to bobtail or not to bobtail

[whitakerb]

Given the state election is over, we now need to cast our eyes back to more important questions.

The attached images are of our rangie ute that we enter in the local off road competitions. So far we have come 18th in Mud guts and glory 07 and 12th in Mud guts and glory 08.

We have worked out that the brakes and clutch dont like hills, the dizzy cries at the sight of water, and the ass end gets hung up on everything.
The overhang was a huge problem at mgg 08 for the rangies, getting caught up on everything, one even punctured its fuel tank.

so now we need your opinion. do we bobtail her or not? we have no reason not to as the rangie is only used for off road we just need opinions on whether a bobtail ute still looks ok. After all it has to look good too.

The first picture is the rangie in all her glory and the other two are a comparison of the standard ute and the bobtail

any comments would be appreciated as well as any tips

Regards

ben the navi

[sclarke]

Cut it.... get the best departure angle as you can

[mike 90 RR]

Looks great :)

9" angle grinder to be used I presume ?? :p

I'll try to get a photo up, tomorrow, of a Nissan thats been bob tailed to death
It's parked at the back street of Bunnings in Morley

Mike

[loanrangie]

Since its not a working daily runner ute, go the bobtail, they actually look more in proportion when bobbed.

[harry]

cut it, and do the front a bit more also

[McDisco]

Yeah bob-it!! It does look much better.

Angus

[strange_rover1]

I definitely think you guys should bob it, they look awsome and well done at the comp too!!
Shano

[r.over]

This video has a bobtailed ute in it.
Video of Toolangi day trip - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting (http://s121.photobucket.com/albums/o218/cpmurray/Toolangi%20August%202007/?action=view&current=MeetingEdit.flv)
It is also my favorite video

[whitakerb]

Looks great :)

9" angle grinder to be used I presume ?? :p

I'll try to get a photo up, tomorrow, of a Nissan thats been bob tailed to death
It's parked at the back street of Bunnings in Morley

Mike

nah we'll probly play with the new plasma cutter dad has at his workshop and try to do a good job of it.

unfortunatly in the last event we bent all the passenger door up under the door frame, and the rear quarter panel got a beating too so that side looks a bit rough. shoulda put some rock sliders on.

If anyone has done a bob before drop us a line. Is there anything particularly hard about it? i suspect the chassis will be the biggest issue where it drops back down behind the rear wheel. We have a whole year to do it so it shouldn't be a drama

Just for your info the rangie 100% standard mechanicly except mcnamara lockers and axles, and the 35x12.5 wranglers. It seams anything with horsepower breaks things at the gymchana style events so i think well keep it that way.

Cheers

ben

[trobbo]

go on... cut it. You know you want to.

I know, you just need us to blame it on when the ball and chain starts complaining that your spending all your time down at the garage again working on that B*#%^ rangie. :D

[Brute]

Nice rangy Ute little dude
The ball and chain say time and money no object
The tail must be bobbed

[Merv]

Do it!!;)

When Tony and I did ours it was suprisingly easy.

We took 18 inches off the body and chassis.

We fabricated a new rear crossmember and extended it outside the chassis for the rear body mounts. Pull the outer guards off before you cut the inner guards and then do the outer guards seperately.

The biggest issues we had was finding room for a fuel tank and getting a decent join in the roof. I would think it will be a lot easier to mount a new tank in the back of a ute rather then inside the body like we had to and with the ute you want have any roof problems.

Good luck with it!

[Ken]

Gday Ben

Chop it mate :twisted:

Whack on a set of 37s :p

And go for gold ;)

P.S

Thanks for the gaskets at MGG 08 for the front diff

Cheers Ken (Mudzillas Navi)