Project Cheap Hauler 6x6 W900

[skeeter]

I LOVE it! I've been thinking of tinkering with a front wheel drive dump truck. I just on't have the confidence to hack a Tamiya 3 speed xmish to make the front driveshaft. I fear I would booger it up & ruin the Xmish

[jj650]

Originally Posted by skeeter

I LOVE it! I've been thinking of tinkering with a front wheel drive dump truck. I just on't have the confidence to hack a Tamiya 3 speed xmish to make the front driveshaft. I fear I would booger it up & ruin the Xmish

I'm going to do another one in the future. I might go a different route though and use a gear reduction/transfer case setup. Simpler, less bulk. I leave my three speed locked in low gear anyways, it's perfect in my opinion.

[jj650]

So a tractor needs something to pull behind it right?! I splurged and ordered a Tamiya flatbed because i had a coupon to use up.

Pretty straightforward build. I didn't do anything different except run my own LED's for tail/running lights. I ran wires up through the middle of the deck and drilled a hole at the bulkhead instead of cutting the wood planks and running them up through the plastic plug.

















And it's first haul out of the woods. LOL

[jj650]

I purchased two Bruder low loader's from their website. You can't go wrong, $22 ea and free shipping.

I left one stock length. I bought a Huina toys electric excavator, mainly for a realistic haul but it does actually work kinda decent. I added Exclusive RC 3D printed side tool boxes up on the front deck and i used styrene and bits and pieces to make up a Diesel fuel tank in the front.

A couple mock up pics before i weathered the whole assembly.





A couple pics with 1/16th scale metal tractors just for show.







I wasn't happy with the nylon straps i made. It just so happened a gentleman on one of the FB groups came up with working 3D printed chain binders. I purchased the first run of them, 10 sets to be exact. LOL







These work just like the real thing. And actually tighten up very well. Again, i weathered them and the steel chain i got from Hobby Lobby to give them that well used look.
And here's the entire load all weathered and ready for work.