The MX4 vehicle has been chosen, and its not what you'd think. Safari Pacific is building our own vehicle from the chassis on up. The idea behind the MX4, or Resolute™ as we've called it, is to build a vehicle that utilizes readily available parts. Though the chassis and body will be completely custom, all the inner mechanical parts will be from earlier model vehicles that can be found anywhere. This will be a very, very long and challenging build. There is no particular trip the MX4 is being built for or any completion schedule. We will simply work on the new vehicle when we are between our various adventures.

Planning for the MX4 has been around for a few years now and has been secretly under development for the past year. Since my round the world trip is changing course I decided to spill the beans and get more accomplished on the new project.

Our chassis is build from the ground up ourselves. The design is to utilize the
strongest mounting points for suspension components and maximize under vehicle
space for fuel tanks and other components.



First things first. The steel tubing is pre-cut into rough lengths based on
our specs. We had to do this mainly due to not having a twenty foot trailer to transport the raw materials.

Then the pieces are laid our in rough form on a steel table.

http://www.safaripacific.com/vehicles/mx4/build/frame/001.jpg





The angles are measured and pieces cut for the frame dip. A piece of the
tubing is used to keep all the sections as square as possible.

http://www.safaripacific.com/vehicles/mx4/build/frame/002.jpg





Here is one of the four sections that allows the frame to dip down. This
is done so the suspension has maximum up travel in comparison to the body.

http://www.safaripacific.com/vehicles/mx4/build/frame/003.jpg





All four are then tack welded into place.

http://www.safaripacific.com/vehicles/mx4/build/frame/004.jpg





The two chassis rails begin to take shape. They are placed side by side
and measurements are taken to verify they're are within spec.

http://www.safaripacific.com/vehicles/mx4/build/frame/005.jpg

widened, lengthened, Ford Ranger based 6x6!!!

no?...

Hey Travis - been following you over on Expo portal. Glad to see you bruised but not beaten, and looking forward. Keep the updates coming. :D

Why use a dana 30 in a custom build? Thats what you have spec'ed out on the your website.

Add bulkheads in those at the sectioned pieces and you will gain a significant amount of strength in bending and twisting load.

I would brace the top and bottom of the bends as well (I wasn't sure if you planned on doing this).

I look forward to your build!

progress?