Race Yota 4653

Looks good. Jealous of all that room to mount the shocks

Jduck said:

Looks good. Jealous of all that room to mount the shocks

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Based on my experience with **** box Toyotas and XJs... I know you're not joking. But damn the no-cut rule makes packaging suspension suck!

I have been getting the rear suspension straightened out for the Moab race in April.

@ToyotaTom progress is looking good!

Got it all buttoned up for the Ultra4 race at Area BFE this weekend?

ridered3 said:

Got it all buttoned up for the Ultra4 race at Area BFE this weekend?

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Yep, got it all ready to go.

Looking good! Will take some getting used to trying to find the black truck instead of the maroon one!

Arrived at Moab and got all set up. I did some prerunning on the qualifying lap and did a lap of the main. During prerunning I ripped the hydro assist ram mount off the axle housing. I got the mount all cleaned up and rewelded before qualifying. Bounced through the qualifying course and headed back to the pits to prep for the main. Started the main and worked out way around the first lap with no issues till we came through the start/ finish. At that point I could feel something was wrong with the steering. I radioed to the pits and pulled in. The ram mount had completely ripped off the axle. My pit crew pulled the ram, all the hoses, capped the box, taped the hole in the housing and got me back on course for lap 2. Trying to make up some time I took a line too fast and flopped the truck on the passenger side. Me and my co-driver got out, tried to winch it back over with no success. I got back in the truck, started it, threw it in reverse, gassed it and flopped it back over. We got back in and got moving again on lap 2. No other issues as we came back to the start/ finish for the checkered flag. The race is grand prix style finish so when the Lovells finished that's everyone's last lap. Overall great time and a brutal course.

@ToyotaTom thanks fir the race recap and may need to go see a body shop after this race!

Moab!

First couple of pictures = happy race truck.

Next couple of pictures = sad race truck.

Last picture = happy but sad looking race truck.

When the ram mount ripped off the second time you said there was a hole in the housing ... how big and have you contacted Trail Gear about it and what did they say?

Sounds like you had a difficult race but good to see you stuck through it to completion...

rugger99 said:

When the ram mount ripped off the second time you said there was a hole in the housing ... how big and have you contacted Trail Gear about it and what did they say?

Sounds like you had a difficult race but good to see you stuck through it to completion...

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Its a nice new inspection hole. The plan right now is to cut out a square where the damaged section is and weld in a piece of plate. Thats racing.

ToyotaTom said:

Its a nice new inspection hole. The plan right now is to cut out a square where the damaged section is and weld in a piece of plate. Thats racing.
View attachment 161270

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That's a pretty good sized hole...I understand that is racing but I would reach out to Trail Gear and see if they would warranty it...pretty substantial breakage and I would venture to say it may be a bad casting for the center section.

I welded the bracket on the axle so I don't see TG helping out. I might give the a call on Monday and see what they have to say.

The front weld failed due to lack of penetration. Once that weld failed the ram was only held on on by a 2 pass weld on the back that eventually failed due to stress from the ram.

I found a dented wheel that needed straightening.

Visions 2022!

Looking good and the new roof number certainly makes you easier to spot (when it's not blackout dusty).

I was looking for you. We where in the prairie and it was hot, so not much visiting. Did you break?