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Thread: Project: Mini Crawler... Coming soon!

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    PondSkum's Avatar
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    Project: Mini Crawler... Coming soon!

    OK. Gonna get this thread going. Hope to be able to get some good progress on this in the next year or 2. My son will be 4 in a couple weeks. Keep seeing pictures of that mini Jeep crawler online, so I decided I want to build one. Hope to keep it WAY low budget, and off to a good start so far. Here are the plans as of right now. They are likely to change up a little with time and budget, but this is a good starting point.

    Engine: 2001 Yamaha Kodiak 400 Auto
    Trans: CVT belt drive auto from ATV. HI/LO/N/R/P
    T-case: TBD, but leaning toward a Samurai t-case. Possibly with 6.5:1 low conversion if I decide it's needed, but with LO in the trans and t-case, it may not need it.
    Axles: Samurai axles or something else as narrow as possible.
    Chassis: all 1.25 or 1.5" tubing. Shooting for Width and Length around the size of my Polaris Ranger. 60" total width, 81" wheelbase. Would like to get it skinnier, but don't want to mess with custom axle shafts and such if I can get away without.
    Tires: I'm going to use the 27" Super Swamper TSL's that are currently on the donor ATV at first. If they don't work out, I'm thinking 30-32" tires. I know I can get some JK Rubicon stockers fairly cheap if I don't stay with an ATV type tire.
    Suspension: Not sure yet. Air shocks would be nice, but they are too $$$... Might try to find some FOX coilovers from a RZR or something. I need to figure out how heavy this thing is gonna be first, but I'm hoping it's around the same size/weight of a RZR. I have a full set of shocks/springs from a Polaris Ranger 900, that I might be able to try out, just not sure they will have the travel that I want.
    Steering: Still up in the air.. Looking into an aftermarket electronic power steering setup that might work for me.. Might try to find a Samurai manual gear box at first to see how it works out. Full hydro might be a little tricky running off the ATV engine, unless I use an electric pump.
    MISC: Of course there will be misc stuff added on. LED lights, some tunes, fuel cell, etc.

    I'm hoping my son will have fun helping me out with this project, and we will get to enjoy it on the trails when it's complete.

    Here's the beginning. The donor vehicle.

    2001 TJ - PondSkum
    Build in progress....

    "The wisest mind has something yet to learn." ~ George Santayana

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    PondSkum's Avatar
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    Here is a pic of the inspirational rig. Ironically, the 4 wheeler I picked up has the same tires. Might be some kind of sign... that's what I'm going with...

    13836d1239368015-mini-rock-crawler-100_5178.jpg
    2001 TJ - PondSkum
    Build in progress....

    "The wisest mind has something yet to learn." ~ George Santayana

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    RubiconAg is offline Chapter Vice President Bryan/College Station Chapter
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    I've seen pics of these before. It would be really cool.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

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    PondSkum's Avatar
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    I really hope to keep it sized small enough for him, but big enough that I can sit in it and drive also..
    2001 TJ - PondSkum
    Build in progress....

    "The wisest mind has something yet to learn." ~ George Santayana

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    PondSkum's Avatar
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    So my son and I started disassembly to clean and assess what needs repair... I'm making him help me if he wants it to be his, LOL. Show him the value of hard work and the pride in building something yourself...

    I figured out it's a 2001 model not 2002. But there's not much different.. So far it needs carb rebuild, new airbox assembly, clutches cleaned, remove broken bolts from CVT cover, and lots of TLC. I'm sure the fluids, a new spark plug, adjust valves, and some other minor items will need work. But looks like it won't take much to get it up and going again. Been sitting for 2 years in my neighbor's back yard.






    2001 TJ - PondSkum
    Build in progress....

    "The wisest mind has something yet to learn." ~ George Santayana

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    UstabeaRenegade's Avatar
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    The chassis will be the fun part of that one.

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    PondSkum's Avatar
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    Project: Mini Crawler... Coming soon!

    Yeah chassis will be fun.

    Here is some more inspiration. This is a little girl driving this buggy. Sweet rig for sure!

    2001 TJ - PondSkum
    Build in progress....

    "The wisest mind has something yet to learn." ~ George Santayana

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    JTM's Avatar
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    I was looking at parts for a dune buggy and didn't realize how inexpensive the rack and pinions are for those.
    Justin
    TMTC Representative
    88 XJ - Dana 44s and jack stands

  9. #9
    TheWife05x is offline Chapter Run Coordinator Bryan/College Station Chapter

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    That is awesome!

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
    Saturdays I cook, bake, keep a clean house and take care of the kid but on Sunday I wheel.

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    PondSkum's Avatar
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    He can't even wait to finish it.. We are still disassembling and he wants to ride it... LOL

    2001 TJ - PondSkum
    Build in progress....

    "The wisest mind has something yet to learn." ~ George Santayana

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