Bruder Mack Granite 6x6 flatbed build

[WesTX]

Still in the planning and parts gathering stage, but wanted to get this here to start tracking ideas and parts progress.

Picked up this Mack Bruder on eBay as my dad is in the trucking industry so I was thinking of building this for him but now that I've been planning I think it will make a killer crawler hauler.

Plans as of now are Yota 2 rear axles (1 pass through, 1 standard), SCX front axle modded for XR width or with RC4WD portals, RC4WD puller rear tires, scale mud plugger front tires - hopefully some custom DCW wheels front and rear. Likely running my summit 2 speed Trans I have laying around, I can lock it in low gear to let my kids drive it and I can drive it in high is my thought. Frame will be steel C-channel so I can weld to it. Wood flatbed for the MZ U4 car.

More to come as parts roll in.

Wes

[WesTX]

Front tires

[WesTX]

Rear tires

[WesleyRoy]

Subscribed !

[WesTX]

Tires and rear axles ordered. Still stumped on what to do with the front axle. Need something wider than the Yota 2's as I want the outside of tire measurements to be the same front and rear but I have the really wide rear tires. Thinking I can play with offset a little but the front axle will need to be an inch or so wider than the rear. So I need options on ~8" hex to hex width front axles.

Wes

[WesTX]

Wheels are done. Thanks Duuuddeeee, ordered the rings this morning from LURC. Hopefully I have wheels and tires assembled late this week.

Bruder truck should be here today so I can start to get things figured out.

Wes

[Ballistic17]

Subbed.

[WesTX]

Damn postal service is behind again..... Should have the truck tomorrow, looks like the wheels SHOULD be here on Wednesday or Thursday. Hopefully I have the rings and hardware in that same timeframe as well.

Edit: Truck came in today. I will get some pics posted up in the morning of the truck next to the tires, etc.

Wes

[WesleyRoy]

Nice wheels

[WesTX]

A preview pic. Now to figure out how to get this cab off the frame.....

Still trying to decide if I am going to do a long flatbed for my U4 rig, or if I am going to keep the bed fairly short and build a cool trailer to match.

Wes

[WesTX]

Considering this BEAST of a motor for this truck. The Summit trans shouldnt have any issues with the power.

http://holmeshobbies.com/Holmes-Pull...XL-3500kv.html

Gotta sell more stuff to afford it though!

Wes

[WesTX]

Got the cab off. Threw it on a 4x4 block to get an idea of how it will look. This is 12.5" WB to first rear axle. I like the look, may go a bit longer in order to get my U4 rig on a flatbed. Looks really mean though! Cant wait to have time to get started on the frame. I think it may be a couple more weeks though which is quite depressing!

Wes

[WesTX]

Ordered axle trusses, links and some scale stuff this afternoon from one of my favorite vendors - RPP. Ordered it at 3:30 pm central time and it shipped out today. Also ordered some material to make saddle fuel tanks and a chain box for the back of this thing.

Wes

[Stormin2u]

I have a 1/10th scale 2wd pulling truck with those RC4WD tires and they will do just that pull like hell. I can't imagine what four would be like.

You'll be able to drive your Bruder as far as it will go then jump on your crawler and go higher harder sounds like fun.

Norm

[WesTX]

Wheel and tire porn.....

[WesleyRoy]

Those rear tyres look massive and unstoppable, like the cab.

[WesTX]

A couple more.

Wes

[WesTX]

Got 4 wheels and tires assembled this morning when I got to the office before anyone else came in and had to stop, my fingers hurt too much from all of the tiny screws.

Ordered new SLW hubs from VP to fix the width. Front needs to be wider to match the rear.

Mocking up different wheelbases. Longer to put my U4 rig on a flatbed, shorter to build a cool gooseneck trailer to match for the U4 rig. I think that is the route I am going for sure.

Also bought a bunch of scale parts to go on this in the classifieds last night, so that will be cool to add all of that.

Wes

[WesTX]

Been doing some brainstorming on this build. Think this thing is going to go full on off-road oilfield semi truck look. Pipe front bumper, likely a KMS standup winch on the front bumper, hack off the bruder fenders and build some steel fenders that will match the arc of the tire, etc. Build a headache rack and storage box on the bed ahead of the gooseneck hitch which I have designed. Attached pics for inspiration.

Hitch design:
Using this ball: McMaster-Carr

Then put a piece of pipe over it, and cut slots in sides of the pipe to use an E-clip under the ball to secure the trailer hitch. Should work, it works in my head when I picture it.

Wes

[WesTX]

Disclaimer - Yes, I know my desk is messy, work can be that way sometimes.....

Got a bit of mockup done today after getting the truss for the rear-most axle in from RPP. I think this wheelbase looks really good. Obviously the lower links are following the same path as the driveshafts should follow for best geometry. Wheelbase with this setup is 12.5" from the front axle to the center axle, 5.5" between rear axles, so a total front to back wheelbase of 18". This should work well.

Still undecided on the trailer vs flatbed thing for a rig hauler. Really want to build a trailer for the coolness factor, so thats likely what Ill end up with. Got the pieces in to build the hitch, will try to work on that one day this weekend around building up a quick wraith project for a new 2.2 rig.

Wes