Paul B Technic Posted 2 hours ago Posted 2 hours ago I’ve been wanting to convert the LEGO Technic set 42177 into a proper G-Class style Ute for a while. This mod combines structural tweaking, custom Technic frame work, and a completely new tray build. Below is the full progress log, including the hours spent and step-by-step development. Initial Pull-Down (1 Hour) The first step was a complete teardown of the rear of the donor 42177 model cabin. Panels, rear cab and rear section, and decorative elements all came off so I could work with the bare Technic chassis at the rear. Sorting the Parts (30 Minutes) With everything disassembled, I sorted all beams, connectors, panels, gears, and pins. This helped massively during the rebuild phase, especially for the custom tray and frame work to support this. Cabin Fixes: Rear Door Frame & Roof (1 Hour) Before moving to the tray, I fixed a few structural quirks in the cab. Reinforced the rear door frame with various connectors, for better rigidity and to give the front doors something to close against. Strengthened the cabin roof to prevent flexing and to prepare for the new sports bar later on. Chassis Reinforcement + Tray Design & Build (15 Hours) This was the biggest part of the mod. Chassis Reinforcement To support the new Ute tray, the Technic chassis needed extra bracing: Added long liftarms to strengthen the spine Reinforced the rear section Improved cross-beam stability to handle the tray footprint Tray Design I tried a few tray concepts before settling on a cleaner G-Series style. The goal: sturdy, balanced, and authentic to Technic proportions. Tray Build Using beams, panels, and angled connectors, I built out: The main tray frame Side rails Tail section Mounting points for the future accessories, these flip up from the bottom of the tray. Test Fit Mounted it onto the chassis to check alignment and tweak clearances. Front Nudge Bar + Sports Bar Installation (2 Hours) Next came the custom Technic nudge bar, built from liftarms, axels and connectors. After that, I installed the tray sports bar, giving the model a proper rugged Ute silhouette. Tool Box, Jack Mount & Axle Fillers (2 Hours) To finish the build with some functional Technic details: Added a Technic tool box mounted on the tray Created a Jack, which can be used to lift the model. Built side axle fillers to close the visual gaps between tray and chassis, giving it a clean, finished look Final Thoughts Total build time: 22.5 hours End result: a tough, clean, custom G-Series Technic Ute built from set 42177, with a reinforced chassis, new tray, accessories, and improved proportions. This MOD not only improves the functionality and display presence, but also transforms 42177 into something uniquely yours. All the normal features of the 42177 A model, such as hand of god steering, working steering wheel, R-N-D gear box, high / low transfer case and both the locking diffs still work as on the A model. I plan to use this as a base for some interesting attachents and different features. Quote
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