K'nex Suspension Trucks

Hey everyone! This is my first ever Instructable so bear with me if it's a little unprofessional. I made these trucks a while back and thought it would be cool to share this suspension design since it is so simple yet so effective. These little trucks have been recorded for countless hours of getting sent off jumps, stairs, and even crashed into each other! The suspension is super simple and super durable. I've divided them up into different sections. Truck 2 starts on step 8.

Here are all of the parts for the first truck. I've listed the common color for simplicity reasons but use what ever colors you like!

Connectors:

29x, 1 way, purple

16x, 2 way, light grey

4x, 2 way, straight orange

10x, 3 way, red

2x, 4 way, green

6x, 5 way, yellow

3x, 8 way, white

Rods:

31x, green

28x, white

12x, yellow

Clips:

12x, Y clip, black

4x, angled 3D, orange

6x, rounded, metallic blue

12x, rod caps, black

Other:

4x, small pulley and tire

10x, large, grey spacer

18x, small, blue spacer

Non-K'nex Parts:

9x, small rubber bands (I used rainbow loom which worked very well)

After you've gathered all the parts, start on the first truck! This is the front axle and the suspension part too.

Pic descriptions:

Overview

4 Wheel supports

Add rod with 2 Y clips, 2 large spacers and 4 small spacers

Rod with 5 bands

Attach them

Wheel axle, 2 caps, 2 small spacers, 2 wheels

Slide them in!

Done! You've now finished the first part

This part is very similar to the front but has a few slight modifications for the suspension to limit properly.

Pic descriptions:

Back of bed

Bed frame, 2 small spacers!

Connect them

Wheel supports, slightly different from front

Rod with 2 Y clips and 2 small spacers

Slide it through two wheel supports, the bed, then the other two wheel supports

Rod with 2 caps, 2 small spacers, and 4 bands

Clip it in

Rear axle, 2 caps and 2 small spacers

Slide it in and you're done!

Not much to it but this ensures the wheels don't snap back too far, making the truck too high off the ground

Uses the 4 angle clips!

It holds everything together more than acting like a seat but whatever...

Pic descriptions:

What's gonna be made

The actual seat, has 9 of those parts in the middle

Side supports

Snap them together, they go in on the bottom most connection

Rod with 2 small spacers

Snap it on to the right most point

Done! That wasn't to hard right? Well this next part might

Grab steps 1, 3, and 2 and slide the rod from step 3 so it is on all of the bands

Now grab the part you just made in this step and attach the Y clips to the points shown. It's the same on the back side

Now attach step 3 in by connecting it to the points shown, it's also the same on the back side.

Done! All that's left is the hood and cab!

This is the hood of the truck, its got a bumper too!

Pic descriptions:

Main "plate", 2 small spacers

Slide em together

Bumper parts

Clip the caps on

Put the purple bumper on

Add on the other fun stuff, notice the spacing!

Get the plate

Attach it to the bumper

Get the rest of the truck

Clip it on

Done! Wow, its starting to take shape! Almost done now!

This is the final step and really makes the truck take shape! At least I hope so, assuming you didn't mess up :)

Pic descriptions:

The parts, 4 large spacers!

Slip it on

Put the one way connector holes on the hood with the small spacers on it

Fold it down and clip it in

Done! Congratulations, you have finished the truck! Try it out, slap it a few times, drop it from a couple feet off the ground, do whatever. It's done!!

Parts for the second truck! Once again, use what ever colors you'd like. I've included the specific colors for the exact one I made.

Connectors:

11x, 1 way, purple

16x, 2 way, light grey

21x, 2 way, straight orange

6x, 3 way, red

4x, 4 way, green

6x, 5 way, yellow

2x, 8 way, white

Rods:

31x, green

11x, white

15x, yellow

Clips:

6x, Y clip, black

2x, Transition piece, florescent green

30x, rod caps, black

Other:

4x, small pulley and tire

10x, large, grey spacer

23x, small, blue spacer

Non-K'nex Parts:

8x, small rubber bands (I once again used rainbow loom)

Time to crack on with the build. Start off again with the front axle.

Pic descriptions:

4 Wheel supports

Front axle, 2 small spacers and 2 caps

Slide them together, greens face up

Get these parts

Slide rod in and clip on the orange connectors

Make this rod thing, use 4 bands

Put on the caps

Snap it in! goes in the grey connectors

Done! Next part

Rear axle time!

Pic Descriptions:

Overview

4 Wheel supports

Rear axle, 2 small spacers and 2 caps

Slide together

Make this, 4 bands

Clip it on, pay attention to direction of Y clips

Next piece

Use these parts

Slide rod in and orange connectors clip on

Snap in the black piece from earlier

Done! Dang, you're getting fast at this

Time for bed! Wait no, time to build the bed. Wouldn't recommend sleeping in it...

Pic Descriptions:

Overview

Rod with spacers, sorry its of center

This little guy, notice the spacer in the middle

Put it on the spacer rod

Make these bed walls

Another spacer rod

Slide the bed walls onto the rod

Snap the whole thing together!

Done! Don't get tired now, you're almost done!

Time to make the hood. It's got a bumper too!

Pic Descriptions:

Overview

Bumper! 2 small spacers and a cap on either side

The hood, 7 oranges in the middle

Yellow rod with caps

Slide it through the center of the "red" connectors

Attaching stuff

Attach the attaching stuff

Done! Time for the cab

Got to make a nice place to drive right? Oh you can't fit inside right... Well it's for looks anyway

Pic Descriptions:

Overview

Side walls (they're the same)

Top, has 4 large spacers and caps

Yellow rod with caps again

Slide through the center of the white connectors

You're done! That wasn't too bad, was it?

Time to use your new K'nex scrap yard parts and make it into a working truck!

Pic Descriptions:

Bed and cab

Connect them!

Get front axle

Attach it! Goes in the bottom of the white

Rear axle time

Attach it too! I found it easier to snap in the "yellow" rod to the "yellow" connector first and push the pieces in the way out of the way

Push the parts back in place

Get the hood

Snap it in!

Flip upside down and get the last "yellow" rod

Stick it in and make sure all bands are attached in

You're all done! YAY!

Congratulations! You now have some epic suspension trucks! Have fun sending them off epic ramps, dropping them from high heights, or just pushing them up and down! Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and didn't have too much following my steps. Leave a like or comment if you'd like to see more of my builds!

Happy Building!