Ooooh...a Tf2 Mojave 2 by Roo (and new2...rocks)

[new2rocks]

So I'm getting to know our DHL driver on a first-name basis, and Roo now knows to get very excited when boxes arrive. Our latest (thanks to the kind folks at RC4WD) arrived with much fanfare. I've been waiting with baited breath for RC4WD to start shipping the new Trail Finder 2 with Mojave 2 body set, and it's finally here! Behold...a box:





Within which was another box with lots of pretty pictures and graphics:









More pretty pictures inside:





Followed by RC4WD's typically excellent packaging. Already I notice the first change with the new TF2 - black foam packaging instead of white:









And a little treat hiding underneath:





Followed by another box inside of which is the star of this show:









Very slick, indeed. Roo couldn't wait to get started, so away he went...

[new2rocks]

Before it was time to put on PJs and go to bed, Roo already noticed that, in addition to the new details on the body (bed and cab), there is a new dash with a lot more detail. He asked me to get some side-by-side pictures to show everyone. I'll get to work on that over the next few days as we get further into this build. In the meantime, "Hooray for TF2 Mojave 2," says Roo!

[Zookk]

Well I'm excited to see how this turns out.

[new2rocks]

Originally Posted by Zookk

Well I'm excited to see how this turns out.

Thanks. So are we!

[new2rocks]

After Roo went to bed, I was able to start taking a closer look at the new kit, and I'm quite pleased. If you liked the original TF2, you'll find everything you liked about the old one here, plus some great new details added to the bodyset.

The changes to the body are going to make a big difference. They range from subtle (more detail in the front bumper, no more raised silhouettes for emblems on the front fenders, more accurate angled rear fenderwells in the bed) to more noticeable (rubber side mirrors, hooks around the outside of the bed and a center-mounted latch on the tailgate). But the biggest difference came as a surprise - the new dash is MUCH more detailed than the old one. At first glance, it's not too far off of the CC Hand dash, and that's quite a compliment. I'll post pix (including some side-by-side with the old bodyset) in the next few days.

In the meantime, I decided to start compiling a list of things that have changed and things that haven't:
Changes
- The front axle shim issue that required swapping the shims on the pinion shaft seems to have been corrected. Axles look to be properly shimmed.
- Axles and transfer case were very well greased. The tranny was a bit dry, so it's good I opened it up.
- Body and interior details (new front bumper, no more raised silhouettes for emblems on front fenders, rubber sideview mirrors, much more detailed dash and scale steering wheel, slanted wheel wells in bed, hooks around bed)

Same as it ever was
- Stout aluminum chassis
- Leaf spring suspension with 70mm shocks in front and 90mm in rear
- Wheels/tires
- R3 2-speed tranny
- Hammer transfer case
- Nylon bumpers and sliders
- Nylon punisher shafts

I'll keep this list updated and add plenty of pix as Roo and I get through the build. In the meantime, feel free to post questions if there are any keeping you up at night.

[teamreedracing]

I can't wait either I might just have to get me another trailfinder2

[1tonblazer]

I just picked up my new TF2 today also... Haven't opened it yet though but I'm sure looking forward to building it.

[2003EDGE]

Looking good David! I had to leave mine on the bench at home...

Good to hear that the axles are shimmed and greased from the get go!

[new2rocks]

Originally Posted by teamreedracing

I can't wait either I might just have to get me another trailfinder2

Don't wait - do it!

Originally Posted by 1tonblazer

I just picked up my new TF2 today also... Haven't opened it yet though but I'm sure looking forward to building it.

Looking forward to seeing your build.

Originally Posted by 2003EDGE

Looking good David! I had to leave mine on the bench at home...
Good to hear that the axles are shimmed and greased from the get go!

Ouch for having to leave it on the bench. And yes...the grease put a smile on my face. Can't wait to see yours!

[1BadJeepBruiser]

Looks like the "drop bed" is done a lot more accurately, like its more of drop then the first version. Is that true ?

[new2rocks]

Originally Posted by 1BadJeepBruiser

Looks like the "drop bed" is done a lot more accurately, like its more of drop then the first version. Is that true ?

At quick glance, I noticed that the back halves of the fender wells are angled like the 1:1s (The old body set was straight all the way across the top of the fender well). I haven't noticed anything else inside the bed yet, but I haven't looked that closely, either. I'll be taking a closer look at everything tonight and over the weekend and will be posting pics.


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[new2rocks]

So I spent some time this evening pulling out individual parts to compare new vs. old, and all I can say is, wow. I know about the changes to the bed (hooks, center-mounted tailgate latch) and the new rubber mirrors, but I didn't expect to fine this much.

Thanks to 1badjeepbruiser for taking some time this evening to help me understand significance of these updates. Many of these updates took details on the old body that would have been correct for the 79-81 models (the ones with round headlights) and updated them to be correct for the 82-83 models (the ones with square headlights). Other updates added details where none previously existed.

So far, here's my list with pix and, spoiler alert, saving the best for last:

1. Front bumper - new grooves to define endcaps and bumps to represent bumper bolts




2. Front grill - lip added under light buckets




3. Front fenders - removed raised silhouette of emblem




4. Rubber mirrors - replace the hard plastic ones but with a much more scale appearance than other generic rubber mirrors


5. Cab back - new panels that provide greater overlapping surface area inside cab for gluing




6. Rear fenderwells inside bed - Back halves slope down like 1:1s instead of straight all the way across


7. Tie-downs added around bed


8. Center-mounted tailgate latch instead of side latches


And now, for the piez de resistance, the dash and steering wheel:






All I can say is, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?! You used to have to spend over $100 to get a dash like that in the CCHand interior kit. Look at this next to my finished CC Hand interior:


Absolutely brilliant. Bravo, RC4WD! I can't wait to start working on this bad boy!

[skybolt]

Awesome comparison! Thanks for taking the time!

Question though: is it an optical illusion or is the new bed wider?


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[1BadJeepBruiser]

Wow, yeah they nailed the dash for sure, looks awesome. Might seem weird, and might just be picks but is the new body slightly larger ? The bed almost looks bigger ? Might just be pics or the fact I only slept 4 hours in the last 24

[new2rocks]

Originally Posted by skybolt

Awesome comparison! Thanks for taking the time!

Question though: is it an optical illusion or is the new bed wider?

Originally Posted by 1BadJeepBruiser

Wow, yeah they nailed the dash for sure, looks awesome. Might seem weird, and might just be picks but is the new body slightly larger ? The bed almost looks bigger ? Might just be pics or the fact I only slept 4 hours in the last 24

The dimensions of the cab and bed are the same. I think it's a combination of depth of field on my point and shoot and the optical illusion from the two-tone stripe on my painted body, with a dash of Mike's sleep deprivation thrown in, lol.

[new2rocks]

So I had a hunch last night when I first looked at the full cab back, and I decided to test it.



Notice anything different...?

I do. You can now use the full cab back with the bed without having to trim the cab back. Thank you, RC4WD!

Now I just have to figure out how I'm going to get the battery tray to clear the transfer case with the high clearance skid and still have enough room for everything that will need to go in the interior (including the interior, lol). That will be this morning's project...

[sb4pro]

Not I'm REALLY getting impatient , are the body improvements gonna be on the rtr version as well ? Or will they use the older bodies to save costs ?

[new2rocks]

Originally Posted by sb4pro

Not I'm REALLY getting impatient , are the body improvements gonna be on the rtr version as well ? Or will they use the older bodies to save costs ?

They haven't officially announced the RTR yet, but my understanding is that it will use the new Mojave 2 body set. I don't know if they plan any other changes vs. the previous RTR. For the body alone it will be worth the wait.

[fr8cture]

My only disappointment with the new body is the tailgate. Really a fan of the side latch.

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[new2rocks]

Originally Posted by fr8cture

My only disappointment with the new body is the tailgate. Really a fan of the side latch.

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Funny you should mention that. 1BadJeepBruiser gave me a little rundown on the 79-81 vs. 82-83 1:1s. As it turns out, the 82-83 models had the center latch (79-81 had side latches). So we might as well add that to round headlights on the list of 79-81 features that looked better than their 82-83 counterparts. But give RC4WD props for the extra attention to detail on correcting the 82-83 details considering that the Mojave trim after which the body is named was available only in '83 and the body's standard rectangular headlights also appeared only on the 82-83 models.