Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Just had to see what the painted body looks like on the chassis with the wheels/tires installed....

https://photos.smugmug.com/Hobby-Stu...MG_8171-XL.jpg

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

On June 18th some Texas folks are getting together with some RC construction equipment and trucks to play around. I'm stoked about running my Peterbilt with some other rigs so that was enough motivation to finally get off my butt and work on the next step of the truck: mounting the transfer case.

I decided on an Axial trans as a t-case. It's going to hang down pretty darn low, but that's okay. This thing isn't a rock crawler. And if the low slung nature of the t-case causes too many hang-ups, I can always build a new bracket with the t-case oriented in a different direction. But with it the way it is, the front driveshaft easily clears the transmission so I figured I'd give it a whirl.

First I took some folder material and started mocking up the overall length of material needed and where I'd want to bend it (approximately, of course).
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ae...=w1215-h911-no

Then I transferred it to some 1/8" THK aluminum flat stock and began bending it. I just used my vice so the bends did not come out too cleanly. That's okay. It'll work for now and doesn't look awful.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dn...=w1215-h911-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/U8...=w1215-h911-no

Was able to re-use the stock rear driveshaft to join the trans to the t-case.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8P...=w1215-h911-no

Using the stock main driveshaft for the front now. This may change soon, though.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vJ...=w1215-h911-no

The t-case sits a bit above the framerails so I had to trim away some of the sleeper cab floor.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/nS...=w1215-h911-no

Now it'll sit nice and flush. I just need a rear driveshaft to join the t-case and the middle axle.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Qx...=w1215-h911-no

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Couple more pics....
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bu...=w1215-h911-no

Showing off the new Lesu aluminum grill.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5g...=w1215-h911-no

Front driveshaft and t-case skid just visible below.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Za...=w1215-h911-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Zt...=w1215-h911-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yE...=w1215-h911-no

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Lookin' good! Almost too bad to get it dirty ;)

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Very Nice! Clean and uncluttered, beautiful job

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Awesome job! I like the gold leaf :)

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Thanks, everyone! :)

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

hi there your build looks realy great i was hopeing you might have some pics of how you set up your locking diff cables i am haveing problems makeing mine work

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Hi and thanks very much! No locking diffs on this truck, however. I just used a VERY heavy oil in the diffs to nearly lock them, but allow them to slip.

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Okay, folks, I need some suggestions! All throughout this build I've had the plan to paint the chassis the same blue as I used on the truck. I've toured a Kenworth and Peterbilt plant and on some chassis they would paint the entire chassis/suspension the color of the body. The entire rolling chassis would be assembled and then rolled through the paint booth so EVERYTHING would get painted. I love that look and it gives the truck a very "high end" appearance.

I'm 90% sure I'm going to do it (and soon!), but want some thoughts on it before I commit. Most trucks will have a plain gloss black chassis/suspension, but I want this truck to have a "well cared for" look to it and think a painted chassis would suit it, but I'd like to hear y'all's thoughts.

Here's a few trucks that I found inspirational. They look like work trucks that are taken very good care of, but they're not all out "show trucks". This is the look I've envisioned, for the most part....
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0M...-=w500-h375-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ci...V=w674-h504-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Wv...M=w720-h540-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cb...L=w640-h480-no

Now take note of this one... The hubs were also painted the same color as the chassis/body. I'd like thoughts on this, as well. I'm leaning toward leaving mine black, though. Suggestions?
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/PW...=w1280-h720-no

For what it's worth, the fuel tanks will remain chrome, but the straps will be painted blue. And here's a pic of the truck making a cameo appearance at the drift track in Houston last night:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vp...V=w615-h346-no

In the background....
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/14...=w1369-h770-no

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Any updates on this truck?
Im building a 6x6 King Hauler Day Cab and I was wondering if you ever did get any more steering lock out of those TLT-1 axles?

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

This project is back after a way-loo-long hiatus. Currently working on paint. Decided it's getting a Cat. :)
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...cvVP6Nq-X2.jpg

Chassis is getting fresh paint, as well.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...qXdT3GN-X2.jpg

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

LOL you should be all primed for a fresh start....

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Ha! I see what you did there! :D


So for the most part the paint work is now.....finally.....complete. The chassis got some gloss clear, but not as much as the body did. That just seemed to make more sense to me that the frame isn't quite as pretty. Anyway, here's some pics...
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...pcMM9bP-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...z4c6Rc5-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...fVtpDpp-X2.jpg

An overhead shot of the Axial t-case.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...qzQRLLc-X2.jpg

I need to get the 5th wheel's orientation corrected. It's leaning the wrong way again!
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...szJf7jn-X2.jpg

Interior floors going back in. You can see where I hacked it to clear for the raised transmission.....which was required to make room for the front driveshaft.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...j8NHScm-X2.jpg

I'll need to build a center console to cover this up when I finish out the interior. I don't plan on having side windows so the interior will need to be fully detailed to look realistic.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...SHPqxnW-X2.jpg

Looking like a truck again. The front needs to come down about 1/4", but I've got a few options on how to address that.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...hBQttsF-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...zBXPRQt-X2.jpg

Here you can see how far the front tires stick out from the fenders. I'd prefer a narrower track, but I'm okay with this.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...zgfqKRL-X2.jpg

But to keep the front and rear track widths proportional I think I'm going to make some 1 or 2 mm spacers for the rear. It'll be subtle, but it'll also provide some space between the tires, which I think will be a good thing, appearance-wise.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...D4kQnkZ-X2.jpg

Oh, one other thing I did tonight. The hub bore on the Lesu wheels is super tight and with just paint on the hubs, they would get scratched up when installing them. I couldn't have that so I bored the wheels' center bore ever so slightly. This angle makes it look worse than it is. It actually looks good and nicely centered in person. At least now the wheels can be installed/removed without scratching up the hubs. :D
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...dtjcKZS-X2.jpg

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Glad to see you're back at it. That's looking really sharp!

It's a shame the trans eats that much interior room, but it should be able to handle a lot more terrain now

For the front track width on that TLT, why not just get some narrower wheel hexes?

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Thanks! Yeah, it's a bummer about the interior, but I'll fab up some interior bits to make it all look nice. Just gonna take more time. :)

I think I'm down to a 4mm thick hex already. And to fit that I had to "machine" the depth of the hex on the front wheels. I'm not sure how much farther in I could go, but thanks to my RC drifting, I do have some crazy thin hexes that I may be able to try. Hmm.....

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Good news. Turns out the dash fits over the transmission without modification. I'll still need to build a center console over it, but that's okay. I knew I'd have to do that.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...QKV26CJ-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...2Pc8SL6-X2.jpg

Then as I was sifting through bins of parts I came across some stock HiLift springs. Wow, these are easy to bend! So I did a little eyeball de-arching and test fit them under the truck.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...wBPXk9P-X2.jpg

It's still got a smidge of negative rake, but it's hardly noticeable. I may leave it like this, but I'll have to paint those springs, of course.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...LJxBhXB-X2.jpg

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

So the truck is now the closest it's ever been to finally being a runner! So OF COURSE I end up doing this:
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...v6r7NS5-X2.jpg

Yeah, I'm a glutton for punishement. I decided to change two rather important things about the truck. First, I decided to change the drivetrain. A Lesu 3 speed trans will be here tomorrow and it's already set up for AWD. Second, I decided the stock frame rails made the truck look a little too stubby for my liking. So I picked up some Grand Hauler rails.

Here's the truck with the new (unpainted) rails installed. Ideally I may prefer it about one inch shorter overall, but I'm going to try it like this first. Maybe one day I'll shorten the wheelbase, but I think the longer setup fits the style of truck I'm wanting to emulate.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...GxMrnps-X2.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...fxGdNFg-X2.jpg

The Lesu gearbox has an even taller gearset than the stock Tamiya. That sucks! So to compensate I picked up a HH 80t motor and it's feeding a 3:1 gear reduction unit. I hope this new drivetrain holds up okay. I've heard bad things about some of the Lesu stuff.
https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-...QkSqsvw-X2.jpg

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Looking good! Will be interesting to hear your experience with the new setup.

Re: Peterbilt 6x6 Medium Hauler
 

Changing the subject some, What's the yellow Wrangler?