RC Crawlers

[chris]

Entertaining the idea of getting into the RC crawler hobby. Anyone got some good info on how to get started and what a good (somewhat inexpensive) starter rig is?

Interested in learning things about brands, gas powered vs electric, upgrade components, etc.

 

[mbost]

Hey Chris, hit jonnyB! He might still have one for sale that he has built. He'll clue ya in.

 

[yodaman88]

I have a losi mini rock crawler. It's an awesome rig with tons of mods you can do without spending any money, and there' s also tons of aftermarket for it.
I'm also thinking about selling it if you're interested.

 

[chris]

That looks like fun! I've been looking at the 1/10th scale Axial AX10. I wanted something a little bigger to be able to do some bigger rocks. But I'm just getting started so I don't know what I want. How do you feel about the mini crawler vs the AX10? It's definitely a lot cheaper than the ax10.

 

[SStone]

No one that I know of close to me into these. I just recently started a "scaler" build. Based on the Axial SCX-10, with an '87 Clod (Chevy) body.


It's got a long way to go but its a blast to drive. No idea why the pictures are so small.

 

[Reid]

www.rccrawler.com

 

[SStone]

Also...

http://www.ncrccrawlers.com

 

[chris]

Excellent, thanks for the links!

 

[Foxracin]

You want a comp rig or a scaler. I think the scalers are a lot more fun and can make them look real. I have had each and have more fun with my scaler. I'll post some pics and more info on it later.

 

[chris]

What's the difference between comp and scaler?

 

[Reid]

a comp rig...is built to compete. a scaler is built to scale (1:10-8th) it is built to look real. your definition of scaler is pretty loose around NC. most times people want original suspension geometry and tools and accessories and working winches.


i prefer scalers. comp gets boring.

 

[Webbinator]

Check out what my little setup in the Misc. for Sale section. Everything you need to do some RC crawlin'.

 

[yodaman88]

i love the mrc, lets you have fun with a lot more terrain. When you have 1/10th you have to find bigger things, the 1/18th allows much more obsticles. I've got mine set up for full droop, eliminated the torque twist, and it's waterproof. The bodies give it a scale enough look, with the performance of a comp rig. I'd sell everything i have for $200 if you want it

 

[Foxracin]

My "Scaler" is a SCX-10 kit with a Tamiya F-350 Body. It has working lights, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights. I have a trans with a dig built onto it turned around backwards so it is 2wd until I hit a switch then it locks in 4wd or flip it the other way and it will lock the front wheels up to do burnouts.

Its not so pretty anymore. lol

Pretty much anything you can buy for a full size vehicle you can get for these things. They can get real expensive real quick. For a bunch of cool parts but expensive check out this site. They have scale axles and all.

http://www.rc4wdstore.com/2/

 

[Reid]

cool scaler interesting idea with the reversed dig. looking at that fairlead....either you know brandon oullette or someone else started building them.


by the way....rc4wd is the usa6x6 of the rc world. yes....he has cool products...do they work? eh...sometimes. customer service is iffy as well.

http://www.scale4x4rc.org/home/
this is the place i liked the most.

 

[chris]

Check out what my little setup in the Misc. for Sale section. Everything you need to do some RC crawlin'.

I've been looking at that. I think it's a bit more than I want to spend right now though unfortunatley.

i love the mrc, lets you have fun with a lot more terrain. When you have 1/10th you have to find bigger things, the 1/18th allows much more obsticles. I've got mine set up for full droop, eliminated the torque twist, and it's waterproof. The bodies give it a scale enough look, with the performance of a comp rig. I'd sell everything i have for $200 if you want it

Price is more within my limits. What all do you have for it?

 

[yodaman88]

I've got the stock springs, as well as a set of springs from a desert racer which are on it right now to run full droop. It has upgraded lockers to the full metal lockers as opposed to the plastic stock ones, slightly heaver oil weight in the shocks, has been waterproofed, upper tray removed, shocks remounted for better stability, battery relocated to the axle for better cog, weights on the front axle, and i have weights to be put in the front wheels. WIll come with the stock body, the ford body, and the jeep body. Only thing it would need to be better would be a better set of tires. The stock ones are alright, but i ran a friends set of chisels and they made a pretty good difference

 

[92yotaman]

i wouldnt go gas powered. i had a savage 21 for a long time, and i loved it...when it ran. It was such a pain to get started, even with an electric start. Even after it was started it would run for 5 min and cut off. No doubt it was the most fun little toy ive ever had, but just not worth the trouble. Get an electric, turn it on and go.

 

[chris]

Sounds cool. Let me think about it yodaman. I'm still not sure I want to get into yet another hobby.

 

[cgm147]

go ahead and buy it so i can drive it a dpg this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[chris]

lmao, ok, but I'm not trailerin' it for ya!

 

[cgm147]

lmao, ok, but I'm not trailerin' it for ya!

damn well i gues ill have to pack a few extra batterys for that long walk!!!! hahhahahaha

 

[jonnyB]

chris you shoulda hit me up before christmas, i sold two ax10s cheap. if you dont get yotamans i have a losi mrc, but somethins up with the steering, might just need another servo. its all stock. if you get an ax10 i do have some aftermarket parts for those. i bought 5 cars and a bunch of parts alittle while ago as a package deal. me and chad have been getting into this alot lately, you can go up to the bullhole with us when u get one. you'll be hooked!

 

[untchabl]

Bringing this thread back from the dead.

Just picked up a Losi Night Crawler yesterday. Crawled for about 10 minutes and already broke two lower arms Back to the store tomorrow to get aluminum ones

Anybody else still messing with them?

 

[GSRswapandslow]

i've had a few of them.....sold them all except my losi micro crawler.
micro's running a 250mah 2s lipo, custom links, chopped body, BWD wheel weights and hardware, all wires replaced with silicone, and all extra plastics removed. fun little thing for messing around the house with, but if it wasn't a gift i'd never have gotten it.

heres before i switched to custom links and lengthened the wheel base:

others:
Losi comp crawler...never finished it, but was gonna go MOA and BLC regear:

axial #1:
SWX chassis, HD ring gear front/rear, HD lockers, modded axial dog bones, mayhem comp double phatty wheels, losi rock claws, 94780 servo, 3s lipo, mamba max, 45t, dna dig, losi crawler shocks

axial #2:
edge on an ARTR kit, hobbico cs150 servo, siped hammers, rooster, 55t, 7cell ni-mh, 4 link f/r, big bores in droop...really fun rig

axial #3:
short lived...MFM black widow, 2s lipo, rooster, 55t, RC4wd wheels, panther cougars, sprung big bores (took parts off edge build)

axial #4:
first one i ever had...no finished pictures, but it was very basic and ended up selling it to a buddy

axial #5:
SCX10...never finished it...should have realized scale is kinda fun, but only worried about comps at that point so i sold it. LR3 body, rooster/55t, basic stuff