Cross-RC UC6 tank hauler

[Billdit]

Hi,
I wanted to share my latest project which is all finished bar some wiring. I started this because I bought an all metal tank and didn't want to carry it to a location where I could use it.
My idea was to make a trailer that could be pulled offroad by a truck with a fith wheel coupling, so an offroad truck was required. I already had a 1/12th Cross-RC UC6 truck which was the wrong scale I know, but would be up to the job of pulling a weighty tank and trailer.

With regards to the truck, I basically removed the bed with the seating etc. extended the wheel base, added a extension transfer case for the drive shafts and installed a metal fifth wheel coupling. I made a new bed to carry the battery box and a couple of barrels and a crate to house a smoke unit.

The trailer is homemade, so not perfect but does the job.
Here's a photo of the completed setup taken last Sunday. I'll share more photos of the trailer build later if you'd like to see them.
The truck I'll do a seperate thread for to show the conversion.
Thanks for watching.

[Billdit]

The trailer I designed on 2d autocad, basically I measured the length of the tank and made the trailer to suit. The tank weighs around 8kg, so the trailer needed to be fairly strong.
My idea was to make to spines the full length of the trailer and bolt it altogether with cross members and outriggers.
I made the spines from 4 pieces of 1mm sheet steel and sandwiched perspex between each pair.
After making wooden templates and cutting out the steel, this is what I ended up with.














The next fun part was cutting them out.

[Billdit]

After much cutting I made a bracket from steel which would space the spines apart at the front and also double up as the coupling pin mount. I sourced a trailer for donor parts, mainly for the suspension, but also for body work to make the bed for the UC6 truck. The trailer came from Cross-rc.



Once I built the suspension I bolted the spines to it and hooked it up to the truck for a test fit.

[Billdit]

Now for a suspension test, will it be able to take the weight of the tank? The simple answer was no!

The leaf springs were just flattening out on the truck and trailer...









So I increased the amount of leaves which sorted the problem.

[Billdit]

I added the correct wheels (to be painted) and a new fifth wheel with pinion and it's atowable trailer.

[Billdit]

The next step was to add the cross members and outriggers. These are made of solid aluminum square rod which was cut and threaded by my local friendly machine shop.
Once I got them back, I bolted them on and this is the result...

[Billdit]

Running boards next. These are made from 60mm x 5mm flat aluminum and are bolted to the outriggers. As the scale of the tank is a bit small, I purposely made the running boards narrower so the tank tracks overhang to give the effect of a large tank on a small trailer if you know what I mean.

[kaptain Jack]

Very nice job

[Billdit]

Originally Posted by kaptain Jack

Very nice job

Thanks.

[Billdit]

A quick photo of my humble workshop or "mancave" as they're commonly referred to...

[Billdit]

So moving on... I made some ramps from the same material as the running boards. I added some old metal sockabsorbers without springs as fake ramp rams...

[Billdit]

Next job was to add some wooden boards. I made these from balsa wood and cut grooves in the wood to look like planks. I capped the edges with "U" shaped aluminum to hold the balsa wood in place and give a durable edge too.

[Billdit]

I added some chains to hold the tank in place as it slipped off the trailer when first tested. The turn buckle is there to put tension on the chains once they're attached to the tank.

[moo10032]

Looks amazing! How did you cut out the main 2 frame pieces out of steel?

[Billdit]

I used an electric shear, it's a tool I used to cut holes in roofs of cars when installing after market sun roofs. It's a hand held tool and it cuts through 1mm steel like a pair of scissors through paper. It's very easy to control, so good for following contours.

[Panther F]

Pretty cool stuff here! Especially scratch building one.

Nice work.




Jeff

[Billdit]

Originally Posted by Panther F

Pretty cool stuff here! Especially scratch building one.

Nice work.




Jeff

Thanks Jeff, it's kind of you to say so.

[toniolillo]

A work of 10 yes sir !!!!

[rsd53]

The trailer looks great! I've been wanting to do something like it, but I have other priorities.