Soze finally joins the Venture gang!

[Jim85IROC]

What are the wheels that the KM3s are mounted on? Those would look perfect on my Gen8.

[soze]

Originally Posted by Jim85IROC

What are the wheels that the KM3s are mounted on? Those would look perfect on my Gen8.

LOL! I was actually thinking the same thing sticking them onto the Gen8.

They're ebay wheels.

[Jim85IROC]

Originally Posted by soze

LOL! I was actually thinking the same thing sticking them onto the Gen8.

They're ebay wheels.

Ordered.

I actually had the exact same set of wheels picked out but was hemming & hawing over it because I didn't want to wait for shipment from China. The ones you linked are in CA and were only about $2 more. Sold!

[soze]

Ugh, still can't decide on the tires. Here are two more to look at. (Nevermind the wheels. Just using whatever to mount the tires. Going with the SSD Contenders, but I need to get wider hexes in order to not rub the steering link on the tire)

RC4WD Dick Cepek Extreme Country 4.17






Boom Racing Hustlers 4.45







So with these two.

RC4WD Extreme Country - Close to stock tire size, no need to trim fender.
Boom Racing Hustler - Minimal fender trimming needed. Seem to be much better now that I have CI Lil Nova's in them. (Stock foam sucked)

Refresher on the previous 2 choices.

Pro-Line Class 1 BF Goodrich KM3 (ebay)




Pitbull Rock Beast 1.9 PB9003NK (ebay)

[DukeMinnix]

actually really like the cepeks for once haha...

They get my vote if its just those two. If the options are open, doesn't pitbull have a 4.35 something or other? I have that stuck in my head. Happy median between the two?

[soze]

Edited post above with the other 2 choices. (I picked up another set of Class 1's after I traded the last set to you LOL. I ended needing them)

[goobs]

i like the cepeks too

[JatoTheRipper]

First (black wheels and Cepeks) or last (SSD wheels and Pit Bull tires).

[DukeMinnix]

Originally Posted by soze

Edited post above with the other 2 choices. (I picked up another set of Class 1's after I traded the last set to you LOL. I ended needing them)

Thats funny. They've worked out perfect on the new bright raptor I hodgepodged up. I had previously trimmed thinking I was going to run larger tires so its kinda wonky now, If I had left the stock flares on, they would fit like they were meant for it.

Originally Posted by JatoTheRipper

First (black wheels and Cepeks) or last (SSD wheels and Pit Bull tires).

I have to agree. As I expected and first suggest, those 4.35 pitbulls look mighty good, and if I'm not mistaken, Pitbull has a 43.5 1:1 Rocker, so scale!

[soze]

Originally Posted by DukeMinnix

I have to agree. As I expected and first suggest, those 4.35 pitbulls look mighty good, and if I'm not mistaken, Pitbull has a 43.5 1:1 Rocker, so scale!

The Pitbulls are closer to 4.5" They're bigger than the 4.45" Hustlers.

If I use the Pitbulls, I'll be forced to cut a significant amount of the fender flares off.

The Pitbull XLs that I got from you would require me to get rid of fenders flares altogether! They're huge!

[DukeMinnix]

Originally Posted by soze

The Pitbulls are closer to 4.5" They're bigger than the 4.45" Hustlers.

If I use the Pitbulls, I'll be forced to cut a significant amount of the fender flares off.

The Pitbull XLs that I got from you would require me to get rid of fenders flares altogether! They're huge!

I was wrong, pitbull actually measures them at 4.45 also, with a disclaimer that says they may measure larger dependent on wheels used. They do look awfully good though. As for the XLs, yeah they are huge, but you know what they fit perfect on? Gen 8...

[B-MOW71]

Great looking build so far. I have always liked the FJ body and the more I see this HPI Venture the more I think I need to add one to my collection. The Venture seems to be well built from what I have heard and seen in pictures. Though I haven't had the chance to see one in person yet.

I bought the same brand links for my TRX-4 and have to say they are really nice. They also add a lot of weight down low too.

As for the tire/wheel combo, I like the BFG Class 1 tire on there. I think they go good with the body. And no body trimming.

But, I really like the PB Rockbeast with them wheels. These would be my #1 choice. The downside would be to trim that beautiful body!

[soze]

So I'm finally close to having this truck ready for a hill climb session.

I recently got the HPI Inner Fenders in...






It came with instructions, but they were a little vague on what and where to trim. I eventually figured it out.






Test fitting




All painted up






Mounted on!










Secured on by 8 screws










Added a generic interior off of ebay to finish off the look. I might add more details to the interior later, but for now it'll do.




Generic interior all trimmed up




Ready to head up the hill!

[M1tch]

I had the same with that wheel well kit. Instructions are not too good. I cut the back end of mine off as it wasn't any good for a pick up body. It does make it easier on the front instead of trying to make inner fenders.

[soze]

Well... I had the chance to take the Venture out for its very first hill climb today. Video will come later.

Just ran with the RC4WD Cepek Extreme Countries as I didn't get something to space out the SSD Contenders yet. Plus, I wanted to avoid trimming the fender flares if possible. So that idea is going to go out the window. I'm definitely trimming the fenders for bigger tires.

It was tough running with these smaller tires in this location. Just a lot of places were taller tires would've helped the axles clear a little better, or had enough size to wedge in certain areas to climb up.

Balance was pretty good though. The truck didn't want to roll over sideways much or anything of that sort. It might be due to the smaller tires though.

Anyway, I know it can do better. I'll just have to cut those fenders... grrrrr.

[M1tch]

I very much like that. Nice weather as well. A week of rain and cold temps has got me in a bad mood as can't get out.

[soze]

HPI Venture doing the hill climb on Class 1 RC4WD Dick Cepek Extreme Country Tires.

[M1tch]

Nice video and driving. Looks very dry there. I'm hoping to get out this week f the weather stays good.

[Natedog]

Really like the SSD grey alloy beadlocks and ProLine C1 BFGs!

[soze]

I haven't run this rig in over a year due to the uncertainty of the situation around HPI and getting replacement HPI Venture bodies. Finally got a replacement body for this rig and took it out for a run again. The body only really allows for using class 1 tires if you don't want to cut the fenders. Anyway, it was good to get this rig out again and try to remember what driving it was like.