A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

...ask your questions in the appropriate forums BUT document your build here...preferably in a single thread...dates for updates, are appreciated....

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby SCwood » Mon Jan 29, 2018 10:07 pm

2018 BOBupdate: BOB took a little trip to the Grand Canyon over the holidays
Image

Image

Image

It wound up being an uncommonly warm weekend for the end of December and the first come first serve campground that stays open during the winter wound up being completely full by the time we got there. But not to fear! We tried our hand at off the grid camping in the national forest. It turned out to be great- we drove a few miles off the highway and there wasn’t anyone to be seen. We’ll probably look to do more national forest camping in the future even if campsites are available.
Image

Image

On the trip to the canyon I noticed BOB was riding lower and lower. I used the timbren 2,000 lb springs and with BOB weighing in at 2,500+ I figured I needed to upgrade the springs. A quick check of the fenders confirmed the tires were bouncing off the fenders since the paint was rubbed off:
Image

I ordered 3,500 springs and went about installing them. The 2,000 lb springs were easy to remove since they were so compressed, but the 3,500 springs were a beast to install. I wound up getting them close, then using a clamp to get them almost all the way in, and finally prying them into place with a screwdriver:
Image

3,500 spring on the left (part # A00101-5500D - sold individually by timbren retailers) and the 2,000 spring on the right
Image

In the end I wound up with about 2 extra inches over the old springs:
Image

Image

I also mounted the final items I’ve been planning on- an axe and shovel secured by a few quick fist clamps. I think that means BOB is finally done! Probably...
Image
User avatar
SCwood
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 96
Images: 0
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2016 6:34 am
Location: Fort Worth, TX

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby KCStudly » Tue Jan 30, 2018 11:35 am

Nice! :applause: :thumbsup:
KC
My Build: The Poet Creek Express Hybrid Foamie

Poet Creek Or Bust
Engineering the TLAR way - "That Looks About Right"
TnTTT ORIGINAL 200A LANTERN CLUB = "The 200A Gang"
Green Lantern Corpsmen
User avatar
KCStudly
Donating Member
 
Posts: 9610
Images: 8169
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:18 pm
Location: Southeastern CT, USA

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby bc toys » Tue Jan 30, 2018 11:43 am

I have seen a ton of builds on her and I can say I enjoyed reading your at the top of the list You did a really great job and glad you are enjoying it BOB looks great :thumbsup:
bc toys
2000 Club
2000 Club
 
Posts: 2217
Images: 42
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:45 pm
Location: LAS VEGAS NV
Top

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby clamlamp » Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:31 am

Beautiful build!

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk
User avatar
clamlamp
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 218
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2017 2:54 pm
Top

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby SCwood » Tue Dec 04, 2018 4:14 pm

Time for another BOB update!

We were heading out to a campground just a few hours away around February and catastrophe struck! After adding the larger springs apparently I forgot to torque the lug nuts on one of BOB’s wheels. It came off in the pitch black night going about 70mph. Losing the wheel sheared off 3 studs and we also couldn’t find the tire. I took 3 lug nuts off the other wheel and we used the spare from the 4Runner to get BOB back on the road. Luckily my parent’s house was close to where we lost the wheel and we stayed there for the night. The next day we found the wheel about 75 yards off the road in a field. It had some gouging from riding on the studs after the lug nuts let loose, but otherwise it was in pretty good shape.

Image

Image

The brake drum cracked from riding on the pavement and the dust shield bent, but that was the extent of the damage. I was expecting to find The side of BOB all torn up but apparently he doesn’t really care if he has wheels or not.

Image

Image

Image

With BOB back in action we headed out to visit my grandparents in St. Marys GA. Since it was a long drive we decided to split it up by stopping in Pensacola first.

Pensacola:
Image

Image

Image

Turns out that’s where the blue angels practice and we got a front row show on the beach:

Image

Campsite at St. Marys:
Image

During the summer we took a trip out to lake texoma and had a blast there:
Image

We also finally took a trip to Padre Island National Seashore and camped about 30 miles down the beach. BOB did great on the beach!
Image

Image

And finally, we just got back from a trip to the Ozarks. During the trip I did a video tour of BOB and will have it ready soon.
Image
User avatar
SCwood
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 96
Images: 0
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2016 6:34 am
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Top

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby tony.latham » Tue Dec 04, 2018 6:06 pm

Great post. (Except for the midnight issue....)

How's Bob ride with the heavier rubbers?

:thinking:

T
User avatar
tony.latham
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 6880
Images: 17
Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:03 pm
Location: Middle of Idaho on the edge of nowhere
Top

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby ssuuki19 » Tue Dec 04, 2018 6:27 pm

tony.latham wrote:Great post. (Except for the midnight issue....)

How's Bob ride with the heavier rubbers?

:thinking:

T

I second that notion - glad the situation worked out ok (i have done the same thing). Also curious about the new rubbers and any chance you were able to monitor the fender clearance since they were installed.

How does sealant get on my triceps and then my car seat?? more than once??
Aluminum is almost as fascinating as wood.
Link to my build thread: 4 1/2 x 9
User avatar
ssuuki19
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 170
Images: 51
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2016 5:18 am
Location: Brampton, ON
Top

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby SCwood » Wed Dec 05, 2018 10:50 am

ssuuki19 wrote:
tony.latham wrote:Great post. (Except for the midnight issue....)

How's Bob ride with the heavier rubbers?

:thinking:

T

I second that notion - glad the situation worked out ok (i have done the same thing). Also curious about the new rubbers and any chance you were able to monitor the fender clearance since they were installed.


I think they’re working out pretty well. I know some people downgrade to the 2k lb rubber because of excessive bouncing, but I think BOB is heavy enough that it’s not a problem. It’s probably settled 1/4 inch or so since the rubber was installed, but there’s still plenty of clearance in the wheel wells.

Also- the BOB tour is up!
https://youtu.be/dWFQykH4PH8
User avatar
SCwood
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 96
Images: 0
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2016 6:34 am
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Top

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby KTM_Guy » Wed Dec 05, 2018 6:21 pm

I like seeing these posts of the campers in use. Really makes me want to get mine done.

Todd
User avatar
KTM_Guy
500 Club
 
Posts: 571
Images: 193
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2017 7:50 am
Location: Mesa, AZ near Usery
Top

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby AStinkyBumb » Fri Jan 04, 2019 1:23 pm

Totally love the build, I found this thread while looking for ideas for this exact size. I am going to use a lot of your ideas when I build mine.

Being as long as it is have you had any issues dragging the hitch or tongue of the trailer? Do you find the rear end of the trailer drags a lot over hills/bumps or have your trips been fairly flat?
AStinkyBumb
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri May 25, 2018 12:20 pm
Top

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby SCwood » Fri Jan 04, 2019 3:59 pm

AStinkyBumb wrote:Totally love the build, I found this thread while looking for ideas for this exact size. I am going to use a lot of your ideas when I build mine.

Being as long as it is have you had any issues dragging the hitch or tongue of the trailer? Do you find the rear end of the trailer drags a lot over hills/bumps or have your trips been fairly flat?


Thanks! BOB hasn’t been on any true off-road trails, but it hasn’t been all flat either and I haven’t had any trouble. The pictures may be deceptive because the 4Runner we tow with is lifted- BOB is about 17 inches off the ground. I also got a tongue jack with removable wheel and always take it off when towing. Timbren makes 4 inch lift spindles that could be swapped in if you had any trouble.
User avatar
SCwood
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 96
Images: 0
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2016 6:34 am
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Top

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby AStinkyBumb » Sat Jan 05, 2019 2:54 pm

SCwood wrote:
AStinkyBumb wrote:Totally love the build, I found this thread while looking for ideas for this exact size. I am going to use a lot of your ideas when I build mine.

Being as long as it is have you had any issues dragging the hitch or tongue of the trailer? Do you find the rear end of the trailer drags a lot over hills/bumps or have your trips been fairly flat?


Thanks! BOB hasn’t been on any true off-road trails, but it hasn’t been all flat either and I haven’t had any trouble. The pictures may be deceptive because the 4Runner we tow with is lifted- BOB is about 17 inches off the ground. I also got a tongue jack with removable wheel and always take it off when towing. Timbren makes 4 inch lift spindles that could be swapped in if you had any trouble.


That was going to be my next question on whether your 4runner was lifted at all. How much of a lift do you have on your 4runner? I have been debating biting the bullet and spending the money for Timbren (or like) axles or just going with a straight axle with brakes to put extra money elsewhere in the build. I have a 2nd gen Tacoma 4x4 so my tow vehicle would be fairly close to what you are towing with minus the lift and my planned terrain would probably be similar. Not anything crazy.

Thanks for the information, your build log is one of the best I have read and I have been doing research for about a year now.
AStinkyBumb
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri May 25, 2018 12:20 pm
Top

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby SCwood » Sat Jan 05, 2019 9:50 pm

AStinkyBumb wrote:That was going to be my next question on whether your 4runner was lifted at all. How much of a lift do you have on your 4runner? I have been debating biting the bullet and spending the money for Timbren (or like) axles or just going with a straight axle with brakes to put extra money elsewhere in the build. I have a 2nd gen Tacoma 4x4 so my tow vehicle would be fairly close to what you are towing with minus the lift and my planned terrain would probably be similar. Not anything crazy.

Thanks for the information, your build log is one of the best I have read and I have been doing research for about a year now.


It’s a 3 inch lift with 33” tires. I think you could easily skip the timbren and go with a traditional axle. The timbren is nice for a little less bouncing than a solid axle, but unless you’re going to go on some serious trails and don’t want an axle hanging you up it’s probably not necessary.
User avatar
SCwood
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 96
Images: 0
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2016 6:34 am
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Top

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby mp43sniper » Thu Jan 24, 2019 11:29 am

Great build, great camper, and great video on YouTube! Funny thing is that's how I found this awesome camper, not on tnttt haha.

Glad your breakdown wasn't any worse. We've all been there.

Please keep the updates coming. A lot of us can't go camping or even work on our rigs for several months due to weather so southern updates keep us entertained during the long winter.
Craig
My truck camper project:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=57275
mp43sniper
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat Feb 04, 2012 11:22 pm
Location: Pittsburgh
Top

Re: A big offroad(ish) benroy (B.O.B.)

Postby SCwood » Thu Jan 24, 2019 12:38 pm

mp43sniper wrote:Great build, great camper, and great video on YouTube! Funny thing is that's how I found this awesome camper, not on tnttt haha.

Glad your breakdown wasn't any worse. We've all been there.

Please keep the updates coming. A lot of us can't go camping or even work on our rigs for several months due to weather so southern updates keep us entertained during the long winter.


Thanks! We're about to have a baby so BOB needs a crib, as well as a few other upgrades. I should have another update soon.
User avatar
SCwood
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 96
Images: 0
Joined: Sat Jul 09, 2016 6:34 am
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Top

PreviousNext

Return to Build Journals

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 18 guests