RSB's Radiant Red Tacoma build

[RSB]

Thanks! Okay, sorry about that. Was it the upper? I remember just tightening the uniballs to the spindles with a socket wrench. I didn't need to mess with the ball joints on the LCAs so I just left them alone.

Nevermind. I was able to figure it out.:ylsmoke:

 

[RSB]

Ladies and gentlemen—the rear cross member has finally begun! Here's a sneak peak of the prototype...

More to come! :sombrero:

 

[CYi5]

and what is this going to suspend again?

 

[RSB]

The starter battery & auxiliary air tank.

and what is this going to suspend again?

 

[RSB]

Prototype complete!

The brackets are designed to mount the battery & air tank as far forward as possible without the need to drill new holes into the frame. They bolt directly to the stock rear cross member. I'll be putting them to the test this weekend to see if additional gussets may be needed. So far, they seem strong enough to support the weight without them.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Nice!

 

[Mr. Leary]

I like the setup, Ryan. You've got all that space... that is now being put to good use.

 

[soonenough]

Looks nice! One suggestion if I may - you might consider putting the 'tray' for the tank and battery on top of the two supporting brackets instead of hanging from them. That way if the bolts ever work themselves loose over time, the tray might stay in place (at least for a little while) instead of immediately falling out. From the picture, it looks like you could just trim some material off each end and it would fit nicely between the brackets. Just a thought

 

[TangoBlue]

Clever - nice job. Might want to flip the carrier piece, too so that the lip is up vice down giving you a little more clearance and less likely to grab apiece of trail. A few holes drilled to promote drainage would be a nice touch as well.

 

[AlexJet]

Nice,
The only concern I'd have is environment effect. Do you have salt/water/snow in your driving agenda?

 

[RSB]

Thank-you! I was thinking the same thing. The initial challenge was figuring-out how to mount the battery & air tank high enough without losing accessibility. With it bolted beneath the brackets, the whole tray could be installed/removed with a floor jack. Above the brackets, it couldn't and the battery wouldn't have enough clearance for installation/removal with the tray already in place.

Turned-out the air tank was taller than the battery. My fabricator and I didn't realize at the time the battery therefore had more clearance and could be removed from the tray even if installed above the brackets. I figured this out once I bolted the prototype together.

I'll be making this change in the next version.

Looks nice! One suggestion if I may - you might consider putting the 'tray' for the tank and battery on top of the two supporting brackets instead of hanging from them. That way if the bolts ever work themselves loose over time, the tray might stay in place (at least for a little while) instead of immediately falling out. From the picture, it looks like you could just trim some material off each end and it would fit nicely between the brackets. Just a thought

 

[RSB]

Thanks guys!

Nice!

I like the setup, Ryan. You've got all that space... that is now being put to good use.

 

[RSB]

Thanks! I do just that.

Clever - nice job. Might want to flip the carrier piece, too so that the lip is up vice down giving you a little more clearance and less likely to grab apiece of trail. A few holes drilled to promote drainage would be a nice touch as well.

 

[RSB]

Thanks! Yes, the final version will be powdercoated.

Nice,
The only concern I'd have is environment effect. Do you have salt/water/snow in your driving agenda?

 

[RSB]

I'm getting concerns on TTORA that the crossmember probably wouldn't hold-up very well because it's too low to the ground and likely and not strong enough to take a hit on the rocks. I guess I figured at full compression the crossmember would still be a bit higher than the axle so it wouldn't be a problem. I don't think I can get it any higher because of the height of the air tank and so turning the battery on its side wouldn't help.

Any suggestions?