wrench on Lo-Do, I’ll show him how to.

At this point, I had fun building a new rig and surprised myself how nice it turned out for such a minimal investment.

Johnny will have a rig to drive and be involved with as much or as little as he and Mom are comfortable with, and I learned a few things as well.

If the situation ever presents itself again, I’ll approach Mom/Dad up front and get their input and approval.

As it is, Lo-Do should be 100% complete this week if my schedule allows me a few hours to address the last few minor things that need attention.

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Superb work, that is a really nice looking rig. I am positive that a person as caring as yourself will find a way to let the lad enjoy the truck without upsetting or making his mother feel awkward. It is so good to see people doing something for other and so selflessly. My hat is doffed to you sir.

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Plus one with CarlC.. my hat has been in permanent doffing mode since the start of this.

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

X2

Yep :)

"thumbsup" Was wondering what was up with your pictures.

Not a Hobbywing, but as you said as long as it works. Love that Ford cab and the colors! :)

The CrossRC cage back that you chose!

"thumbsup"

RC aircraft linkage rod housing comes in diameters/colors, cheap, easily cut to length and more beef than fuel line. I've got a piece for my cage lengthening on K10, will either sleeve it with black heatshrink or paint it black.

Frame trim looks mo better!

Yep, probably better with supervision anyways.

LOL, ya back before we knew what we were doing, we ruined some of our dad's tools for sure! "The Destroyers" :ror: :)

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

What are they doing?

Re: •Project Lo-Do•
 

Thank you.

Thank you as well.

Thanks for your input Nate. 👍🏼

All of the pics from early in the thread were lost when TinyPic (owned by Photobucket unbeknownst by me) bitvghe dust. 😡

Been super busy traveling the last 4-5 days, not much time to work on the Crawlers.

But I did get a bit of time this evening.

As I mentioned before the steering set up needed a bit of adjustment on the Injora chassis.

The upper links on the front of the rig are slightly to long causing front axle to tilt forward a bit and messing with the castor geometry. I shortened the upper links about 5mm (removing little from each end of the link and shortening the threaded insert that attaches the rod end).

Steering is much better now.

I also added a few shims to the steering drag link to correct the excessive toe in.

About it for now.

I’ll try to get pics up tomorrow...