CAIRNS Trail Jeep Build Thread

[CAIRN]

The Rockslide projects have been on the shelf for a few months while I've re-built a comp rig to run with the local club.

Had fun building a few bodyless chassis and learned a few things along the way. So the Redcat axles are going into a new project. Something just for fun on the trail.

Planning to use a Jeep Rubicon hardbody for this build. Found a nice black with tan interior in good shape. First issue is the 10.5" wheel base, so we're needing a new chassis and links. Back to the drawing board.

Landed on this design which gets the shocks to axles but vertical enough to have reasonable steering throw. Links have been shortened to 2.8" on the uppers and 4.185" for the lowers. Pretty good clearance at 3.75." Not looking for a scaler here, but rather something that's stable and has crawler-type flex. Perfect 10.5" wheel base.



Cab on for reference...

[CAIRN]

Bent links from 1/4" alum. round and here's the roller. Using the stock spacers, shocks, link ends, axles and motors for this build.

Running the Outcry dual ESC w/ BEC, Flysky GT3B TX-RX, and planning space for a 3 cell 1300mah battery.



With the Jeep body and new driver...

[CAIRN]

Next piece was protecting the front end. Picked up a HPI Savage bumper set local, but needed a way to mount it to the chassis yet positioned correctly on the Jeep.

After four hours of mock-ups and bending here's the assembly I came up with. The chassis bracket is made of Kydex heated and shaped to fit inside the chassis and bolt thru the front top link hardware. The front end of the tubes are drilled and screwed like the links. Solid.



Here's the assembly mounted to the chassis.



One more with the body on. Very pleased with the position and fit. Good protection and wheel clearance plus it's rock solid.

[CAIRN]

Next was a mounting system between the chassis and body. Looked at velcro, magnets, posts, brackets over the past few days.

Went back to the kydex stash and came up with a channel just slightly bigger than the chassis spacers. It's screwed and bolted to the body (nuts are under the drivers/pass seats). Set the body down on the chassis and push. The kydex channels snap onto the round spacers. Easily lift the rig from the body and shake hard - it's not coming off on the trail.

Here's a photo of the bracket attached to the underside of the body.



That take's this project to current. Everything is disassembled and the chassis and bumper are getting painted this weekend.

Hope you guys enjoyed it so far. Will be back with the finished product, some homemade scale accesories, and hopefully some cool trail photos before too long.

Jump in here and let me know what you think!

[Hoosierdady]

hmmm, seems like I've seen that body mount mod before somewhere...lol. I used 1/2 OD airline and spacers for shocks to make mine. Either way they work pretty good. Make sure you put some CA glue on the screws that attach the tube to the body.

[RICrawler]

Uh oh, looks like a friendly Jeep/RS-10 comp is coming up! Good luck keeping up!

[CAIRN]

Originally Posted by Hoosierdady

hmmm, seems like I've seen that body mount mod before somewhere...lol.

Yup. Saw your idea about using shock spacers and liked it. Brilliant. Actually removed the seats and locked tight a nut on those bolts.

[CAIRN]

Originally Posted by RICrawler

Uh oh, looks like a friendly Jeep/RS-10 comp is coming up! Good luck keeping up!

See you there.

[donny8594]

Originally Posted by CAIRN

See you there.

damn wish i was close i'd bring the barbie jeep. nobody around me has rc crawlers. gets a little boring crawling by yourself.

[jesseRS10comp]

nice mate looking good

[CAIRN]

Chassis paint done and dry. Reassembled everything and installed the electronics. Plenty of room even for an Outcry and 2200 lipo.



Took the rig out to our local park for a few good photos before the scratches and breaks start adding up. It's a bit tall, but suprisingly stable even on the rocks. Very pleased with the flex and clearances.





This one turned out to be my favorite. Enjoy!


Working on a few "scale items" for this Jeep. Hoping to get some finished photos up next week.

The Redcat has found it's place in my garage of trucks. Not a comp truck, just my new favorite toy.

[jesseRS10comp]

looking good mate if ya wanna drop the ride height but sill want the flex chop the springs 1cm each

[CAIRN]

Have done a few scale adds (made the high-lift jack), plus installed a RC4WD Dig2. Getting tight for space, so the dig went on top of the front bumper mount. Fits nice in the space under the Jeep hood with the body on. Spins the front end around nice and tight.



Here's my "pile" in a landscape bed in my backyard. This truck is a blast. Enjoy the photos

[CAIRN]

One more from playing this weekend.

At limit of suspension travel. Check out that flex and level body.

[sick86burban]

Nice! This is the direction im goin with my rs10. My jeep is extended in the front though. Should be around 12" wb. Keep up the progress.

[CAIRN]

Update time for the RS10 Jeep.
Planning to rework this truck now that the summer comp stuff is done.

Spent more time tweaking and fixing the Berg than driving it the past six months. Spent more time driving the Jeep just for fun this summer, and now have a list of stuff I've been wanting to do.

What I'm thinking:
New 2.2 tires - more scale
New ESC - BRXL for 3 cell and programming throttle curve and drag brake
Reduce overall weight - body, chassis, driver
Upgrade servo - BRXL ubec should run something nice - Savox SC 0251mg
Update chassis - reduce weight and more scale look
Bumper mount winch - 3Racing
Motors - Banebots

Also changing the body to something more rock crawler looking. Real excited about finding this hardbody.



Thanks for reading. More to follow.

[Docwolf]

those NB bodies are really brittle, i busted mine up pretty bad after only a few outings.

[CAIRN]

Originally Posted by Docwolf

those NB bodies are really brittle, i busted mine up pretty bad after only a few outings.

Have found these Rubicon bodies stout. This is only a trail/backyard/burning time at the comps truck. Have been running it six months Doc no cracks, but truth be told I'm careful with it.

[Docwolf]

yeah i guess i am a little harder on my truck then most lol.

[CAIRN]

Started work this week. Going ground up from the RS10 axles, letting them drive the changes to the chassis this time around. Goal here is to lower the suspension so it's not so tall. Moving the shock mounting points out and up both top and bottom.

First step was something I saw here first, the shock to axle aluminum angle bracket mod. Thought it was genius and have wanted to build some since. Here's my take, with a few holes for adjustment.




Also wanted to change up the stock shocks for this rebuild. Going with SUPERLIFT for a more scale look. No expenses spared on this project.



More photos coming. Modifications to the chassis is next up...