Meet Rex

49459 Views 151 Replies 60 Participants Last post by Extremneon, Sep 27, 2016

LeftHandRubi

Discussion Starter · Jun 6, 2011 (Edited)

10

TnT Customs out of Cheyenne has been building my Jeep, (they named Rex). Three goals: a) drive highway speeds and handle well, b) Rock Crawl, c) be able to go fast on two track (off)roads.

Here is a "tour of Rex"

First meet the real Rex. My kids gave him to me. I don't know exactly where he picked up the stick.

Next notice the Aluminum front winch bumper with the hoop. That is a Warn 9500XP in there.

The suspension is TnT's Y-Link in the front and a three link in the rear. It has about a 4" lift. Notice that there isn't a bunch of mounts hanging down.

The Front and Rear Shock systems are Off Road Evolutions Double throw downs. TnT modified them to get the ride height lower, and to tune in the ride. These things are really good. Very smooth ride. Holds the road well too. Alos notice the PSC hydro assist pump.

Inside of this rear aluminum winch bumper is a warn winch and ORE's cantilever double throw down system. Lots of stuff to fit into that little space.

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21 - 40 of 152 Posts

josh_jacklyn

· #21 · Jun 6, 2011

i saw rex at the vendors show in moab at ejs this year! definatley an amazing build buddy. ! great job :beer:

:beer:

LeftHandRubi

Discussion Starter · #22 · Jun 6, 2011

ALASHA said:
Thanks for the info Pat

How well does it do with your 43s?

(Sorry to detract from your build)

No worries. Drives really well. I've had it up to 100mph. Stable, no vibration, no bump steer, no wobble. The 43's made a big difference on belly clearance. So with a 4" lift on 43's I could do the Rock Pile in Pritchett without bottoming. With 4" lift and 41" I bottomed a lot. I'm liking where it's at. That TnT suspension, and steering setup work well.

We drove Rex a couple hundred miles to and from trails last week. He works.

Charlie

· #23 · Jun 6, 2011

Thanks for sharing the pics! That is one awesome machine. :beer:

:beer:

BADGER

· #24 · Jun 6, 2011

Killer rig! Rex has always been of particular interest to me because of your involvement with TNT Customs. I like their gear and work and they are only a few hours away. However I never knew they worked with aluminum, what custom work they offered, what they were capable of, etc.....because their web site sucks in the worst kind of way. I may have to consider some of their aluminum stuff!

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.

LeftHandRubi

Discussion Starter · #25 · Jun 6, 2011 (Edited)

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.

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.

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rdhrd4

· #26 · Jun 6, 2011

Just plain awesome rig!!!

BADGER

· #27 · Jun 6, 2011 (Edited)

Nice....I'm absolutely convinced at this point that going as lightweight as possible is the only way to roll. I removed about 400 pounds from my 2-dr and the difference is pretty remarkable. I can only imagine 1200 pounds! :beer:

:beer:

I'll have to keep those guys in mind in the future. Sounds like good chit.

Wheeler Lake did ya in, eh? Good thing you weren't trying to climb Cleveland Rock or something, it woulda been a bitch to get you out of there. There is something about Wheeler though....something stupid breaks every time I go there. For me last time, I broke a Poly shock. I'm kinda surprised I haven't twisted off a rear UCA mount yet myself.

rballman

· #28 · Jun 6, 2011

LeftHandRubi said:
...I was breaking stuff right and left....

maybe the answer is to just drive better :thefinger:

:thefinger:

what an awesome rig/setup...T&T did some awesome work! :beer:

:beer:

spillidge

· #29 · Jun 6, 2011

That thing is a monster!! Nice vid as well. You must be proud of that rig, crazy work by TnT :beer:

:beer:

LeftHandRubi

Discussion Starter · #30 · Jun 6, 2011

rballman said:
maybe the answer is to just drive better

what an awesome rig/setup...T&T did some awesome work!

Truth on both counts. I like to go fast in rocks. TnT: "Pat Proof" :bounce:

SlvrJK

· #31 · Jun 6, 2011

Thanks for finally sharing rex with us. I keep catching glimpses of it here and there in other threads but was anxiously waiting to get some more in depth detail about the build specs. rex is absolutely killer, I think it takes the cake for my favorite 4 door on this site.

brokenleaf

· #32 · Jun 7, 2011

Fuckin built rig man! :beer:

:beer:

:beer:

STUPIDFACE

· #33 · Jun 7, 2011

That thing is sweet. I have no idea why the yellow cage looks cool with the rescue green, but it does for some reason. Its kinda mardi gras colors, yellow, purple, and green. Very cool.

.:eMETAL:.

· #34 · Jun 7, 2011

I've been wondering about this rig since the Prichet Canyon pictures of EJS.

that b-pillar design is ingenious :smokin:

:smokin:

nc_fjizzle

· #35 · Jun 7, 2011

Shit. I need whatever job you got man :laughing:

:laughing:

Sick, sick, sick JK :beer:

:beer:

Grant211

· #36 · Jun 7, 2011

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

I love this pic! I haven't seen to many stretched JK 4 doors.

That is one nice rig bud. That's a JKO of the Month for sure! :beer:

:beer:

:beer:

LeftHandRubi

Discussion Starter · #37 · Jun 7, 2011

Thanks all. :beer:

:beer:

Few other things in response to questions:

That is a TMD hood
The gears are Superior 5.13's
The t-case is an Atlas 2 speed 5:1

ShortBus

· #38 · Jun 7, 2011

Gotta' be one of the nicest rigs I've ever seen!

This is what all JK's should aspire to be when they grow up.

MR LIKA

· #39 · Jun 7, 2011

Very Very nice. :beer:

:beer:

:beer:

:beer:

Grant211

· #40 · Jun 7, 2011

MR LIKA said:
Very Very nice.

and that means alot coming from Mr. Licka :grinpimp:

:grinpimp:

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