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Tracked Bravo Van

Discussion in 'Introductions' started by lectec, Nov 3, 2013.

  1. lectec

    lectec New Member

    Greetings from Gillam, Manitoba, Canada

    Over a year ago, I was bitten by the Mini-truck bug. Gillam is winter from Halloween till end of May. So I wanted a mini truck that I could use year round. The wife was not so ambitious about my new love, but tolerated me on the Minitruck forum. I knew that I would want to put Tracks on if possible after viewing Darcy’s Videos on You Tube (Samurai Trucks Grande Prairie) in fact I was set to purchase from him, that is until my wife saw and fell in love with a 1991 Mitsubishi Bravo Van. Super Aero Deluxe version. That is how it all started. The hunt was over, it was a matter of signing a check, picking up the van, and completing a safety (required in Manitoba if you want to insure it for road use).

    When I got it, I was on the forum daily for hours trying to absorb information. The Brakes were stuck on (because there was moisture in the brake fluid and in the calipers and wheel cylinders), which I had to rebuild. The transfer case would not shift from Hi to Low without an assistant pulling or pushing on the paddle (inside the van) and me underneath hitting the shifter linkage with a hammer. Even at that it was tough slugging, but persistence, heat, and lubrication finally prevailed, allowing an EASY transfer now. The left side CV boot was cut, so all CV boots were replaced.

    New front Struts, Coil springs, rear shocks, brake hoses (North American - hours spent looking at pictures and reading descriptions of hoses!!). Since Manitoba wouldn’t allow the Japanese headlights, there were a few hours spent cutting out the perfectly good Japanese headlights to install North American headlights and buckets. Seems to me a waste, but in order to insure, I had to comply!

    Safety was then completed, and the Van was insured for road use!! A huge milestone!!;)

    That is where the fun began. Brought the van home, Lift kit installed (2” only) simply because if I went any higher, I would have to invite 4 fat friends (Larger than me) to sit in the van just to get out of the garage. The overhead door is 7 foot, and would not accommodate the plans for a set of Tatou 4S tracks. The lift kit was a bit of a pain (just making the first move), because when I studied the geometry, I knew I would be off on my camber if I just installed the strut spacers. It required blocks as well, the whole front end was “blocked” to achieve a 2” lift. This included the Radius Bars, Rack and Pinion member, Front Differential member, but I did not block the engine down, just cut the member, and bolted on a brace underneath the front driveshaft. Worked perfectly, but man it was tough to commit to, easy to do, but if you are contemplating doing this, Buy a tap…chase the threads!! This will save lots of biting on your tongue, and shave hours off the project.:frustration:

    Once the lift Kit was in, Installed wheel spacers (I went from 12mm studs to ATV 10mm still same bolt pattern) then mount the tracks for mock-up. Fabricate the Anti-rotation brackets so the tracks won’t rotate and chew the sheet metal off the van. I figured out how much the tracks would tip (during climbing or moguls), marked the sheet metal on the doors, brought out the Twin cutter saw, and “liberated the wheel openings” got the sheet metal welded back up, (no body work yet), added buffer pads in case the top of the tracks did hit the underside of the van, and was almost ready to hit the road. Except I required a rear bumper because I had to remove the factory original (rather than cut the plastic up) also it would make it easier to fabricate a rear receiver for the winch. Because it is a van, I wanted to have a custom bumper that would telescope in and out, so I can carry extra fuel between the pulled out bumper and the rear door. The telescopic thing is done, but that will be it until I get some more supplies for the carrying unit and a few other items I will be installing.

    I have taken the van out for a couple of days now, driving on roads, and “off road” with the Hi-Low and tracks, even though I don’t have a rear locker, I was VERY VERY Happy, My wife and Dawg also have big grins on their faces when I mention “Van Ride”, I can only wish that this “bug” would have bit me years earlier. Snow season will be mine!! The first time I had it out on tracks, I should have taken a camera to take pictures of the people taking pictures with their phones, giggling and pointing. These mini’s seem to be the “fountain of youth” because it sure turns adults into kids!!

    Once I am able, I will be posting pictures. Sorry for the rambling, and thanks for letting me into your circle. You are a great bunch of people!!:cool:
     
  2. lectec

    lectec New Member

    We took the van out today for a couple of hours. Through the bush on the trails, we were the first ones on the trails in a lot of cases, the wife and I both love it:D. After that, I took a trapper buddy for a ride with his kids, they love it.
     
  3. lectec

    lectec New Member

  4. Jim Nelson

    Jim Nelson Active Member

    For some reason all the attached pics lately show invalid attachment ???
     
  5. lectec

    lectec New Member

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Nov 11, 2013
  6. lectec

    lectec New Member

    It looks like the pictures are there now.

    Later
     
  7. SmoothChunk

    SmoothChunk New Member

    You got me all jealous now.. very cool! Where did you find that van? Out of province?
     
  8. lectec

    lectec New Member

    I found it on #6 highway leading out of Winnipeg. Outside an inside were immaculate, just needed some brake work, struts... that is it. It starts every time by reaching in and turning key, fuel injection is nice. We have over 2 feet of snow, I run it on the road, through the bush, and on the trails. Loads of fun!! It has also been wife approved, she loves it as much as I. I was just in Winnipeg, saw a Susuki Van at Dias Auto, looked nice but apparently it was a customers????

    Later

    lectec
     
  9. Acerguy

    Acerguy Moderator Staff Member

    Wow. Well if that isn't just one of the coolest vehicles we've had on MTT! Very nice. I bet all those windows makes for a nice cozy ride on a sunny, snowy day. :cool:
     
  10. lectec

    lectec New Member

    Thanks, it really is awesome on a sunny day, I load up the wife, and Dawg, a thermos of tea, and off we go. In deep snow, it is very quiet, and the things we get to see. A lynx and 4 kits a few weeks back.

    Every year on Christmas Eve, the wife and I will travel the town, and hand out Candy Canes (I dress up like Santa). There are about 1200 people in town, we usually hand out the candy canes on a trailer pulled by a truck with a siren announcing our arrival. This year Santa will be downsizing. No truck, no trailer, A 1991 Mits Bravo Van. Santa can stand just behind the front seats with the sunroof open. Kids will see Santa from the waist up, and Santa can also have Mrs. Clause pull up on the lawn if required to get the kids attention. People love it especially the kids.

    Can't wait.

    later

    lectec
     
  11. Acerguy

    Acerguy Moderator Staff Member

    That is fantastic! Please post some pictures.
     
  12. Wedge

    Wedge Member

    I would love to see more pictures of your van and the track install. Is your van manual or auto ?

    Regards
     
  13. lectec

    lectec New Member

    Well finally got around to posting some pictures of the van. We went out on the weekend down some trails here. 50 Km round trip. On the trails, speeds range from about 20km/hr to 30km/hr driving in low range 3rd gear at around 7000rpm, so we try to reduce the speed a little bit to keep the revs down. When I travel on a gravel road (frozen) it is at about 40km/hr. Wouldn’t trade the tracks for anything, it sure keeps the winters bearable.
    Gas consumption is hefty though, it sure is thirsty with the tracks, but as mentioned will go lots of places. Too bad my van didn’t have a turbo, or a bit more torque it sure would make a difference. As you all know, driving around with one of these trucks or vans will get a lot of heads turning. It’s way better when you are on tracks. Even better than that is when you have your dog sitting in the “passenger” seat driving a van on tracks, and you are close enough at an intersection to read the lips of people that have just noticed you on tracks, then when they do the double take, they figure the dog is driving. That my friends is a LMFAO if I ever seen one.
    Enjoy the pics.

    Bill
     

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  14. spaner

    spaner Well-Known Member

    Hey Bill,
    Awesome, and looks like a lot of fun, and I bet that you have had that...:cool:

    Although interested in the fun, I think that the boys "here" are interested in the design details just as much as the fun that is had afterwards; after the build. The hard work in the design of the system, to make it easier for others to get to that fun, with the dawg, the wife, and the gawkers...
    Cu'z it IS awesome, no doubt about that.:pop:

    For example, for the rear tracks, and rotational control arm mountings,
    I've noticed that most of the Japanese-mini-truck installation solutions incorporate an additional modification to the rear-leaf "forward" mounting location. It just makes a lot of sense to put it there, and it is pretty simple, just to incorporate it into the solid mount that already exists, but few pics of the mods for the guys to admire.:rolleyes:
    A laser-cut-part, and purpose placed 10-ton press 90-degree-bend, will get more than a few "hand-claps" here, while the snow/ditch/hill climb will get you the crowd's favor on the street, the boys here want to see the cad drawings...understand?:p

    The TJD STS-4 system is very similar to the Tatou UTV 4S system in many ways,
    In general, from my initial investigations of the systems design, I am disappointed in the control and mountings of these control/stabilization arms. In a very basic way, for optimum performance, they should operate opposite to the current design...no?

    When weight/pressure is lifted from the tracks, or, I am stopped in deep snow/mud, I would prefer that the tracks rotated "UP", in the front (of each track) to angle/attack a snow ditch rim, or mud hole rim.

    My preference though, is the opposite of the current design. Too "safe" maybe?
    They are currently designed to have a "level" stop position (front of track does not rotate UP...never...blocked from doing so), AND, when running into an obstacle, or getting power from the drive wheel...THIS is when the "springs" of the retention bars come in-to-play; allowing the system to rotate "down", at less of an "angle-of-attack" then would be beneficial to climb the "snow-ditch-rim" or "mud-hole-rim" that you currently find your truck "IN".

    Flipping the control/stabilization bars from left-to-right, would change the action from "down" to "up", and the mounting, would simply be moved to the rear leaf mounting...
    "Flat, or spring-UP-position"

    Thoughts...Pictures...:confused:
     
  15. Dustin Dunham

    Dustin Dunham New Member

    Solid build! Bet it has no problem going through deep snow. Looks like a cozy bundle of joy riding high throughout the sea of white.
     

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