6 replies to this topic

[toomuchDIY]

long time creeper on here finally getting around to posting.

 

i decided to do something similar to, albiet quiet different than, the ambition strikes build on YT.

 

exoskeleton built with 3" x 3" 3/16" aluminum. panels built with .040 aluminum glued to 1" blueboard glued to 1/4" birch.

 

its been quite the process so far and ive learned a lot. like not all rivets are waterproof. been talking about that one a lot lately. a lot a lot. didnt know that was one of the causes for the titanic sinking as well. thankfully this isnt the titanic.

 

this is made to fit an a 2500 silverado with an 8' bed for reference.

 

vulcan omnipro 220 welder with spoolgun

 

buying a three axis jig has been a huge help and has gotten everything within a 1/16" of an inch.

 

and a chinese air fan for welding has helped with my lungs

 

as you can see i plan on using this for skiing and hunting mostly with some biking and surf trips in the mix.

[Vic Harder]

whoa, is that a monoski I see in your collection?  I've skied on one of those for a decade or two.... 

[toomuchDIY]

second step was going up and bumping out for the wheel wells.

 

here is the jig in action.

 

well shoot if i didnt miss this little bump out in the truck bed that captures the tailgate.

 

 

in hindsight i should have made a cardboard template and actually tested. lesson learned, the hard way.

 

 

and the fix.

 

 

[toomuchDIY]

Vic - ya ive taken it out a few times. way harder than i thought. also some ski blades just to the left.

 

gotta have the whole quiver ya know.

[steve whiteside]

Very cool and adventurous of you to embark on this.  Was it very difficult to get those Aluminum welds?  Did you get many burn through spots?

 

Steve

[toomuchDIY]

steve - as you can see here yes. the edges of the angle have a rounded edge and where they met it became tricky to not burn through. inevitably i would go through and just build it back up.

 

 

 

going up

 

 

and up

 

 

 

[toomuchDIY]

building out the cabover 

 

 

 

figuring out the spool gun finally

 

 

 

and on the truck. it fits. thank god