my latest chassis design Im working on

[jetboat]

Ced got me started thinking a month or so ago about designing a chassis that could be used for super class... I wasnt sure if I was interested or not but idea's started kicking around in my head...
Heres what I came up with, this is a screen shot from the cad program it just went to the cutter for a quote. Not sure if Ill sell it or not, just thought I would give the local guys a peak. The shock mounting I have lined up in this shot is for a 2.2 class truck with 4" shocks. Running Moabs/Mashers etc it will have about a 3" GC. Its set up also to run a 17" WB with 4" shocks but I excluded those mounting holes in this copy.
Chassis is about 15" long and will fit under a Jeep or Bronco body.

Honest opinions please, rather you hate it or love it i want to hear.

[Ced RC]

Looks like it would make for a realistic looking rig, looking similar to a 1:1 crawler somewhat. Depending on how it sat under the Jeep or Bronco body it may look cool, kinda like an interior roll cage

I like it

[Mnster]

I'd like to see something a little more techical. Front portion needs at addtional brace for strength. Roof needs to be more rounded like if for a comp rig. I'm not thinking it will roll back over. I'd almost like to see you take a TVP chassis to the next level. 3D maybe pitch the roof and nose in with a bending brake. TVP's currently just look so one dimentional. Might make a great scaler chassis minus the roof. Really I feel that is the market you should be looking to tap. Super class is begining to seem like a lost art for most clubs. Sticks dominate the super class circuits at least around here. I feel people want something different then the same old X trail and K2.

[jeepguy7891]

I want it!

[Cole82]

I like the overall shape and look. I would just round the edges a little and change the upper link mounts. I just never liked haveing the upper links further apart than the lowers. Like Ben said bend it on a brake. so the roof line isn't as wide as the main chassis.

[jetboat]

I was already planning to do a little bending work... just cant decide where. I was going to dovetail the front and back (red lines) but then I considered the top like Cole suggested (Blue). I would like to do both but I cant because the material (1/8" aluminum) wont let me. I guess I could pinch in the top and front like Ben said and Leave the rear alone. I may have to step down to .090 6061 to do all the bends, 1/8" might be too rigid and brital.
Putting the lower and upper links on the same plane might be hard, I would need to redesign the lower half and when I tried it, it just didnt look right. Ill put a little more work into it latter and see if I can make it work.

Zach, should I take that as a preorder?




curved roof:

[Cole82]

BARF on the curved roof.
Just try radiusing the corners on the first design.

[jetboat]

Originally Posted by Cole82

BARF on the curved roof.
Just try radiusing the corners on the first design.

Agreed.... I made a model of it (boy do I like the slow season ) and it does seem to roll easy but, I prefer the angular feel of the original design. I did a version with a curved window opening (like the TJ body)... I also came up with a way to bend the front end, kind of hard to describe and harder to show in a drawing but Ill try..... RED lines are bends... the Top View is not to scale, just to give you an idea.

[Cole82]

You wil need to do the same thing in the rear as the front, but just at th last hole. Where the cross brace is. Otherwise you will need to anlge cut/drill/tap the cross brace.
I would try the same radius on the very front part jus for some more detail.

[JBHardwear]

Now I dig the last cad

[jetboat]

yeah, I noticed on the "model" that I would have to angle the rear mounting hole also. I tried rounding the front off several different ways but I cant seem to find anything I am happy with. The fronts angle originally was to match the grill on the TJ body...

Im glad people like it.

[jetboat]

After reading Mnsters post about 5 times, I tore off the roof structure and built a "scaler" on the same basic platform. Im pretty happy with it actually, my last scaler sold out and I never advertised it. Dont think Im done tweaking the scale version but, I think Im pretty well done with the full body version. Basically the last image of it is what I am settling on... Once its bent I think it will make a good looking TVP Tuber.

What do you guys think about the scale version... Its about 13.5" long, shocks are about 6 7/8" apart. Im going to work on the upper link mounting.

[JBHardwear]

I think a couple more shock mounting options would be great for different length wheelbases

Originally Posted by jetboat

After reading Mnsters post about 5 times, I tore off the roof structure and built a "scaler" on the same basic platform. Im pretty happy with it actually, my last scaler sold out and I never advertised it. Dont think Im done tweaking the scale version but, I think Im pretty well done with the full body version. Basically the last image of it is what I am settling on... Once its bent I think it will make a good looking TVP Tuber.

What do you guys think about the scale version... Its about 13.5" long, shocks are about 6 7/8" apart. Im going to work on the upper link mounting.

[jetboat]

Boring day @ work so Ive been playing with the designs.... Im not real fond of the scale chassis myself so I started playing with the design and came up with a compact version....

Also, the TVP tuber now has a name "The Predator". My Jet Cutter is out of .09 6061so it will be a couple weeks before I have a real prototype to work with. That also means I have time to tweak the design.

[MattG]

1st and 3rd in your last post look pretty cool.

[Etype R]

Originally Posted by jetboat

Agreed.... I made a model of it (boy do I like the slow season ) and it does seem to roll easy but, I prefer the angular feel of the original design. I did a version with a curved window opening (like the TJ body)... I also came up with a way to bend the front end, kind of hard to describe and harder to show in a drawing but Ill try..... RED lines are bends... the Top View is not to scale, just to give you an idea.

I think this is a good start to a design, much better looking then your current bodyless setup I would like to see small fillets on all of the edges though, not a fan of the sharp angles. Just round the corners out with a 0.0625 - 0.150 radius.

[Thorsteenster]

I like it, really like it. I'd like to see it for super and I'd buy one to jump start my super build.

[jetboat]

Glad you Like it E-type... This is actually prolly going to replace Talon, its allot more versital. I have been playing with rounding the edges and just havent gotten it were Im happy yet. What I am liking about this design is the fact it can be used in 2.2 and Super and be in the rules. And should the Rules change you can put a Body on it and Be happy.

Thornsteenster, I might hold you to that

[jeepguy7891]

Jeff, put me down for one! I need something to replace my K2-3L and how about some kind of CJ or TJ grill for the front?

[jetboat]

So I gave in an rounded some edges... what do you guys think?

I considered the cj/Tj grill but, too many trade mark issues... but, you could always run a TJ hood etc from a body.

Zach, your the second person to "pre order". Im going to start making people put money down