CEN F-250 Crawler

[casco_bay_rc]

Once I saw CEN Racing's lifted F-250 RTR, I knew I wanted to turn it into a rock crawler. The first mod I performed was adding the much larger and stronger Ryft axles. Then, I corrected the suspension geometry to optimize articulation and stability using a mix of Axial's M6 stainless links. I added custom underpinnings between the chassis and suspension mounts to stiffen the chassis.

I rearranged the chassis mounts and braces to optimize the weight balance and moved the battery tray to the front to benefit in crawling.

I then added RC4WD's two-speed Wraith transmission for the truck to quickly get to the rock piles and gear down for the ascents. To mount the gearbox, I made a custom Delrin skid plate and dropped the position of the transmission to lower the center of gravity.

Finally, I switched the stock front bumper for Axial's Basecamp bumper, which fits the front nicely, and provides a superior approach angle.

Motor/ESC: Castle Mamba X/1412-3200kV
Servo: NSDRC RS1
Wheels/Tires: SSD Challenger 2.2/Pro-Line Baja Pro X 2.2
Shocks: GMade XD Diaphragm 103mm

[lonleycreeper]

Thats pretty dang cool!

[durok]

Is there a pic attached to the first post?

Sounds like something I'd like to see, but there's nothing visible using my PC and either Chrome or Edge browsers...

[AK KRAWLER]

Originally Posted by durok

Is there a pic attached to the first post?

Sounds like something I'd like to see, but there's nothing visible using my PC and either Chrome or Edge browsers...

Same boat here! I wanna see, I wanna see, but sadly the pics are no longer there... Just a big dot with a dash through it.

Sounds like a cool project

[casco_bay_rc]

Originally Posted by durok

Is there a pic attached to the first post?

Sounds like something I'd like to see, but there's nothing visible using my PC and either Chrome or Edge browsers...

Sorry about that. It's fixed now.

[AK KRAWLER]

Sweet build man, that blue really pops!!!

[durok]

Appreciated!

Big Blue Beast...

[ferp420]

those axles look way to big under that truck but hay

[casco_bay_rc]

Originally Posted by ferp420

those axles look way to big under that truck but hay

That’s the point with this build. Take the chintzy out of the box "lifted" look and make it perform. I started with AR60s, then it escalated.

I know it's not a scale rig, but the performance is amazing.

[Wraith1985]

It looks great! You did a good job, the long wheelbase gets me though.

[casco_bay_rc]

Originally Posted by Wraith1985

It looks great! You did a good job, the long wheelbase gets me though.

Appreciated. I've since made some more modifications to further the OEM-like appearance.

The performance, despite its size, is incredible. Yes, it will get hung up on breakover, but I'm working on that with a 3D-printed skid plate.

[xtreme4x2]

Thats awesome!! Looks way better! Are the ryft axles a lot bigger than the ar60s?

[Goro Majima]

Whoa I missed this one. I like wild builds like this especially when you go drive it and it surprises you. Love it.

[casco_bay_rc]

Originally Posted by xtreme4x2

Thats awesome!! Looks way better! Are the ryft axles a lot bigger than the ar60s?

Thanks, buddy!

The Ryft axles are larger all around. They aren't significantly wider, but they are much thicker and beefier.

[casco_bay_rc]

Originally Posted by Goro Majima

Whoa I missed this one. I like wild builds like this especially when you go drive it and it surprises you. Love it.

Thanks, buddy!

[Ross413]

That is really cool, do you have a comparison pic of what the project started as?

[AK KRAWLER]

Originally Posted by Ross413

That is really cool, do you have a comparison pic of what the project started as?

This is what the CEN F250 looks like stock:

[Ross413]

WOW, that is a wild transformation.

With the 2.2 tires, and the Ryft axles, with the 2 speed, how would the final drive work out compared to a stock TRX4 2 speed?

[casco_bay_rc]

Originally Posted by Ross413

WOW, that is a wild transformation.

With the 2.2 tires, and the Ryft axles, with the 2 speed, how would the final drive work out compared to a stock TRX4 2 speed?

It's a fun project and still evolving.

It now has a very forward weight bias, with all of the weight down below with brass.

Note the original chassis configuration with the battery in the back. I removed any parts that were not needed and moved the tray to the front.




With the two-speed and the rock racer/crawler mode with the Mamba X, it can race to the rocks, then climb them. I don't have the final ratio in my head, but I'll work that out and see:

Axles are 38/13, so 2.92.

The RC4WD two-speed:
1st is 5.05:1, and 2nd is 1.78:1.

I'm running an 80T Robinson spur with a 20T or 4:1.

So, 1st gear FDR is 58.58:1, and 2nd gear is 20.81:1 at the hexes.

I can calculate the speed with the Kv and 2.2s later.