Ranger One

[agjohn02]

Built a steering cylinder mount. It started out as a 4"x6"x3/8" piece of box tubing. Few holes here and there and some 1/4" end plates and now its a ram mount. I toyed with the idea of buying BTF's ram mount but after looking at pics of it and talking to Dan, I decided it was a little too beefy and pricey for my taste. He took some measurements for me and from what he told me I would have had to modify it anyhow.

[agjohn02]

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[agjohn02]

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[agjohn02]

After spending lots of time thinking about ackerman steering in rock crawling, I think I have come to a conclusion. Well, for this build I have definately come to a conclusion. I drew up some quick and dirty solidworks models to show what different levels of ackerman steering do to toe in/toe out during turning and how it will affect turning radius.

The range of ackerman I considered was from zero (parallel) to 100%. Reason for this is packaging and I do not see reverse ackerman being a benefit in slow speed turning.

First, the ever so popular parallel steering, as most all of your aftermarket high steer arms are made. My conclusion is that this might well give you the best turning radius in a low speed, level ground turn. I assume, in this scenario, that each tire will experience equal slip angles due to little to no weight transfer. The vehicles average turning radius will be shorter because the it will be the average of the two wheel radius values. However, I see slip angles in our situation to be detrimental to traction as your tires will be fighting each other and using up some of your tire circle laterally rather than longitudinally.

If you cant make out my drawing, I apologize. I did not feel like cleaning it up.

[agjohn02]

The turning radius I predict from parallel steering is 200.55 inches.

[agjohn02]

Next, I looked at 100% ackerman steering geometry. Basically, what this means is that when turned, both front tires follow the necessary radius circle to make the turn, resulting in zero slip angle. This allows all of your tractive force to be applied in the direction of motion. The turning radius ackerman steering would give me would be 233 inches, but with zero slip angle.

[agjohn02]

I like the idea of having 100% ackerman steering and drew up some arms to build. However, after considering the cost and labor of building my own arms, I decided that I would go a little different route.

[agjohn02]

I looked at WFO's arms and liked the way they were built. Trevor has great phone manners and was very helpful, so I went with his arms. They have a little ackerman built into them that ended up giving me ~32% ackerman with my wheelbase. It's a compromise between the two aforementioned arrangements and gives a little of both worlds. I expect a turning radius of 209 inches. This doesnt seem right compared to what I've been reading about built Jeeps as a stock CJ has about the same turning radius. I left the forward portion of the passenger side arm on so that in the future, if we decide we dont like the manners of full hydro, I can swap the orbital out for a box and a drag link and run hydro-assist.

[agjohn02]

WFO arms

[agjohn02]

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[agjohn02]

Steering mocked up

[agjohn02]

Forgot to add the passenger side perch with the shim welded to it.

[agjohn02]

WFO ackerman geometry

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Looks good as usual John. Kudos.

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Did they let you order just the three shims, or did you have to get two sets?

[agjohn02]

Trevor is a cool guy. I figured i would have to order two sets, but he said he'd send me three, no problem.

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Cool beans. I will give em a call this week.

[agjohn02]

BTF on the other had was going to make me order two sets.

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Most of them I have come across were aluminum, and I like how you welded them in like that.

[mudtoy67]

How tight is your oil pan/crank pulley clearance with that ram mounted above/behind the axle? Are you going to have to limit up travel much?

[agjohn02]

How tight is your oil pan/crank pulley clearance with that ram mounted above/behind the axle? Are you going to have to limit up travel much?

i dont think so. i think by the time i get bumps set to keep the tires out of the fenders it'll be just fine. we shall see.

[agjohn02]

A shot of the steering mocked up in the Jeep. Seems I should have plenty of clearance all around.

[agjohn02]

Put it back on all fours so I can check shock and bump locations and get measurements. Stance turned out well I think.

[agjohn02]

...

[Sharpe]

I give it a "meh" :flipoff2:








J/k, excelent work. The scowl of the grill hoop makes it look angry:laughing:

[85cj7]

I give it a "meh" :flipoff2:








J/k, excelent work. The scowl of the grill hoop makes it look angry:laughing:

thats things so nice it looks like it could have crapped out pigpen

[CheapJeep]

Nice work, I dig it!:gigem:

[scottsdale87]

Nice work!

[Sharpe]

thats things so nice it looks like it could have crapped out pigpen

Better wrap your jeep in an asbestos or nomex blanket tonight.

[85cj7]

thats either above me or below me, because i sure as hell don't get it.

[agjohn02]

asbestos and nomex are fire retardant materials

[sasquatch]

thats either above me or below me, because i sure as hell don't get it.

google is a good way to not make yourself sound dumb.



its probably buried in this thread somewhere but, what is the wheelbase?

[agjohn02]

its probably buried in this thread somewhere but, what is the wheelbase?

don't think i ever mentioned it because i wasnt positive what it would be until i measured it. 106"

[DRAGOONRANCH]

Great to see it all coming together. Has the thread finally caught up w/ the build??? :flipoff2: What are your thoughts on d-shafts?

[agjohn02]

yep. pretty much caught up. ordering d-shafts this week.

[Shaggy]

damn that thing is clean... being OCD works out well when building

[agjohn02]

damn that thing is clean... being OCD works out well when building

speaking of OCD, this has been bugging me. the gap between the fender and hood is just because the fender is sitting up there not bolted to the tub. the bolts are on the cowl.

[agjohn02]

think i should put some body filler over these welds in the innner fender? will it stay there? ive always wanted to play with lead too.

http://tamor.us/members-rigs/albums/Miscstuff/P5200033a.jpg

[redcagepatrol]

leave as is, or use body filler. It will stay in there. Heck, you can use silicone and it will probably stay in there

[Lynda]

I think you should paint the body blue (with ghost flames) and the cage silver...

[agjohn02]

leave as is, or use body filler. It will stay in there. Heck, you can use silicone and it will probably stay in there


bondo would be so much easier but lead sounds fun. the paint would definately chip off of silicone if it would even stick in the first place.




I think you should paint the body blue (with ghost flames) and the cage silver...


i considered blue, but there's already a blue jeep in the club. ive got a scheme planned already but i'd have to kill you if i told you what it was.:flipoff2:

[robertf03]

seam sealer holds paint

[bcolman]

i considered blue, but there's already a blue jeep in the club. ive got a scheme planned already but i'd have to kill you if i told you what it was.:flipoff2:

does that mean that I should watch my back or has it changed since you spilled the beans to my brother and me

[Reckless]

Ill trade ya both something cheap for the info

[JB]

3.5 months since an update? How's it coming?

[rockfrawg]

i hadnt seen this thread since my resurrection...i just read all 20 pages and all i can say is THAT IS ONE BAD DOOD!! damn ur patient.

so whens it gonna be done?? :flipoff2:

[redcagepatrol]

Clayton unveiling?

[agjohn02]

im graduating

[redcagepatrol]

didn't you already do that once? Why bother with the details the second time?

So is it done? What's left to do? When is the first trip?

[redcagepatrol]

he has a "mirror" thread on Pirate but he hasn't updated that either...

[AggieTJ2007]

This thread
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=569010&highlight=ranger&page=8

[JB]

Bump!

[colman]

now that your graduated and stable. finish this pig

[agjohn02]

now that your graduated and stable. finish this pig

its in Bryan, I'm in Fort Worth. Conundrum.

in other news, it should be in Fort Worth by next week.

[redcagepatrol]

in other news, it should be in Fort Worth by next week.

good - that's step one to getting it done!