Black Smoke Donkey

[Kinder]

I'm a fan of green, my youngest wants to paint his Camaro green when we get it done.

[Kinder]

I quickly mounted one if the seats that Corey grabbed from Jayson (thanks a ton gents) so I could have two passengers on Barbour Fork. It fit nicely, and folds into a good position so I still have a extended bed area. I'll mount the other as soon as I find another footman loop.

Dang picture won't load on my phone, I'll get it loaded at home later.

Also let my youngest steer for a few minutes on a flat section, got to love diesel torque, no pedals required.

http://youtu.be/kC8_iIuAMXE

[Colorado75bronc]

Sweet man, looks like a pro driving that beast

[Eck]

Do you plan to have a bench seat as well as the fold up 3rd row seating? That thing is gonna be sweet... would be a perfect hunting vehicle (sans the diesel spooking any animals within a 2 mile radius!)

[Kinder]

No bench plan as of yet, if I score a fold & tumble it will go in place of the 2nd row buckets. Geez a 6 passenger bronco isn't enough for you, it has to seat 7!?!?! Actually if it seats 7 it'd be able to carry what my wife's exploder does.

[Eck]

I forgot you were putting buckets in place of the bench. That will look good too-- more of a military look! It will also leave room for a beverage cooler between the seats.

http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/AR ... MgodU2MAsA

[Kinder]

Picked up an old Warn winch bumper from Don's yard (thanks Corey for the parts run) for a Warn 8274. I'm not a fan of the style, but the winch plate mounting area is really nice, so I cut the side bumpers off and stuffed some 2x4 steel into my frame ends. I was able to get it pretty deep and I'll be able to do at least 2 cross bolts. I also cut down some 2" receiver square tubing to make the angle flange that the plate attaches to. I just need to pick up some grade 8 bolts to finish the install.

Next step will be to make some small nerf style extensions for the sides and triangulate them, I may also repurpose a old pusher bumper that use to be on my Bronco when I first bought it to protect the grill and head light area.

[hockeydad4-22]

Sweet!

[Rox Crusher]

Are you going to shim the gap between the outside of the 2" rectang tube and the inside of the frame ?

I am looking at doing something similar to mine and there is about 1/4" on each side.

[Lobobronco]

Looks great!

Only...missing the trade mark Kirk hocky pucks/tree savers :)!

Well done!

Matt

[Kinder]

Are you going to shim the gap between the outside of the 2" rectang tube and the inside of the frame ?

I am looking at doing something similar to mine and there is about 1/4" on each side.

Yep, I've got some left over 2.5 x 11 gauge flat stock from when I built my frame extension sleeves that should fit nicely.

[Kinder]

Looks great!

Only...missing the trade mark Kirk hocky pucks/tree savers :)!

Well done!

Matt

Those are sitting in my "yet to be put back on box", I used them too many times to abandon them!

[hockeydad4-22]

Looks great!

Only...missing the trade mark Kirk hocky pucks/tree savers :)!

Well done!

Matt

I always thought he considered them " bolt on enhancements"

[Justin]

I think they're bumper nipples.

[Jesus_man]

Kirk - your steel looks pretty stout already, but you might consider putting something inside them to keep them from crushing when you tighten down your thru-bolts. That way you can get the proper sandwich effect on the frame.

How much clearance do you have between the rear of the winch and the grill? You can cut off the horns and get that winch to tuck in tighter. Can you raise it any? With a longer wheel base, you are more likely to nose into the ground on a steep descent. My winch sits on the same plane as the top of my frame. But on my first bronco I had, may have been the same Warn winch bumper and that thing was in the way as it was so low and stuck out so far.

It's easy to be an arm-chair fabricator :-)

[Kinder]

I don't mind the feedback, I seek it, especially when it's good. I've not considered sleeving the tube, I'll look into it as I also want to sleeve the trans mount. I did consider mounting it higher, but it will stick out the same amount. I left less than an inch between it and the grill and with my body lift I'm getting more flexing than before so I need the space. If I move it higher I could cut the tubes at an angle, I'll take some measurements and see how that would affect my approach / departure angles.

[Kinder]

Four buckets!



I also channeled my innermost Phil yesterday and reused a cable end on my winch power connection. The old cable had seen better days but had a desirable end, so I cut off the cable and drilled the end out, filled the little cup area with solder, heated it up and pressed in the new 1 ga cable.

[Eck]

You may have already covered this but how are you doing the rear doors?

[Rox Crusher]

I don't know if doors are in the plan or not but doors without window frames would be really cool looking on that rig

[Kinder]

Yes, doors will be built for the back openings, section and hinged suicide style. Both front & rear doors will have removable frames.

[Kinder]

Loaded up the Donkey Cart with around 750lbs and tugged it all over the metro area today. Have I said I love my diesel yet?

[JGZ]

I saw you on C-470 near Kipling.You seemed to have a crap eatin grin on.Awesome

[landshark]

Loaded up the Donkey Cart with around 750lbs and tugged it all over the metro area today. Have I said I love my diesel yet?

want to go pick up a transmission :)

[Justin]

Combined wheelbase = 478 inches. :-)

[Geologist]

Kinder, amazing job!! Looks great and love that trailer!

[kbank6]

So when are you going to mass producing the trailers? I'd like to get on that list...

[Jesus_man]

That's an expedition/overland rig if I've ever seen! I love it!

[Kinder]

Geo & kbank, check out the link, it's the build thread on my trailer. It was a project of "firsts" for me; welding, cutting, sheet metal work, suspension, etc. There are still a few loose ends on the trailer to finish, but it has been yanked all over mountains and performed well.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=67

Just wait until I set the camper on and then things are going to get with the overland / expo theme.

[Geologist]

Geo & kbank, check out the link, it's the build thread on my trailer. It was a project of "firsts" for me; welding, cutting, sheet metal work, suspension, etc. There are still a few loose ends on the trailer to finish, but it has been yanked all over mountains and performed well.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=67

Just wait until I set the camper on and then things are going to get with the overland / expo theme.

Just read through the entire forum on the trailer build. I love the idea of using that project for all your firsts. I think I may have to copy. Can't wait to see it with the camper on it!!!!

[Kinder]

Worked on the soft top puzzle today, pretty straight fwd. I have the extra bows & window frames from my white STC top, plan to have the small front section professionally extended. I'll need to make the between the doors pieces; bow mount/bracket, spacer for the door frames and a tie in piece along the top to stabilize it.