Build The "Red Rocket" Troopy

[janyyc]

I’m also a huge fan of 235/85/16 but @theglobb is looking for 17” tires.
I would not go to 35”. You’re going to be asking for troubles of all kinds.

 

[theglobb]

33's. Maximum. Personally I'm a big booster of 235/85/16's - you can get them anywhere in the country (probably anywhere in the world), any brand of tire, at much more reasonable prices, and they're a 32" skinny. Perfect for these trucks. I bet 90% of the light truck tires in the world are available in this size.

I’m also a huge fan of 235/85/16 but @theglobb is looking for 17” tires.
I would not go to 35”. You’re going to be asking for troubles of all kinds.

There we go, the wisdom I needed to hear to not go to 35's haha. 33x10's it is. I am looking for 17's. Those falkens are on sale right now so I'll just go ahead and scoop them up.

-------------------------------------------------

Made another $750 this weekend ubering drunk college kids around. It feels so nice to make pretty decent money, not have a boss, and not feel like you're getting underpaid killing your body. Going to try and ride this train for along as possible, until the troopy blows up again lol.

Need to start documenting it all more but these are the only photos I have from the past 2 weekends, and 1 video.

Before the horde enters.

And then showing the Red Rocket at its full carrying capacity


Would like to preface once again since I got flak 2 years ago... I only haul a maximum of 12 people if I'm going any significant distance/speed. Whenever they are piled up like in that video 16-20 kids usually its no faster than 25mph around campus or down to our little down town area where the bars are.

 

[flx]

And then showing the Red Rocket at its full carrying capacity

That's the real African bushtaxi experience here

 

[sark]

If you want a set of Toyo MT's, I have a set of 5 in 235/85R16 that we could work out a deal for. Trying to sell them anyways...

 

[RHINO]

Does anyone have any experience on driving with no powersteering with 33's vs 35's is there much of a difference? These 31's never give me any issues unless I'm at a complete stop trying to park and then I just have to work a tiny bit harder.

i was running 37's with armstrong steering, not bad but when i did the power swap it made me realize my not bad was idiotic.


i am in the camp of 33's on these rigs,,, i am a HUGE fan of the 255-85 size, your link above isnt working for me for some reason,,, but, for your 17" rim equivalents to a 235-85 and 255-85 would be 255-75 and 255-80 respectively.

having said that, if 35's tug at your heart strings get them, the drivetrain can handle that size tire with no problem but you'll start noticing power and hiways speed problems again, especially when loaded.

 

[theglobb]

If you want a set of Toyo MT's, I have a set of 5 in 235/85R16 that we could work out a deal for. Trying to sell them anyways...

i was running 37's with armstrong steering, not bad but when i did the power swap it made me realize my not bad was idiotic.


i am in the camp of 33's on these rigs,,, i am a HUGE fan of the 255-85 size, your link above isnt working for me for some reason,,, but, for your 17" rim equivalents to a 235-85 and 255-85 would be 255-75 and 255-80 respectively.

having said that, if 35's tug at your heart strings get them, the drivetrain can handle that size tire with no problem but you'll start noticing power and hiways speed problems again, especially when loaded.

33's it is. I placed the order for these a couple of hours ago, thanks for the offer tho @sark

33x10, same as the size that was linked above in 16 but this will work for me without all of the wheel troubles, and its not a mud terrain, I hate mud so I'm perfectly fine without them.

 

[sark]

Those should work out great! Works out to the be the same dimensions as 255/85R16 but with a 17" wheel. I've heard good things about Falken as well, and they're a Japanese brand if that matters!

 

[robmobile73]

33's it is. I placed the order for these a couple of hours ago, thanks for the offer tho @sark
View attachment 3412851


33x10, same as the size that was linked above in 16 but this will work for me without all of the wheel troubles, and its not a mud terrain, I hate mud so I'm perfectly fine without them.

If you really want steelies for the looks of them, 1st gen tundras have 6 lug rims and the spares are on steelies. I can't tell you anything about backspacing.

I don't think you'll regret the tires you just bought. I think Falken is a good brand. With a good brand you have less chance of a tire going bad on you.

35's would more lazily roll over beach sand without plowing through it like 235 85 16's, but if you're still getting where you need to go I don't think it matters.

 

[OGBeno]

There we go, the wisdom I needed to hear to not go to 35's haha. 33x10's it is. I am looking for 17's. Those falkens are on sale right now so I'll just go ahead and scoop them up.

-------------------------------------------------

Made another $750 this weekend ubering drunk college kids around. It feels so nice to make pretty decent money, not have a boss, and not feel like you're getting underpaid killing your body. Going to try and ride this train for along as possible, until the troopy blows up again lol.

Need to start documenting it all more but these are the only photos I have from the past 2 weekends, and 1 video.

Before the horde enters.
View attachment 3412673

View attachment 3412674

And then showing the Red Rocket at its full carrying capacity


Would like to preface once again since I got flak 2 years ago... I only haul a maximum of 12 people if I'm going any significant distance/speed. Whenever they are piled up like in that video 16-20 kids usually its no faster than 25mph around campus or down to our little down town area where the bars are.

That‘s what I’m talking about…. Two drunk ones up front too! Score!

Living the life. I need to get back to being 21 again.

 

[FJBen]

I ran 35x12.50x15s and no power steering on my FJ55 for years. Normal driving fine, off road was hard especially being locked f/r.


You will like that size and the E-rating will definitely help with a heavy troopy and all the “cargo”


For your uses, you picked right using AT over mud. You put the miles on so they will last longer. So when’s the next trip back out West?

 

[theglobb]

You put the miles on so they will last longer. So when’s the next trip back out West?

Definitely this coming summer. My friend is finally finishing up his 1JZ swap into his 1987 4Runner, should be all finalized by November. Figured if my car doesn’t blow up before our winter break, and his car is good to go we will head out west to Moab for some wheeling, break his car in, and also probably break his car lol. I just wanna be out west again especially since I missed it this past summer due to fixing the troopy.

450hp in a 40 year old truck that weights 3,000lbs… down right scary. I’ll keep my billion pounds of torque instead.

 

[Tennessee Jed]

Good choice - always go for torque. You can tow him back home to NC when he sends his pistons through the hood. Sweet looking 4Runner, by the way - we expect photos.

 

[LDowney]

There we go, the wisdom I needed to hear to not go to 35's haha. 33x10's it is. I am looking for 17's. Those falkens are on sale right now so I'll just go ahead and scoop them up.

-------------------------------------------------

Made another $750 this weekend ubering drunk college kids around. It feels so nice to make pretty decent money, not have a boss, and not feel like you're getting underpaid killing your body. Going to try and ride this train for along as possible, until the troopy blows up again lol.

Need to start documenting it all more but these are the only photos I have from the past 2 weekends, and 1 video.

Before the horde enters.
View attachment 3412673

View attachment 3412674

And then showing the Red Rocket at its full carrying capacity


Would like to preface once again since I got flak 2 years ago... I only haul a maximum of 12 people if I'm going any significant distance/speed. Whenever they are piled up like in that video 16-20 kids usually its no faster than 25mph around campus or down to our little down town area where the bars are.

Looks like I going to the wet blanket ...

Have you confirmed what your insurance would cover you for in this business? i.e., what is the liability to you and/or parents if an accident were happen?

You are being the sober responsible one here in offering a service to your classmates but with a convenience fee to cover time and costs. Your Troopy has great carrying capacity but you are not keeping all drunks from climbing behind the wheel. What would be the situation if a drunk driver slammed into you when you have a load of classmates without seatbelts / airbags / padding / ...? Would your insurance fully cover you in such a situation? Clearly, the drunk would have primary responsibility; but if there were injuries and/or fatalities, then you might be viewed as having some level of responsibility (you are the road in the middle of the night in an area where drunk driving was a probability with load of drunk college kids that may not have inspected the safety features of the Troopy before boarding ...).

Back to regular light hearted programming ...

 

[FJBen]

Looks like I going to the wet blanket ...

Have you confirmed what your insurance would cover you for in this business? i.e., what is the liability to you and/or parents if an accident were happen?

You are being the sober responsible one here in offering a service to your classmates but with a convenience fee to cover time and costs. Your Troopy has great carrying capacity but you are not keeping all drunks from climbing behind the wheel. What would be the situation if a drunk driver slammed into you when you have a load of classmates without seatbelts / airbags / padding / ...? Would your insurance fully cover you in such a situation? Clearly, the drunk would have primary responsibility; but if there were injuries and/or fatalities, then you might be viewed as having some level of responsibility (you are the road in the middle of the night in an area where drunk driving was a probability with load of drunk college kids that may not have inspected the safety features of the Troopy before boarding ...).

Back to regular light hearted programming ...

Dad mode says: 100% this. Might be worth a call to a local insurance agent (not yours) to find out rideshare insurance or coverage for something like this or what’s at risk doing it on your own.


College me mode says:

As someone still dealing with a neck injury and settlement from another insurance company in a stupid cut/dry situation confirmed by police and common sense, they will try anything to place blame elsewhere or on you. Things get ugly quick even if you are helping people.


Btw, I think it’s great you are doing this keeping drunks off the streets. Back in the day here there was a school bus one of the bars had that would Drive people home for free if they were drunk. It was packed.

 

[theglobb]

Looks like I going to the wet blanket ...

Have you confirmed what your insurance would cover you for in this business? i.e., what is the liability to you and/or parents if an accident were happen?

You are being the sober responsible one here in offering a service to your classmates but with a convenience fee to cover time and costs. Your Troopy has great carrying capacity but you are not keeping all drunks from climbing behind the wheel. What would be the situation if a drunk driver slammed into you when you have a load of classmates without seatbelts / airbags / padding / ...? Would your insurance fully cover you in such a situation? Clearly, the drunk would have primary responsibility; but if there were injuries and/or fatalities, then you might be viewed as having some level of responsibility (you are the road in the middle of the night in an area where drunk driving was a probability with load of drunk college kids that may not have inspected the safety features of the Troopy before boarding ...).

Back to regular light hearted programming ...

Many very good points, and things to possibly worry about. I have no clue where insurance stands, it’s not like it’s an official business. It’s through a student created and ran app/online page, the term for it here is called “beeping”. Honestly a really smart idea cause college kids are broke, no way they are gonna pay the $15 for an Uber for a short drive, then end up driving home drunk… and like I said, college kids are broke… make them the drivers aswell so they get money, roughly $4-5 a person. That being said I drive past Priuses and accords that have 2 people in the trunk, 5 in the back row and 2 in the front seat. The troopy is the much more comfortable, fun, and (arguably) safe ride for everyone. The cops in town all wave at me when I drive by since they are aware of what I’m doing. Still, that doesn’t fix a potential insurance issues at play. In NC if you are older than 16 you can ride in the bed of a pickup, I’d say the troopy is a level or 2 above that in safety for riding inside. It doesn’t have seatbelts in the rear, don’t know where that stands with insurance since it wasn’t (to my knowledge) manufactured with them this early in the models and they wouldn’t even be familiar if it was or wasn’t since it was never sold here.

Dad mode says: 100% this. Might be worth a call to a local insurance agent (not yours) to find out rideshare insurance or coverage for something like this or what’s at risk doing it on your own.

Will do that probably, I don’t even know how to start or phrase it to make sense to them. Always struggle with that kinda stuff over the phone. Always appreciate everyone’s concerns and wisdom. The money is too good for me to just be scared of that and stop. Need to find out a clear answer, if anyone has any insurance knowledge or past please feel free to chime in

 

[Tennessee Jed]

Need to find out a clear answer, if anyone has any insurance knowledge or past please feel free to chime in

The only thing that matters is what your personal insurance company/policy says, with the advice of a lawyer you personally retained. Family, friends, relatives, etc. don't mean anything, even though they have your best interests at heart.

Well this was a buzzkill, huh?

 

[theglobb]

Well, it just rolled over the 2,000-mile mark. Still pretty stoked about it not blowing up on me lol. Technically if I would have just left right for California right after finishing the swap... I'd almost be there. Heres some photos I've taken recently

That's it... I'm tempted to buy some marlin crawler rock sliders while they are on sale, however I need to repair my rockers from rust before I would put the sliders on. They are pretty crusty so honestly not too concerned if they get "rocked" will all be cut out anyways in the future.

 

[OGBeno]

More chicks and truck pics….

 

[prwillard2]

Well, it just rolled over the 2,000-mile mark. Still pretty stoked about it not blowing up on me lol. Technically if I would have just left right for California right after finishing the swap... I'd almost be there. Heres some photos I've taken recently

View attachment 3413942View attachment 3413939View attachment 3413940View attachment 3413941View attachment 3413943

That's it... I'm tempted to buy some marlin crawler rock sliders while they are on sale, however I need to repair my rockers from rust before I would put the sliders on. They are pretty crusty so honestly not too concerned if they get "rocked" will all be cut out anyways in the future.

What sliders you referring to?

 

[theglobb]

What sliders you referring to?

Rock Slider, 80-inch | Marlin Crawler, Inc. - https://www.marlincrawler.com/armor/side/rock-slider-80-inch

More chicks and truck pics….

More to come in the future, excited for pics with the 33’s