Just sent an email to the company to ask about the guy. Now we wait…
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this is so exciting, haha
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I just read the thread and i bet at the first post, that this thing is custom made (still don´t know where you wanna ride that thing - maybe it´s a hybrit-water-board with those big wheels 
).
Try to get a shorter deck and maybe adjust the springs a bit for steering. Should be fun to ride around on these big airbubbles 
I think what it needs is an actual mountainboard deck with wedged tips, because that built in pivot angle is so low.
The springs on that thing don’t do any steering, those are only for suspension. Steering is handled with bushings.
you´re right, just checked the picture again and saw that they´re on the same baseplate. I thought they handle steering independently like the BMW board
You’re partly correct, the springs are only for shock absorbtion, bushings handle the actual steering. Thus, you don’t need a special mountainboard deck. Bty, the springs are bigger and stiffer than trampa ones. It’s not a standard size baseplate though, it’s too long for standard deck holes. I’ll have to check how to adapt it, but it’ll still be very high off the ground. That’s why I’m looking more at just using the wheels.
Yeah you wouldn’t need a special mountain board deck, but I think it would be a big improvement.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but looking at it seems as though it would have a HUGE turning radius. A mountain board deck would shrink that radius right down and make it nimble as anything else.
Definitely agree with you on that. I have a second set of spring trucks in the mail, so I’ll be able to use my existing set for it. The only issue is lengthening the axles, I have a second thread about that.
Update and decision time! So I heard back from the guy and we passed a few emails back and forth. Here’s his concluding response:
And there you have it- they used a board no longer produced as a sort of test platform for their rail system. Bty, having checked out their site that rail mounting system looks like an interesting idea, but he hasn’t responded as to whether they ever went ahead and made a boot/rail attachment. He also hasn’t told me the name of the company that made the board. I have still not found anything else like it. Meanwhile, here’s the difference between a rusty hub that’s just been submerged in vinegar vs. one that’s been in it for a week:
I do not intend to try restoring the entire board, both because I know I will never use it as it was, and because I doubt how much it’s worth as a “piece of history” considering there’s absolutely no record of it. The more I think about it the more looks like the case with the mini-disc - an interesting concept, but ultimately just a stopgap technology the lasted a couple of years between discs and mp3 players… and now we don’t even really need those. I do still want to use the wheels though, so ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my fellow eskaters… Are these hubs worth saving? Or should I try milling new ones?
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So whats the plan for the trucks if you’re not restoring/reusing them?
I might still restore the trucks, just not the board as a whole. It’s too high and too long for me to enjoy riding that way, so I’ll probably look for a deck with a serious drop in it. Then I’ll have to find a way to mount it with its nonstandard holes, design a special motor mount for it, the list goes on. In a way that’s all relatively easy, since the trucks aren’t nearly as rusty as the wheels, which are much harder to replace. In a way, this is three projects in one:
- Restore the hubs and tires to usable condition. Since I can’t find more tires like these anywhere I don’t think it’s worth investing in machining new hubs from scratch, so if I can save these with JB weld I will.
- Extend axles in order to use these hubs on mountainboard trucks. See my related thread for more details.
- Restore trucks and and adapt to standard deck. This is probably going to be a long-running side project. I have a few ideas for how to go about it and thankfully they can take trampa or MBS hubs without any trouble. I will also consider your suggestion to use a proper mountainboard deck. I do like the idea of making a proper off-road board with these…
In short, it all comes down to time and budget constraints. I’m looking to upgrade my existing board too, so there’s a limit to how much I can do and how quickly.
I’m not giving up on this project by any means, it’s just going to take time. Once I have a proper plan for how to go about this, I’ll start a build log and post as often as I can. I already have an idea for a theme and a name…
I FOUND IT!!! It’s called the Turf DeVille Mountain Board. Lemme back up. I was looking around for ideas for my next build and I happened to find this defunct but interesting looking site- http://www.reviewmountainboards.com/. I get curious and start scrolling through the models and suddenly there it is! http://www.reviewmountainboards.com/mountain-board-reviews/turf-deville-mountain-board-reviews/ A little more digging shows that it wasn’t very well liked, but you can still find some parts for it online. I found exactly one (failed) attempt to motorize it: http://www.instructables.com/id/Electric-TurfBoard/ So to sum up- everyone who was thinking snowboards was right, @Idle was spot on about the tubeless tires, and there seem to be some good reasons why this concept did not last very long. As for what happens now, I’m thinking of adapting the truck into a swing-arm type truck…
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And look, there’s even parts for sale on eBay! Looks like this seller had a complete board that they’re trying to part out for more money.
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That’s what I’m thinking too. I’m probably not going to buy them though. I’ve already ordered JB weld to fix the ones I have, and it looks like he has just one board’s worth of parts. It’s simply putting off the day that they wear out and there’s no more replacements. Better to work on an improved design that can use these tires as well as modern mountainboard tires.
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Not sure where you are with this project these days, but here’s a full, like new Turfboard for sale for $145 shipped.
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Good eye, thanks! This one’s still going, but it’s on the back burner for now while I upgrade my existing board. I’m mainly interested in the wheels, and I’m not in the US, so I’ll have to write to the seller and see what we can work out. I’ll keep posting here as things develop. Thanks for the help!
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Spare parts are on ebay. Grab another truck/wheel set while you can
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Hey guys since there’s still some ongoing low key interest in this project- thanks very much bty!- I thought I should give an update on what exactly I’m planning to do here.
First of all, I will NOT be doing a full restoration. The original concept, basically a snowboard with wheels, simply doesn’t interest me. Call me a traditionalist, I prefer my snowboarding without wheels.
Second, here’s their most recent video (says 2010, but looks earlier):
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DS1n6ljJ6z9c&ved=2ahUKEwjku5K3zeXcAhXHIMAKHQJHANsQwqsBMAF6BAgIEAU&usg=AOvVaw3iY8KaO9Mo_ovqaw5_NnSh
Standing on something the height of two stairs with a narrow wheelbase, wobbly bushings, and stiffer than trampa springs is not something advisable in my opinion.
The “historical value” (if any) also isn’t enough on its own to convince me. If I’m building something, it’s with the intention of using it, this is true of anything I build, not just esk8.
With that in mind, here is what I am planning to do:
Swing-arm truck designs are slowly starting to reappear, and I’m planning on building one using the turfboard tires and BMW streetcarver trucks.
I’m working on overhauling and upgrading my existing board first, so it might be a while before I can really get into this project. I do have a 29" jetspud deck waiting for this, and the plan is to have dual diagonal 63** motors.
Currently all the eBay links are sold out, but I’ll keep my eyes open them. The tires were custom made for the board, so those at least are worth buying. I will be able to switch to regular trampa or MBS wheels and tires when they wear out though.
If I can get around to it in the coming weeks I’ll start at least mounting the trucks and wheels to the deck, at which point I’ll also start a build log.
Thank you all very much for the links you’ve sent and the interest you’ve shown. I will do my best to make it worth your patience (eventually)!
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Hi guys I just saw your post on the Turf Deville
I have two of them never used. One is assembled and rolled around the street a few times but never used and one is brand new still in the box.
I bought them before I moved to Florida and never had the time to pursue.
They are high quality components (almost aircraft grade) with beefy trucks tires and hand brakes.
I will most likely remain in Florida and have to sell them.
Would love to see them find a home that will put them to good use
Please contact me if interested
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