Ittybitty's DLux Ultra

[ittybitty]

I hadn't messed with my Berg since I built the XR DD that I ran last season and won Battlegrounds 2013 with, but when I saw DLux's new design I decided it was time to breathe some new life into the old girl.

The first thing that catches my eye about the DLux Ultra chassis is that it's different...in more ways than one that most anything else currently on the market...both in looks and design. The shock hoops caught my eyes first, but as soon as it arrived today and I spent a few minutes assembling it...the CURVES of this chassis are beautiful! I only hope the pictures I've taken will do them justice.

Spec List:

DLux Ultra Chassis HERE
DLux Lightweight Cross Braces HERE
DLux Ti Lower Links HERE
VP Ti Upper Links HERE
Al/Ti Hardware Throughout HERE

Berg V1 Front Axle

• Clover Tubes
• 86 Jeep Steering
• VP Ti Steering Links HERE
• MFD Upper Link Mount - Slightly Modified HERE
• VP 8* Knuckles HERE
• VP 8* C-hubs HERE
• VP 8* Knuckle Weights - Chopped & Milled HERE
• SDS Super 300's HERE
• SDS 3rd Gear HERE
• All Gears Lightened
• Fast Eddy Bearings HERE
• KL Designs Carbon Fiber Dust Cover HERE

Berg V1 Rear Axle

• Clover Tubes
• Hulksta 6mm Ti Axle Shafts HERE
• Hulksta 12mm Bearing Lockouts HERE
• SDS 3rd Gear HERE
• All Gears Lightened
• DLux Upper Link Mount HERE

Electronics

• Holmes Hobbies BR Minis HERE
• Hitec 7950TH
• Futaba 4PK w/ R614FF Rx
• Castle BEC HERE
• Team Brood 30t KR Type S Motors HERE
• BWD Motor Sav'rs HERE
• ROWDY RACING Motor Mounted Tray HERE

Wheels & Tires

• Heavily Shaved & Siped Rovers
• Crawler Innovations Foams HERE
• VP SLW V3's - Milled by Sniper and Drilled by me HERE
• Carbon Fiber Beadlock Rings
  
• I've got 1 pair of Voodoos...need another pair and I'll be giving them a shot There'll probably be some of my cut n shut magic going on with them too

[ittybitty]

I just finished throwing the axles under it which gave me the opportunity to see how the links from my old setup will work with this chassis. The wheelbase is dead on so that's good news. The front upper links will need to be tweaked and/or changed out though as they are keeping the suspension from cycling completely. The rear uppers are perfect...nothing hits at any point in the cycle.

For the time being I've just laid the electronics in the chassis and will tidy them up once I see how things are gonna work out. I'll most likely be picking up another pair of the Holmes Hobbies BR Minis for this rig which will help out as well. I'm looking forward to getting some practice time in tomorrow.

[Erik D_lux]

Wow!

USPS is blazing fast and so are you! I cant believe you have pics up already!

Looks great! Cant wait to see how you like it. Thanks for the support!

[ittybitty]

Originally Posted by Erik D_lux

Wow!

USPS is blazing fast and so are you! I cant believe you have pics up already!

Looks great! Cant wait to see how you like it. Thanks for the support!

Yessir they were on the ball with this order. The tracking initially said I'd get it on Monday, but evidently I've been living right because they got it to me today. Always happy to support vendors that are constantly bringing new...and useful products to the table

Do you see anything I've missed?

[scoutdawg]

very nice looking setup already. How hard is it to mill those wheels?
I do like that new chassis, is the carbon fiber just kinda bent around on the front?

[ittybitty]

Originally Posted by scoutdawg

very nice looking setup already. How hard is it to mill those wheels?
I do like that new chassis, is the carbon fiber just kinda bent around on the front?

I sent them off to Sniper...he's a vendor here on RCC. He charges a VERY reasonable fee to do the mill work on the wheels. When I got them back from him I spent some time on the drill press putting quite a few more holes around them.

Thanks...and yes the chassis is obviously cut from a flat piece of sheet, but since the cross braces are of varying lengths the plates get pulled in in different areas

[ax10tn]

Man this rig sure does look awesome Ryan . Lucky me will get to see it at the showdown hopefully ! I love the chassis Erik really done a remarkable job on it

[easleycrawler]

Hmmm. Keeping secrets now are you!!??? Looks pretty cool.

[Chaotic Crawlers]

Looks awesome


I know you will love this setup!


My only recommendation before you go out and test it is add some tires

[easleycrawler]

In south carolina, tires are over rated.

[TSK]

Man, I swear... I go on honeymoon and lose Internet for a week and look at what happens.

Looks like a preformed. Be sure to get lots of video of it doing work!

[ittybitty]

Originally Posted by ax10tn

Man this rig sure does look awesome Ryan . Lucky me will get to see it at the showdown hopefully ! I love the chassis Erik really done a remarkable job on it

Yessir...I'll definitely have it with me...I'm gonna have to get some time in on the rocks between now and then. Which rig I run at the Showdown will be entirely up to which one I feel most confident with, but I'm thinking this rig will out perform my DD on the type of rock at Ocoee.

Originally Posted by easleycrawler

Hmmm. Keeping secrets now are you!!??? Looks pretty cool.

Pretty horrible secret considering you found out the same day I got it

Originally Posted by Chaotic Crawlers

Looks awesome


I know you will love this setup!


My only recommendation before you go out and test it is add some tires

Thanks...for now I'll be pulling the tires/wheels off of my shafty rig since it's also running SLW's.

Originally Posted by TheSCorpionKing

Man, I swear... I go on honeymoon and lose Internet for a week and look at what happens.

Looks like a preformed. Be sure to get lots of video of it doing work!

You can't turn your back on this site for that long and not expect something like this to happen!

[Jslick]

Looks great so far, are you ditching the DD chassis?

[Harvo]

I like it. I like it a lot.

[ittybitty]

Originally Posted by Jslick

Looks great so far, are you ditching the DD chassis?

No sir...the DD works REALLY well. It's definitely an acquired driving style type of chassis though. Sometimes I just feel like being able to push a rig harder than I should...and in that case the Berg is the go to rig.

Originally Posted by Harvo

I like it. I like it a lot.

Thanks...it'd only look better with a set of CF axles under it.

[Calderwood]

Dlux needs to take some pointers from you and show off the curved carbon fiber panels in his vendor thread. I didn't even realize he did that too with his chassis until I saw your pics. Looks great!

[ittybitty]

Originally Posted by nigels_world

Dlux needs to take some pointers from you and show off the curved carbon fiber panels in his vendor thread. I didn't even realize he did that too with his chassis until I saw your pics. Looks great!

Thanks! I'm glad the pictures are doing it some justice

[Erik D_lux]

Originally Posted by ittybitty

Yessir they were on the ball with this order. The tracking initially said I'd get it on Monday, but evidently I've been living right because they got it to me today. Always happy to support vendors that are constantly bringing new...and useful products to the table

Do you see anything I've missed?

Looks really good to me. Only thing I would change is the rear shock placement but I dont know if youre getting around to that or not.

[ittybitty]

Originally Posted by Erik D_lux

Looks really good to me. Only thing I would change is the rear shock placement but I dont know if youre getting around to that or not.

I don't think I was planning on changing it up, but after putting it on the rocks for a few minutes this morning it was obvious I needed more ride height.

[ittybitty]

Following Erik's setup I modified the SCX shocks with a rod end and set them up to be approx. 3.8" extended and 3.07" collapsed front and rear. In the process I also installed the Axial machined pistons which really make these shocks feel soooo much better.

Stock Piston: ~ 6.77mm


Machined Piston: ~7.01mm


New overall length


Moved rear shocks inside the chassis


Better ride height


It'll still drive on it's roof