MAN TGA Dakar Truck

[mototodo]

I hadn't been building RC crawlers for long when I spotted the Bruder (http://www.brudertoys.com/i11/Company-Info/information.html) truck shelf in an Illinois hobby shop. In fact, I was in the process of building my first RC. While admiring the scale detail of the toys, it occurred to me that a Bruder would be my second project. Soon after, I was lucky enough to find a Bruder posting on Craigslist. It turned out to be a MAN cement mixer that a 10-year old had lost interest in. And at $15, the price was just right.

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-001.jpg
The cab is slightly elevated because I removed the cab from the chassis before I took the picture.

I wasn't sure what would ultimately come of the truck, only that like my first build, it would start with a body and go from there. I researched MAN trucks and looked at many photos. MAN trucks are to Europe what Mack trucks are to the U.S. With company headquarters in Munich, Germany, MAN trucks were born out of an industrial machine company that was originally founded in 1758. Rudolf Diesel (http://www.autonews.com/files/euroauto/inductees/diesel.htm) developed and patented his diesel engine while working with MAN engineers in the 1890's. And in 1924, following several years of improvements and refinement, a MAN truck became the first vehicle to use a direct-injection diesel engine. Today, MAN is the European market leader of trucks, coaches, military vehicles, and diesel engines.

Clearly, this was going to be a Euro-truck since MAN trucks have never been imported to the U.S. I considered many configurations and one thing that I had been wanting to incorporate in my second project was a Tamiya three-speed transmission. I was happy that a 3-speed would be very well suited for a MAN truck. I purchased a used transmission from a High Lift. As it turned out, the seller included the chassis rails, ESC, motor, servos, leaf springs, and drive shafts. Looking at the pile of parts, I realized that I would have a roller by simply bolting everything together and adding wheels!

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-003.jpg

[mototodo]

I mounted the cab to the High Lift chassis, dressed up the interior a little, and transferred the chassis bits. The air tanks and fuel tank were tricky but I was very happy with how they turned out. I worked so hard getting them right but I would have to space them out more later. The cab tilts for easy access.

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-006.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-008.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-010.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-011.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-012.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-020.jpg

[mototodo]

The fuel tank looked like a great place to hide the lighting circuitry. I'm not sure why I used a connector on the PC board but it was a good idea at the time. The scale accuracy made the installed LED's look almost factory.

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-015.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-016.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-018.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-021.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-022.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-031.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-032.jpg

[mototodo]

I didn't realize it when I made the roller but Blazerbogger was quick to remind me that he had claimed the leafs and shackles when I purchased the High Lift parts. I could tell that he was getting close to needing them for his Chevy build so rather than pay a high price for mounts and shackles, I fabricated my own set. The suspension works great and the truck is getting quite heavy so it may need helper springs.

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-023.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-024.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-026.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-027.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-028.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-029.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-030.jpg

[mototodo]

Looking at all of the pictures of MAN trucks I came across many MANs that have been driven in the Dakar rally. BINGO! Not only am I a fan of the Dakar, the Moto Class in particular, but I had always thought that the closest I would get to the rally would be driving an RC model and here was my chance. I made some cab protection and since it was windowless, I cut some glass.

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-034.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-035.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-036.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-038.jpg

[mototodo]

I had to put some thought into attaching the bed so that it would be high enough to clear the wheels and maintenance friendly. I also discovered that the tanks would have to be spaced further from the chassis rails so they wouldn't be buried under the bed. The plywood bed turned out very sturdy and the box very stout with .060 sides and .030 top. The box is easily separated from the bed and the bed is easily separated from the chassis rails and they can be detached separately or together as one unit. Very neat and future modifications should be very easy.

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-039.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-040.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-042.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-043.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-045.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-046.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-048.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-053.jpg

[teebeehex]

Excellent work so far, the build is looking great. Looks like you're not too far from being finished.

[mototodo]

Thanks. Yes, it is getting along. I am stuck right now with the battery. It fits between the bed rails and I have come up with a sliding tray but I'm not sure how to secure it. I can strap the battery to the tray, and the tray will slide on pins but I need to keep the tray from sliding back out. I have thought of different ways to keep it in but I want it to be a quick-release. Maybe a long bolt through the bed rails with a body clip.

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-054.jpg

[LOSIASSOCIATED#1]

Looks good keep up the good work.

[jeffro]

Hi Todd,

I don't know much about these, although I know a little more after reading your description. I really don't know much about DAKAR either, only what I have picked up from hanging around the different RC forums

Looks like a neat little build though, looks like the tires need a little more air pressure :D

Wish I could fab some shackles and perches as nice as yours. Sorry, I'm just not a great talker on here when it comes to someone else's build, seems like I can never think of something worth while to say. It is looking good. I'll have to see what you do to it.

[mototodo]

Looks good keep up the good work.

Thank you #1.




Looks like a neat little build though, looks like the tires need a little more air pressure :D

Ha! The 1.9 Flat Irons were the only thing handy to throw on when I slapped together the chassis. My first impression was that they would be too big for the truck. After pondering it for a while, I decided that the truck wouldn't perform very well on the trail with a more scale-size tire. I also considered MRC axles but they definitely wouldn't be beefy enough for this truck and again, the CG is pretty high so driving it like a Dakar truck would be out of the question. I have some 1.9 Rock Crushers coming that have much sturdier sidewalls and although they have the same diameter as the Flat Irons, should allow the truck to be driven as it should be driven. And they have an appropriate scale tread design.



Wish I could fab some shackles and perches as nice as yours.

Thank you. I started fabbing shackles out of necessity and I am pleased with how they come out. And the price is right.



seems like I can never think of something worth while to say. It is looking good.

That, my friend, is very worth while.

[chaos]

:yourock:

Subscribed...love watching these beast's tear up the desert sand...

[Blazerbogger]

This has been my problem lately.



Sorry, I'm just not a great talker on here when it comes to someone else's build, seems like I can never think of something worth while to say. It is looking good. I'll have to see what you do to it.

[Wyoming]

Like Jeffro I don't know much about these but I know what I like and I love the look of this truck and racing across a desert in a truck is so interesting

[The Lux]

For the uninitiated have a look at this fotage from this years dakar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VLDNtkA6Rg

I love the dakar and the trucks, keep it up mototodo.

[Northwest 4x4]

man its making me wanting to build one now

[mototodo]

I have finally gotten past the battery placement. It is really slick and it probably wouldn't have turned out like this if I had planned it. The battery straps to the tray and the tray slides along the top of the steel chassis rails, pinched between the aluminum bed rails. There are short bolts that guide the battery tray along the top of the chassis rails and prevent it from sliding forward or lifting off the chassis rails. When the tray is pushed all the way in, it kind of hooks onto the front bolt, making it pretty difficult to slide back out. A stiff tug gets it to release so it can slide back out. The battery to ESC deans connection is made between the rails so the power leads don't need to be fished through any tight places.

The first picture shows the back of the truck. The tray is not pushed all of the way in. The second picture shows the front of the tray under the right front bolt and it is under the front bolts where it friction locks.

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-055.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-056.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-054a.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-054b.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-054c.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-054d.jpg

[mototodo]

Fabricated a bumper for the rear end and taillight buckets.

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-057.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-058.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-060.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-061.jpg

[ivan-ator]

looks sweet. very nice.

[mototodo]

I was horrified at how low the transmission sat in the chassis. I considered clocking the motor 90° and raising the transmission. Then it occurred to me: I have a lot of clearance over the transmission so why not raise the whole thing up as-is. The only downside would be a raised CG.

It turned out to be much easier than clocking because I have a second set of rails on top of the chassis rails. Clearance is much better now. The rear drive shaft no longer angles up to the rear differential. Yes, the CG is higher but I will see how much of a problem it is. I don't think it's going to be doing much rock crawling. In fact, I dropped a 20-turn motor in it and it was flying. Just like a Dakar/trail basher should. I'm thinking a 27T motor might make it a blast yet tractable in 3rd. Something tells me this isn't going to be pretty.

And so castles made of sand, melt into the sea, eventually.

BEFORE:
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-048.jpg

AFTER:
http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-062.jpg

[Northwest 4x4]

nice clearence, looks really good

[mototodo]

Back in town and back on the build. I wired in a connector for the cab so now the cab can be easily removed from the chassis as a single unit. When I wired up the lighting box, I put a connector on the PC board but I hadn't completely thought that through since the connector is inside the box. It allows quick removal of the PC board but had I mounted it outside the box or slotted the cable into the box, the cab would have been a quick disconnect from the get-go.

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-065.jpg

I made some recovery hooks out of cotter pins. Yellow for easy identity. There is no structure behind the bumper at that point so they are non-functioning.

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-066.jpg

Here are the wheels and tires. RC4WD 1.9 Rock Crushers on modified Tamiya Hummer Wheels. I modified the Hummer wheels to look more like a commercial wheel. It was a lot of work shaving the lugs, flattening and filling the rim, and then relocating the lugs. The Hummer wheels each have eight large lugs in the outer rim and eight small lugs in the inner rim. I wanted ten lugs per wheel, so I wound up short six large lugs. I used ten of the small lugs for one of the wheels. I'm very happy with the result and you have to look really close to see that the lugs are not all the same.

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-069.jpg

Lastly, I am trying to decide where to mount the auxiliary lights. The lower location is easier to mount but the higher location looks more traditional. I'm finding it hard to make a decision.

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-067.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-068.jpg

[Flowmastered87gl]

i like the lower position personally

[Wyoming]

tough call but I also like lower position

[Northwest 4x4]

did you see that tamiya put out a 1/14 scale man rig now, so if you need parts than you can get them
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0095P?FVSEARCH=sg1220&search=Go

[mototodo]

Thanks Flo and Wyoming, I am leaning toward the lower position as well. Maybe smaller lights would help.

NW4x4: I have seen pictures of Tamiya's MAN TGX. It's a very nice looking truck. Mrs. Losiassociated built a beautiful pink one with a build thread on scale4x4 under LOSIASSOCIATED.

[mototodo]

I went with the lower location for the lights. It was much easier to mount the lights there and I agree with others that they fit better with the lines of the cab. I am keeping my eye out for smaller lights because these still seem a little big.

I was considering going brushless, and though I haven't ruled it out, it turns out a 27-turn motor has the speed that I was hoping for. It ROCKS! The 3-speeds are great! It can crawl and it can fly. Shifting is fun, too. I dumped it on its side a couple of times the first time out. You don't want to make any quick turns at speed. The crawl angle was better than I expected, too but it is top-heavy. I have since weighted all of the wheels with stick-on weights and it is more planted now.

I still have some work to do: mud flaps, paint, sponsor decals, spare tire, etc. but it is great knowing that it is turning out to be such a great trail basher.


http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-071.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-072.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-073.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-076a.jpg

http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b432/mototodo/Bruder%20MAN%20Truck/Bruder-077.jpg

[OldSchoolRC]

Awesome build! Amazing patience on those wheels, that must have taken some serious time....really turned out well!