NEW TUNNEL CONCEPT FOR THE 2007 -2010 RMK'S w/pics... WHAT DO YOU THINK?

fraufarm · Oct 17, 2009

craigvansickle said:
Anyone know what thickness/alloy aluminum the VE sides are made from?

^^^what he said^^^

ttt

clm003 · Oct 18, 2009

Does anyone know off hand the width of the 07 switchback chassis vs the 07 RMK raw chassis? Will the VE rear bumper work on my 07 Switch? I plan on installing a U-cooler instead of the stock heat exchanger and don't mind doing a little bit of welding if needed.

mountainhorse · Oct 19, 2009

Frau.... the tunnel sides on the VE kit are made from 1/4" 6061 Aluminum.

Cardiac Kid · Oct 21, 2009

MH
In looking at this I think there are 2 things making the tunnel seem to have an angle in it. One, the vertical lines are not parallel on both the front and the back section of this concept. The second is there is one central angle point near the back of the set post were the lines all meet. A very minor shift in the line of this concept for the final production would likely improve it's visual impacts.

Love the idea.

trailtoy1993 · Oct 22, 2009

How tough are the running board edges? I saw one of these down a Fastrax yesterday and while they look sweet, my stock boards are bent as anything from jumping and hitting things and I wonder how the VE parts hold up? They don't weigh anything at all.

whiserd · Oct 22, 2009

hey one thing i noticed, not sure if it has been mentioned before, but doesn't having the tunnel slanting like that make the back end of the tunnel much higher? and if so, wouldn't that make it harder to lift, especially for the shorter folk out there? because just with the stock one i noticed that when lifting the back end around it takes a little more upperbody because of the extra hight

Gone Sleddin · Oct 22, 2009

so how about a pic of these things on an actual sled?

Super Dave3 · Oct 25, 2009

Like this

Gone Sleddin said:
so how about a pic of these things on an actual sled?

mountainhorse · Oct 26, 2009

Dave... Looks good, as always with your builds.

I see you left the "windows" open on the rear part of the tunnel... like the looks of that!

This should be a good seller for them, nice to see that VE could make the design work.

CATKILLER · Oct 26, 2009

that looks really good.
im kinda bummed that the rear doesnt kick up like it was talked about in the begining but oh well i guess if i want my tunnel to look like a boondock ill have to buy one

snow_knight · Oct 26, 2009

Well lets hear it.. How does it feel.. Pretty ridgid?.. looks like it should have stregthened the rear up a little?

Super Dave3 · Oct 26, 2009

snow_knight said:
Well lets hear it.. How does it feel.. Pretty ridgid?.. looks like it should have stregthened the rear up a little?

No worrys here, this thing is hell for stout. Mikes stuff is always first rate.

diamonddave · Oct 26, 2009

Looks sweeet Dave.

D8D · Oct 26, 2009

Looks good

ghostrider dd · Oct 26, 2009

Very interesting!! I would be interested....Looks Great!

AKSNOWRIDER · Dec 25, 2009

happylilcuss said:
The more that I look at this the more I agree with the earlier posters that there is not much bennefit to going with the whole kit versus just buying the wide running board kit for $300 and the bumper for $189. The only difference I can see is that the whole kit gives you a little bling on the footwell sides and a riveter and some rivets. I would gladly pay the money for the kit if it looked more like a boondock tunnel. I was really hoping that Eric's drawing were going to be close to what the final product was. That way it seperates from the other cheaper options available. THis is just my opinion and in no way a put down to VE I think that they are on the right track and making awesome products for us sledders. Keep up the good work!!

I too was looking for a more "custom look"..so I made my own..I think it came out pretty good..and if enough were interested I would make more of just the sides(allowing you to do your own rivit on wide board kit such as van ambergs or wrp's). the reason is that to do the welded running boards requires each machine to get the fit exactly right...on mine I raised the rear of the running boards 1.5 inches which required also modifying the board supports to rebolt in the stock position and still line up with the raised boards...the bare sides weigh exactly 6.5 pds each made from 1/4 material...(for those who arnt woried about extreme tunnel strength 3/16 or even 1/8 could be used)

these ones I made to brace up a xp tunnel(they are still out at powdercoaters getting the copper hood color done), they are made from 1/8 in. and dont mess with the stock boards(only for tunnel strength)

theultrarider · Dec 25, 2009

Great work Mike. Now you have me thinking on mine before I mess up another tunnel........

mountainhorse · Oct 31, 2010

Here is another one...nice to see the evolution of this concept from the start 10 years back when I saw the first Boondock tunnel from Jagged Edge Racing on Lynn Walters Edge...To Vanamburgs Boondock tunnels... to 2007, before this thread, when I presented the idea to Chad at CR... then to Mike at VE... to the finished product we see here.

Mike really took the idea to another level of quality and production!

Looking good Brandy!

CoyoteGirl · Oct 31, 2010

THANKS ERIC!

I've helped installed several tunnels and I have to say I'm not sure I'll ever do that again! LOL 6 hours vs 16 hours is a huge start to my reason for making that statement! This kit is just way too cool. From the ease of installation, the looks and the strength! I can NOT wait to get it on the snow!

Thanks VanAmburg for making such a fabulous product! :whoo: