lighter xr 10's (what are you gaining)

[jeremyfowler33]

So I've been seeing these build threads of people building these really light xr's and was wondering why, what are you gaining from this other than maybe some vertical climbing. I know we built a friends 1:1 really light by using 44s front and rear and all aluminum cages but I didn't see as to where it made that big of a difference. THIS THREAD WAS MEANT FOR EXPLANATIONS NOT OPINIONS SO PLEASE STICK TO THE TOPIC THANKS!

[ROLANDROCKSHOP]

these are just my views on what ive noticed on my rig..

easier on parts...

better run times on smaller mah batteries,motors dont have to work as hard,which keeps everything running cool.

servo has more input and control over the whole rig rather than just the steering..

when traction is hardly there or none at all,its light enough
it just kinda floats on top of the rocks.

[TC09mini]

RRS about summed it up. The only thing I'd add is it makes the truck much more Nimble. Best part is Easier on parts! You don't need to pay extra for bullet proof parts.

[concretejungle]

good post, i was wondering the same thing. I also asked in another thread why reduce all the weight just to turn around and add knuckle weights and other weight? Seems like making your sprung weight as light as possible makes total sense, but reducing the weight of your axles do not make sense to me....

[EddieO]

Its putting the weight where you want it basically......

Think of it this way.....pretty much any girl would gladly lose 5 lbs out her ass and put it in her tits...

Later EddieO

Originally Posted by concretejungle

good post, i was wondering the same thing. I also asked in another thread why reduce all the weight just to turn around and add knuckle weights and other weight? Seems like making your sprung weight as light as possible makes total sense, but reducing the weight of your axles do not make sense to me....

[Szczerba]

I don't own an XR but have gotten my berg under 5lbs.

I would have to add the sidehilling stability has greatly, greatly increased for my setup. I can sidehill, cut the rear motor off and pull up sidehills that my heavier versions would just slide and push off down the hill. I can also, turn the rear motor down to about 90-95% and sidehill on rock faces for days.

It takes some tuning. You can't just drop weight from random places. It's all about forward balance point, shock/spring tuning and suspension setup.

[CrawlrKing]

Originally Posted by EddieO

Think of it this way.....pretty much any girl would gladly lose 5 lbs out her ass and put it in her tits... EddieO

Damn !!! Eddie, you went far dude !!! Leave my chick with her J-Lo's butt !!!!

I think Szcerzba quite resumed it well ; it's not about shaving weight to get a feather but find the "point" where the rig stays equilibrated and efficient in most situations according to your driving style and skills...

[jeremyfowler33]

So is there geometry changes to make the lighter rigs work or is it more suspension tuning than anything? Is there any certain areas that you could recommend for us new guys to shave some weight off our rigs and not loose a lot of strength?

[xgerstandtx]

When going to a lighter rig, I found that Foam tuning changed alot. I tend to run a lot softer foam in the front/rear with the same closed cell inner.

As far as geometry haveen't noticed anything that needed tweaked.

[slowride1]

softer foams an springs an yes i put in a lil more bite in my truck

[ManxCrawler]

Originally Posted by EddieO

Its putting the weight where you want it basically......

Think of it this way.....pretty much any girl would gladly lose 5 lbs out her ass and put it in her tits...

Later EddieO

priceless

[TSK]

I was too lazy to read all the above, so if someone posted it already, my bad.

But, one of the things is taht setup changes have more drastic results, making the changes more noticeable.

[Krawler23]

Don't forget jumping gaps! That's a big area as well that heavy can't do/do well. Any tips for us newbies to cut some weight?

[Harvo]

The area where you can loose the most weight the easiest is in the wheels and tires. My truck dropped 8oz. with just a wheel change.

[ROLANDROCKSHOP]

try to get the chassis and rear bias(rear axle) as light as possible by means off..

hardware=screws use alum/Ti screws to save weight
Ti axle shafts
ball joints
chassis material/thickness
Ti links
small micro esc's or decased esc's
smaller guage wire thru out
smaller sized shocks..scx shocks w alum bodies
and wheels/tires

that should get ya pointed in the right direction

[hoghead5150]

couple things i noticed, the rear end is easier to get over breakovers after lightening. downside is my dig (i run a losi comp crawler) doesn't work as good. seems to pull the rear end instead of the rear staying planted.

[concretejungle]

i can see how side-hill abilities would be improved.

[Harvo]

Everything is a trade off. Light is just the "in" thing right now. It's making it interesting to work on the crawlers again.

At least in the near future, it's unlikely you will see courses at events with gates that will take full advantage of the really light trucks.

[jeremyfowler33]

Its a wonder that the governing bodies of our hobby don't set a minimal weight like they do at RC races that way the course is fairly built for each machine. To each his own I'm still a newb here and just enjoy going out and making my Crawler do stuff I wouldn't think it could do

[ManxCrawler]

A minimal weight limit wouldn't work because rig builders would just add the extra where it gives best performance, it wouldn't stop the uberlightweight building going on, this is an evolving hobby, new materials and ideas come out of these forums every day which makes rock crawling so appealing to me and others

Once 'governing bodies' start flexing their muscles the popularity tends to wane, just look at other classes where this has happened

Rock crawling is one of the few true free areas left all bar basic guidelines like wheel diameter, track, wheelbase, cab size

Weight handicapping could be something in the future at club level but this hobby of ours is the most enjoyable I have ever had the pleasure to be involved in