RCCrawler Forums

Bigman · 10-23-2005, 07:59 PM

For a tube chasis what is the average ammount a tubinh needed?

Joe Mauma · 10-23-2005, 08:37 PM

I use between 12-20' . Depends how complex you make it. Once you start building the tube gets used up quick.

Bigman · 10-24-2005, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Mauma

I use between 12-20' . Depends how complex you make it. Once you start building the tube gets used up quick.

Thats what i figured...I am currently designing it so i will be bale to figure out how much i need pretty soon

roktoy · 10-24-2005, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Mauma

I use between 12-20' . Depends how complex you make it. Once you start building the tube gets used up quick.

Yep, I would agree. I typically use 16-20 feet.
Jay

CustomCrawler · 10-24-2005, 06:52 PM

It also depends on what size truck. My TLT used around 15' and my Maxx has over 30' with tube axles.

Bigman · 10-26-2005, 12:49 AM

Well for the chasis i designed fo rmy emaxx i figured it all out today i need like almost 30 ft its like right arounf 28 so ill get 30 to be safe...how much would you expect to pay and what size should i use 3/16?

roktoy · 10-26-2005, 07:32 AM

3/16" is good if you're going for roughly 1/8th scale.
1/4" works well if you're going larger like 1/6th scale.

I don't have the measurements but 1/4" brakeline seems a fair bit heavier than 3/16".

I've bought 5' sticks of 3/16" brakeline for about $3 - 3.50 each.

I've found stainless tube at a scrap yard for 10 - 20 cents a foot and new at a steel supply shop for about 80 cents a foot (1/4" only).

Jay

Bigman · 10-26-2005, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roktoy

3/16" is good if you're going for roughly 1/8th scale.
1/4" works well if you're going larger like 1/6th scale.

I don't have the measurements but 1/4" brakeline seems a fair bit heavier than 3/16".

I've bought 5' sticks of 3/16" brakeline for about $3 - 3.50 each.

I've found stainless tube at a scrap yard for 10 - 20 cents a foot and new at a steel supply shop for about 80 cents a foot (1/4" only).

Jay

wow thats cheap...i was at my LHS last night and i looked at what it costed there for a 3ft piece of stainless they wanted almost $14 and the 2 home depots by me dont even have that small of tubing but they did have 1/4in rods for around .40 a foot...What do you guys think of the steel rod?

roktoy · 10-26-2005, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigman

wow thats cheap...i was at my LHS last night and i looked at what it costed there for a 3ft piece of stainless they wanted almost $14 and the 2 home depots by me dont even have that small of tubing but they did have 1/4in rods for around .40 a foot...What do you guys think of the steel rod?

Works, but really heavy. Rod chassis will weigh about 2lbs. versus half that for tube.

Jay

Bigman · 10-26-2005, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roktoy

Works, but really heavy. Rod chassis will weigh about 2lbs. versus half that for tube.

Jay

Is it any harder to work with? im not realy bothered by weight since its not realy a crawler its gona be for a mudder and made to go under water and still have a firm grip on the bottom so hevier might be better...

CustomCrawler · 10-26-2005, 07:50 PM

I used steel rod for the main shape of the frame and tube for the supports and braces. All of that is 1/4".

I got my tube from www.mcmaster.com

roktoy · 10-26-2005, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigman

Is it any harder to work with? im not realy bothered by weight since its not realy a crawler its gona be for a mudder and made to go under water and still have a firm grip on the bottom so hevier might be better...

If you're MIG welding it you can probably bevel the end instead of fishmouthing and then fill with weld metal. Should be easier and quicker to assemble. Changes would be a little more difficult, requiring cutting/grinding to remove and cleanup.

Jay

Bigman · 10-27-2005, 04:53 PM

I can braze it though right?

roktoy · 10-27-2005, 10:45 PM

Yes, you can braze both carbon and stainless rod.
Jay

Bigman · 10-28-2005, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roktoy

Yes, you can braze both carbon and stainless rod.
Jay

Thanks for your help!
Mike

roktoy · 11-09-2005, 12:31 PM

Found out today......local supplier jumped from 86 cents to $1.60 per foot on the 1/4" stainless tube, some time in the last couple months.

Jay

rckjeep · 11-10-2005, 01:09 AM

My buggy has over 20' for tubing and I bought it at $1.05 a foot and now it's $8.90. So I found a place selling the same size just not the same quality. Which doesn't matter one bit for what I'm using it for.

crazy4ink · 11-11-2005, 11:52 PM

Ok, so you guys are using basically brakeline, bending/cutting to needed size and welding them together to make a chassis? Not trying to be rude, just new and trying to learn.

How are you making control arms/links? Are you tapping the end of the brakelines and threading a small bolt?

Is there someplace that has different designs shown on the net?

What material (thickness) does everyone use to make the center sections? I have a few T-maxx main chassis laying around that I could cut up, but just seems awfully heavy to be using.

Any info would be great.
Thanks in advance,
Rob

roktoy · 11-12-2005, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy4ink

Ok, so you guys are using basically brakeline, bending/cutting to needed size and welding them together to make a chassis? Not trying to be rude, just new and trying to learn.

Brakeline, DOM carbon steel tubing or stainless tubing. Some guys arc weld and some braze.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy4ink

How are you making control arms/links? Are you tapping the end of the brakelines and threading a small bolt?

Most people use 1/4" aluminum solid rod. I have also used stainless rod as well. I'll often use 3/16" stainless tube for the upper links (tapped to 6-32) but you need something beefier for the lower links.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy4ink

Is there someplace that has different designs shown on the net?

Just keep an eye out on RCC and you'll see all kinds a builds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazy4ink

What material (thickness) does everyone use to make the center sections? I have a few T-maxx main chassis laying around that I could cut up, but just seems awfully heavy to be using.

Center section? If you mean chassis, then a lot of tuber builders build straight from scratch.

Jay

crazy4ink · 11-12-2005, 11:12 AM

Jay,

Thanks for the pointers in the right direction. Now I have a starting point to go from. I looked at your website, and I really like the designs you have built!

10-23-2005, 07:59 PM	#1
Bigman Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Burbs of chicago Posts: 27	How much tube... For a tube chasis what is the average ammount a tubinh needed?

10-23-2005, 08:37 PM	#2
Joe Mauma Rock Stacker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 85	I use between 12-20' . Depends how complex you make it. Once you start building the tube gets used up quick.

10-24-2005, 06:52 PM	#5
CustomCrawler Rock Crawler Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: SW, Connecticut Posts: 685	It also depends on what size truck. My TLT used around 15' and my Maxx has over 30' with tube axles.

10-26-2005, 12:49 AM	#6
Bigman Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Burbs of chicago Posts: 27	Well for the chasis i designed fo rmy emaxx i figured it all out today i need like almost 30 ft its like right arounf 28 so ill get 30 to be safe...how much would you expect to pay and what size should i use 3/16?

10-26-2005, 07:32 AM	#7
roktoy Dirt Addict Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stumblin' thru the parking lot of an invisible 7-Eleven Posts: 1,053	3/16" is good if you're going for roughly 1/8th scale. 1/4" works well if you're going larger like 1/6th scale. I don't have the measurements but 1/4" brakeline seems a fair bit heavier than 3/16". I've bought 5' sticks of 3/16" brakeline for about $3 - 3.50 each. I've found stainless tube at a scrap yard for 10 - 20 cents a foot and new at a steel supply shop for about 80 cents a foot (1/4" only). Jay

10-26-2005, 07:50 PM	#11
CustomCrawler Rock Crawler Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: SW, Connecticut Posts: 685	I used steel rod for the main shape of the frame and tube for the supports and braces. All of that is 1/4". I got my tube from www.mcmaster.com

10-27-2005, 04:53 PM	#13
Bigman Newbie Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Burbs of chicago Posts: 27	I can braze it though right?

10-27-2005, 10:45 PM	#14
roktoy Dirt Addict Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stumblin' thru the parking lot of an invisible 7-Eleven Posts: 1,053	Yes, you can braze both carbon and stainless rod. Jay

11-09-2005, 12:31 PM	#16
roktoy Dirt Addict Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stumblin' thru the parking lot of an invisible 7-Eleven Posts: 1,053	Found out today......local supplier jumped from 86 cents to $1.60 per foot on the 1/4" stainless tube, some time in the last couple months. Jay

11-10-2005, 01:09 AM	#17
rckjeep I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: San Jose Posts: 5,207	My buggy has over 20' for tubing and I bought it at $1.05 a foot and now it's $8.90. So I found a place selling the same size just not the same quality. Which doesn't matter one bit for what I'm using it for.

11-11-2005, 11:52 PM	#18
crazy4ink Pebble Pounder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Millmont Posts: 112	Ok, so you guys are using basically brakeline, bending/cutting to needed size and welding them together to make a chassis? Not trying to be rude, just new and trying to learn. How are you making control arms/links? Are you tapping the end of the brakelines and threading a small bolt? Is there someplace that has different designs shown on the net? What material (thickness) does everyone use to make the center sections? I have a few T-maxx main chassis laying around that I could cut up, but just seems awfully heavy to be using. Any info would be great. Thanks in advance, Rob

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11-12-2005, 11:12 AM	#20
crazy4ink Pebble Pounder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Millmont Posts: 112	Jay, Thanks for the pointers in the right direction. Now I have a starting point to go from. I looked at your website, and I really like the designs you have built!

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