Idaho guys test steering on their massive diesel-powered 3x3 custom build trike

The 3×3 custom build trike from GrindHardPlumbingCo is finally sitting under its own weight, featuring a pushrod suspension, rear-wheel steering, and a diesel-powered frame.

After weeks of fabrication, the team tested the trike’s handling and geometry while preparing it for off-road performance.

The 3×3 custom build trike uses a Humvee subframe as its base and a mix of scrap and spare parts, giving it a rugged, one-of-a-kind appearance.

The machine looks unlike anything else on the road, but how does it run?

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The build began with a basic idea and a diesel-powered frame, but quickly evolved into a complex mechanical challenge.

The team hand-built a pushrod suspension system with coilovers and carefully designed geometry to support future off-road use.

Using machining tools like a lathe, they produced precision components to fit within the constraints of the diesel-powered frame while also enhancing ride control.

From the beginning, the plan was to go beyond conventional setups and push into new territory.

One of the most unique aspects of the 3×3 custom build trike is its rear-wheel steering, which adds incredible low-speed maneuverability.

By mounting a hydraulic ram to the trailing suspension link, the crew achieved tight cornering even with the vehicle’s massive stance.

The rear-wheel steering also gave the trike better terrain control, making it ideal for navigating difficult conditions or tight trails.

Combined with the pushrod suspension and diesel-powered frame, this configuration stands out among home-built off-roaders.

The suspension itself uses a series of bell cranks, rods, and brackets to transfer movement to the shocks, and allows ride height adjustment without changing stiffness.

That’s a major benefit when tuning a 3×3 custom build trike for variable weight loads, especially one with a diesel-powered frame and rear-wheel steering.

Though early spring setups were too soft, stiffer coils quickly gave the trike better composure under weight.

These iterative upgrades were part of what made the pushrod suspension such a smart solution.

With the front steering and rear-wheel steering systems now integrated, the team could finally drive and evaluate the 3×3 custom build trike for the first time.

Early impressions showed exaggerated wheel articulation at the extremes but steady control in the mid-range, proving the geometry works.

The diesel-powered frame handled the weight shift well, while the pushrod suspension absorbed undulations without bottoming out.

It may look like a Mad Max creation, but it rides like a finely-tuned concept vehicle.

Despite a minor failure from a tack-welded control arm under load, the trike performed well during its initial shakedown.

Quick repairs and reinforcements kept the project on track, and now the focus shifts to refining components and dialing in spring rates.

From building custom brackets to sourcing parts from a shipping container full of shocks, the team remains committed to making this 3×3 custom build trike fully operational.

There is even talk of adding attachments like cranes or trailer hitches to expand its utility.

The project embodies everything GrindHardPlumbingCo is known for: creative engineering, wild concepts, and relentless trial and error.

With its diesel-powered frame, pushrod suspension, and rear-wheel steering, this 3×3 custom build trike is unlike anything else on or off the road.

It is an off-road experiment in motion, one that will likely get even wilder in the next update.

You can watch the full video here:

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