Trail Tough FJ40

[Mad4Rnr]

Originally Posted by ecoli

Still really like this FJ Erik, looks great!

What brand are the batteries you're running? 65C in an 1800mah battery is pretty spiffy! Is that burst or continuous rating?

Thanks Chris, I'm running the new Thunder Power G6 Pro Power batteries, 65C continuous with up to 130C burst, peppy battery for the money! I may be able to fit the 2250 in there...

Originally Posted by sloyota

how was MSD Erik?

you can still get the 8 hole beadlock rings like i did.looks much better than the 16

Wes, MSD was awesome, lots of great people with cool as hell rigs. I like the look of the 16 hole but only hate how long it takes to assemble

Originally Posted by BigBaller

The wheel speed on this thing is wicked. Keep up the wonderful work Eric. Let me know when it's for sale...Chino knows my address.

Thanks Ryan, The 7t puller with the new 65C TP battery was the trick to the wheel speed, almost as good as a 4S...almost...

Got lots planned for this rig so keep you wallet in your pocket, you'll want it even more when I get some time to finish it up (think removable tube doors, roof panel, light bar, etc, etc, etc...)

[Mad4Rnr]

Haven't driven or worked on this truck for ages but recently got the idea to upgrade the lighting system a bit.

Only made sense to install some MadDogRC - "chino63" Scale LED Rock Lights on this truck, was as easy as cutting a couple pockets and drilling some holes. I went the mini deans route for connectors so it's easy to the remove the floor / fender panels.



Looks good installed with the expando mesh covering the wires:



Nice little flush mount assembly:

[BigBaller]

Aren't you ready to sell me this FJ yet??

Love the rock lights.

[eric113]

Can you get pic of them on ? Just want how much area they light up. They maybe a future upgrade for me.

[rckjeep]

ya when will the rock lights be available? Just wet thru the whole thread again this thing is awesome Erik, you have such a well rounded skill set its just amazing.

[Mad4Rnr]

Originally Posted by BigBaller

Aren't you ready to sell me this FJ yet??

Love the rock lights.

Maybe I'll sell it to you when I'm done building it, my current "To-Do" list for this rig about 25 action items long.

Originally Posted by eric113

Can you get pic of them on ? Just want how much area they light up. They maybe a future upgrade for me.

Check out the hyper link at the top of post #102, it should take you to the rock light info page where there are more pics.

Originally Posted by rckjeep

ya when will the rock lights be available? Just wet thru the whole thread again this thing is awesome Erik, you have such a well rounded skill set its just amazing.

Thanks for the comment Dave, turns out I'm good at just about everything but driving! By the way, Dean is working on assembling the rock lights as we speak...

[Mad4Rnr]

Got some time in the garage over the holiday break so I was able to get a few things marked "done" on this trucks to-do list. I started by brazing some threaded tabs to the top of the cage, a quick coat of black paint finished it off:



Then some panel fab'age with .032" aluminum:



And look what fits on the top...

[rockrigcustoms]

very very nice rig. looks great. how do the rock lights work? they seem like theyll light up the whole side from tire to tire. keep it up

[Mad4Rnr]

Originally Posted by rockrigcustoms

very very nice rig. looks great. how do the rock lights work? they seem like theyll light up the whole side from tire to tire. keep it up

Thx sir!

The rock lights work great, the wide angle projection definitely lights up the whole side of the truck. Most people supplement them with a couple LED's in front of the front tires as well (I already have the small Axial buckets mounted there).

I finally painted the door panels yesterday so more mods are coming to this rig soon.

[sloyota]

Originally Posted by BigBaller

Aren't you ready to sell me this FJ yet??

Love the rock lights.

hope your ready to sell your kidney's!!!!!! and your liver.....

[BigBaller]

Originally Posted by sloyota

hope your ready to sell your kidney's!!!!!! and your liver.....

I'm PayPal ready.

[Mad4Rnr]

Originally Posted by sloyota

hope your ready to sell your kidney's!!!!!! and your liver.....

Throw in an arm and a leg and then maybe Ryan and I will talk...

[Mad4Rnr]

Originally Posted by BigBaller

I'm PayPal ready.

How's your financial profile looking these days? With all these improvements I'm making we may need to involve a finance company...

[BigBaller]

Send me a pm when it's done. I'm here. You know from Nats, I love it. Keep up the good work. Awesomest FJ build around.

[yoda@4x4]

Very nice Land Cruiser love the attention to detail and wiring.

Awesome work...

[Die-Laughing]

Insanely Awesome!

[Mad4Rnr]

One of the other issues I've been trying to work out on this truck is related to the multi-function 3rd channel. Currently when I select the winch control the dig servo is off so sometimes the rear slips into free-wheel. FWD is not cool and especially when you are trying to winch out a tough spot.

To solve this embarrassing fail I figured I should add a spring and larger dig servo to the mix. Theory is when the servo is not powered the spring keeps tension on the dig selector and the truck stays in 4WD. The larger servo is needed to overcome the spring tension when shifting into dig.

I fab'd an aluminum plate as a servo mount and a place to anchor the static end of the spring. I turned down a screw to act as a spring guide and then counter bored the Stage 3R racing dig selector as a spring cup. A spacer, a nut and a stiff spring from a center punch complete the mech:



Installed in truck:



This set up works well but with the stiff spring keeping the EPA's trimmed is critical to keep the servo from loading while driving. Next I plan to fab a Styrene fuel cell to hide the dig servo, doors are also in the works...

[Mad4Rnr]

Last week I fab'd a fuel cell to cover the dig servo...ever seen a box made from styrene and painted red before???



I figured the fuel cell should be removable so I decided on hook and loop fasteners. On the back there are cut outs, bracing, and a shelf for velcro mount to bed.



Yesterday I started on the doors. I'm using 3/16" black cable clamps and threaded fab tabs as hinges as well as 1/8" stainless rod stock for the frame. I used non-threaded fab tabs for the latch that I still need to make...yep these will open!



Once I brazed the frame work I then added some small pieces of 22ga. steel so I can shoe-goo the door skin to it...yep these will be removable with a 2mm driver.

[travis c.]

Slick, love the tube doors!
The coolest 40 is getting even cooler!

[Nick Slemp]

this is gunna be so sick!!!