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Old 12-31-2018, 08:54 PM   #1
I wanna be Dave
 
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Default Tonka TRX4 Tow Truck

I have a project I am working on where the chassis and WB have to match the body, and I am using the TRX4. Once I get it done I will post up a proper build thread, but given all of the work still to be done, it will be a while.

For this project I needed the WB to be just 9 1/8", that made me get creative. the back end wasn't that big of a challenge, it is just a shortened 4-link, but the front end with the pan-hard bar challenged me a bit.

Also, the suspension is really short. I am running droop in the front with a compressed eye-to-eye length of 80mm. The back is even shorter and I am still looking for shocks, I am thinking of maybe 4-Tec. For now I just put solid links where the shocks would go, but I am amazed how much articulation I am getting.

Untitled byUntitled by
Untitled byUntitled by

Last edited by Greatscott; 07-27-2019 at 07:16 PM.
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Old 12-31-2018, 08:55 PM   #2
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Default Re: Shorty Project In The Works....

Following, are you doing a Jeep body?


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Old 01-01-2019, 12:38 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by Tmaxxed View Post
Following, are you doing a Jeep body?


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Gads no. Keeping the body under wraps for now.
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Old 01-01-2019, 04:11 AM   #4
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Default Re: Shorty Project In The Works....

That is short lol. Caught my intrest, subbed my friend

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Old 01-06-2019, 04:13 PM   #5
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Default Re: Shorty Project In The Works....

Looking at running droop in the back, anyone know of a shock that is 40mm (ish) eye-to-eye when fully compressed?
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Old 01-06-2019, 04:46 PM   #6
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Default Re: Shorty Project In The Works....

I have some cco1 70mm shocks which I believe are 40mm fully compressed..... I will check on that in a bit.
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Old 01-07-2019, 06:06 AM   #7
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Default Re: Shorty Project In The Works....

Subscribed! I'm curious to see where you are taking this. Looks good so far.
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Old 01-14-2019, 09:48 PM   #8
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Default Re: Shorty Project In The Works....

Progress continues on this project. I am starting to get the parts and pieces put together, but it is a little disheartening to know that it all has to come apart before it can all go back together again.

But, I do have one major shareable milestone in the bag...

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Old 01-17-2019, 10:50 AM   #9
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Default Re: Shorty Project In The Works....

When I saw these rear portal mounts with shock mounting provisions, I thought they could help on builds like this.



I believe they could be installed in the opposite direction so the shocks mount on the back of the axle which would move the upper mount higher on the chassis like this:



With raising the upper mount and lowering the bottom mount, you would be looking for a shock closer to 60 mm compressed (about a 80 mm uncompressed) which would be much easier to find.
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Old 01-26-2019, 11:02 PM   #10
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Default Re: Shorty Project In The Works....

More work on McShorty... Other than a few odds and ends, the chassis is almost ready. The body is almost ready as well, almost time to strip and repaint. One thing really left to do, and it is really giving me fits to get it right, but that is half the fun of this project.

Here are a couple of pics...

This one shows the difference in WB from my 12.3" TRX4 and McShorty.

by

The drive shafts took a little bit to get right as well...
by
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Old 02-26-2019, 09:11 PM   #11
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Default Re: Shorty Project In The Works....

Now it gets serious... 12 channels!!!

Untitled by , on Flickr

Just need to install the kit to get it out of mode 2 and we'll be in business.

As far as the truck itself goes, just waiting for Spring, literally... It is too cold in my garage for stripping and painting right now. Can't wait until it warms up, 10*/f almost feels like shorts and tanktop weather...
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Old 03-03-2019, 06:16 PM   #12
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Default Re: Shorty Project In The Works....

Feels like a suzuki sidekick wheelbase to me...always been a sucker for a sidekick
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Old 07-27-2019, 07:15 PM   #13
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Default Re: Shorty Project In The Works....

Sorry I have not kept up with this thread, if you are interested, there is a more detailed build thread over on the Traxxas forums (linked below).

Here is a quick video update, will add more pics and a running video in the next couple of days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3G16buWXL0

Traxxas thread...

https://forums.traxxas.com/showthrea...onka-Tow-Truck
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Old 07-27-2019, 07:19 PM   #14
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Default Re: Tonka TRX4 Tow Truck

That’s cool as fvck.
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Old 07-30-2019, 09:27 PM   #15
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Default Re: Tonka TRX4 Tow Truck

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brake Weight View Post
That’s cool as fvck.
Many thanks!

Here is some running video of this guy. Like I said in the previous video, the booms still need some tweaking. I am thinking about getting rid of them altogether and just going with a big winch in the back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-k6ET8WW4o

And, some pictures with it lit up...

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

A pic of its belly...

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr
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Old 07-31-2019, 04:56 AM   #16
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Default Re: Shorty Project In The Works....

such a cool build, I've got a full windshield tonka tow truck waiting for a build - even have a few spare TRX chassis..... you've got me thinking on a build now!
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Old 12-23-2023, 06:43 PM   #17
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Default Re: Shorty Project In The Works....

It is time to dust this rig off and get it working properly...

When I left off the drive train worked fine, but the winches didn't work right and the tow masts looked like a retarded chicken when I tried operating them. This time around I am going to use servo winches for the winches, and linear actuators for the arms. I am also going to use a different radio, most likely the RadioMaster MT12.

My goal isn't to revamp the whole mess, there is a lot about this rig that works, but there is a BIG difference between when I built this rig and now. Everything fabricated for this rig was hand-built using aluminum and/or various bits and pieces out of my spare parts bin. Now I have the ability to design and print my own parts, there there will likely be some low-hanging fruit items I go after to improve.

One BIG thing I would have done if I were building this rig from scratch now is to put in a spacer plate between the cab and bed sections, stretching the whole mess so that I did not have to chop the WB down so much. As it sits, the chassis and body work well together, so I will likely leave that alone. But, this is my winter project, and who knows how the winter winds will blow...

It seems that I always need a project, and after finishing the last two, my Bruder semi and trailer conversions, I either what to start on a new semi, which will be a base Tamiya Globetrotter, or go back and correct some of my past RC sins. Not needing another RC, I am going to correct myself on a couple of projects.

The last two projects... They started off as this Bruder push toy, which is advertised as 1/16 scale (the earth movers is an RC)...

323287457_495578819377454_3923301728709539497_n by Scott O, on Flickr

I started with the trailer first, here it is behind my King Hauler...

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

After that, I converted the Bruder body using a Knight Hauler chassis, which was a terrible choice, because its the longest chassis there is and had to be cut down by 128mm.

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

I got creative with the batter placement, designing and printing a box for the back with a magnetic lid.

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr

These two took me the better part of nine months to get done. That is, over course, with breaks necessitated by a healthy (or unhealthy) amount of OT at work, along with just having to take a week or two off from the build to work out how I wanted something designed, or to think about problems.

And... just for kicks I threw some love at my King Hauler with a new set of RC4WD wheels. Them buggers are as sharp as they look.

Untitled by Scott O, on Flickr
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