Meet Rex

Meet Rex Part 2

The wheel base was stretched to 121" given better departure and approach.



It's Armored all around. TnT made full rear fenders for me, and we used Poison Spiders fenders in the front.

PSC's


These aluminum sliders are tough and give good protection.



The tie rod and drag link are parallel. No bump steer even though I run 43"s


I have king bump stops in front, JKS ACOS in the rear. They help make for soft landings.

Rex Part 3

This Aluminum belly armor is really good. Light weight, good protection. I've had Rex completely high centered and the armor held.




High centered. I broke a front drive shaft u-joint. Easiest way to turn around on the tight trail was to spin Rex on the rock using the belly armor.


TnT designed and built a full cage for me. Notice they made nice speaker mounts, and LED dome lights.

Rex Part 4

more on the cage:

This is a trunk, shelf, and tie down.


I have 43" Super Swamper TSI/SX's on Trail Ready 20" Beadlocks.


Rex runs Dynatrac Dana 60s, Full Floats. Competition upgrades to brakes and shafts.

http://s827.photobucket.com/albums/...ck junction/?action=view&current=DSC01510.jpg

To air up, Rex has a Warn 20CFM compressor.


Rex has removable B pillars. A TnT innovation. When it is cold out I like to out the hard top and doors back on.



Rerouted brake and sensor lines. Can't have them getting hung up.


Trim and Gusset on the frame for steering clearance for the 43's.

Meet Rex Part 6

Inside are 4 Black Leather Corbeau Off Road seats. All with Harnesses.


The Swaylok sway bar works really well. With just a flip of the lever it unlocks. Super simple. TnT mounted it way up out the way of the tires. (I'll find a better pic later)




Rex is powered by a 5.7 L Hemi, with an AEV kit, a Jeep speed systems radiator, BOR programming, and 6.1 injectors. I had heat issues that I think are fixed. Also there is an Atlas 5:1 t-case in there.

For those wondering, Rex weighs right around 6000lbs.

X-Defector said:

Can you detail some of the weight reduction process that happened? What Rex had, what was changed to what, weight savings, etc? Lighter weight rigs are becoming of much greater interest to me as of late.

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When TnT got it, it had a broken Terraflex 6" lift with 41's (The rear control arms broke off the frame. Bob from TnT found me on the trail and told be he could build something that I can't break, then he had folk from his shop come down to Wheeler Lake trail head area and they hauled my jeep to his shop while my kids and I went wheeling with him and the folks from JKCrawlers for the weekend.), a Poison Spider front bumper, a HD Customs Switchblade (i was doing testing for Jarrett) with a 41" IROK on it, a full set of rock hard belly armor, fab four sliders, a tuffy security drawer, a full rear seat. Overall weight: about 7200 lbs empty. I was breaking stuff right and left. Also my hemi would get wicked hot running up steep grades. Also the DD ride was not good. Bump steer, sway, etc.

Along comes Bob: "Cut the weight--put it on a diet. I'll make part out of aluminum. It'll hold up." "My Y-Link front arms, and three link rear arms solve the fundamental problem of binding that four links have...it's drive better and wont bind on itself causing structural failures" "You rig is stupid tall, got to lower it"

So, he started on it. They have been making it "Pat-proof". I only kinda laugh. As I said at the beginning of this thread I had three goals: a) Must drive well on highways both too and from trails and around town---yes even with big tires, b) Must be able to crawl extreme trails without breaking (because I drive back home), and c) I want to be able to drive really fast on offroad trails (like desert racing).

Notice how clean the underside is? Very little hanging down below the skids and axles. Minimizes hangups. The sliders are about an inch wider than the Fab Fours. This is useful because a 121" wheelbase is kind of long (but great for approach, departure, and big ledges).

So, Rex is what I get back. Goals accomplished. Total weight 6000lbs. Drives better, rides better, crawls better. Last week were were out with buggies. They trailered it back to Grand Junction after hitting Rangely. I drove the 90+ miles after wheeling right there with them. I am totally impressed with the aluminum. Bob's a friggin genius. I can't help but be pleased.

Matt Wright said:

Can we get some more pics of how they/you fit the winch in there with the EVO-lever? How do you feel about the stock gas tank?

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That worthless bump goes the wrong way. Out it goes.



Then make some mounts and put the winch in:


Then a little cover and bedliner


You can see the "scaffold" for the lever system in this pic


With TnT magic, they got it done. Actually they pretty much changed all the EVO mounts, relocated them, adjusted the length of the arms. The EVO Lever is set up for 6" lift. I wanted to keep the COG down, so it took a lot of work.

Regarding the gas tank, it irritates me. Breakover was an issue--no more though--- With a 4" lift and running 43's my breakover is good. A 4" lift on 41's sucked.

So, I need to run more trails. I'll be up at Jeep Camp next week with Rex doing Boulders. If my belly is too low, even with my 43's, then a gas tank project might be in order. getting it up and out of the way would be good.

I need to run more trails.


Thanks for all the compliments. The credit really goes to Bob at TnT. He listens to what I want to do, then makes it happen. He guides me too!

gilbo943 said:

I really like the TnT y links up front i have seen pictures of them before but they are not on their web site. Could you snap a few pics of the y links for me? I'm interested in how they mount up on the crossmember. Is it a replacement crossmemeber or do you use the factory one? Thanks for any pics you can send and your Jeep is just SICK!!!!!

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Here you go. The first picture is REX. The second pic is the TnT Rig. Mine has the same set-up

These Y-links mount to a TnT replacement crossmember, the mounts come set up on it.

Rex is has been the final testing stage of the Y-Link system. I tried to beat the snot out of it and it held up (for example I slammed straight up Rocker Knocker in Pritchett once I worked my nerve up). They have done a couple other rigs, and are now offering it commercially. Having had and broken previous suspensions, I like this TnT stuff. They got it "pat proof" which means it ought to be tough for just about any rig. Bob (the TnT owner/Guru/Boss) says the website upgrades are coming soon. Call Rod at TnT to learn more.

We did Independence trail near penrose. Rex did good.






Here is rubibldr's 2 dr on 40's