R/C Tonka dump truck

[TheMachinist]

Here's a low buck Tonka conversion.
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l539/TheMachinistman/DSC06531.jpg
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l539/TheMachinistman/DSC06575.jpg
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l539/TheMachinistman/DSC06585.jpg

Video clips
dump mechanism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRCa5zq8Z7s&feature=related
Finished truck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjeMTmsWq1A&feature=related

[will43209]

Pretty cool dump truck! :D

[mikeymagz]

That is pretty cool!!!

I have never seen a servo used like that B4 ???

Just on a winch.


BRILLIANT!!!

[SmallHaul]

Good job, it runs nice.

[TheMachinist]

Suprisingly it has good power empty. Enough to spin the tires on concrete, but it gets sluggish with a full load.

[rc_farmer]

Very nice idea of a conversion.

[JensR]

Great tipping mechanism!
I really like that it still has the original character :)
May I ask what the servos are?
And do you not get problems with the exposed gearing?

[TheMachinist]

The dump and drive servos are RC4WD 200oz crawler steering servos with the drive one adapted to continuous rotation. The gears are quite exposed and I have to be careful not to get them hung up on anything. The dump has tons of power but the drive is marginal with 4lbs of rocks in the box. It runs fine on flat ground but struggles with inclines. I just have to load it accordingly.
Thanks for looking
Jordy

[JensR]

Thanks for the info!
I suppose you could use different gearing, but then you'd have to accept slower drive-speed. Probably wiser to just enjoy it as it is :)

[Stuff]

ive been thinking of rc4wd's mini rear axle.. its a 100$ touch though.

okay.. correction they dropped to 50 bucks... but you still need all the hardware to mount it etc.

http://store.rc4wd.com/118-T-Rex-Micro-Rear-Straight-Axle_p_438.html

http://store.rc4wd.com/thumbnail.asp?file=assets/images/dsc_6759.jpg&maxx=300&maxy=0

[TheMachinist]

I think Smallhaul used the drivetrain from a mini rock crawler like a 1/16 Losi or Duratrax on his Tonka's. They are about the right size and would offer plenty of strength and power. Once I find another dump truck to mod that is probably the route I will go, but the RC4WD axle sure looks good and would be a simple install on one of these trucks.

[sparkycuda]

This is such a great conversion. Especially like that you kept the original character of the truck. Just paint the wheels to match the factory ones and no one will know - except that it moves and dumps!

Good job! :):)

ken=

[TheMachinist]

This is such a great conversion. Especially like that you kept the original character of the truck. Just paint the wheels to match the factory ones and no one will know - except that it moves and dumps!

Good job! :):)

ken=

Thanks
I had to research the wheel color to see it. The truck I have is a reproduction of the original and the colors are off from the real one. I'll have to add this to my list of To Do's.

[TheMachinist]

On a side note I found a really easy latch system for the dump box gate. I glued a 3/16" round rare earth magnet inside the box, up against the tail gate and it holds it just enough to keep the load in while travelling but lets go when the pressure builds up on it during dumping.

[doodlebug]

Way to go on the tailgate latch! Neat conversion.
Later, Neil#2 aka doodlebug.

[Dieselholic]

This is really cool! I have the exact same truck at home without an idea what to do with it, but now i know what I'm gonna do.

[Espeefan]

That's a nice and simple conversion! The beauty is in the simplicity of the design. I like that. Servos, converted to continuous rotation make nice gear head motors. I think sometimes people over look the fact that they have a built in speed controller, giving them an advantage in tight spots, or on models with little room.

[rsd53]

This is a beautiful build, and I really like its simplicity. Any help with mine would be appreciated.