ZipZap Rockcrawler

[jason]

I decided I couldn't help myself and had to go pick up on of the Monstertruck ZipZaps, but we'll be making this one into a Rock Crawler!

I picked up the Spiderman Hummer, because we all know hummers are the ultimate offroad vehicles

I also got the tire and wheel kit, so I could have the chrome wheels, and the Swampers!



Here it is getting ready to install the motor and put the wheels and tires on it.
I'll keep the stock motor for now, they do sell upgrade motors. The only specs they give you about the motors is the rpms, this one is 8000. The upgrade motors are 14,500, 18,000, and 21,000. You can also change the gearing, stock is 24:1, they have upgrade available for 20.8:1, 18.3:1, and 16.2:1.



Here is a shot with it put together with the body off.



This shows the underside of the body, with the wiring for the lights. The headlights turn on when you go foward, and the brake lights turn on when you backup.



All put together, and charging!



The rear has no suspension at all, the front is IFS and only lets each tire go up about 1/8".

First impression in driving this thing is awsome, just the right size for crawling around on the desk at work! I have some mods planned for this, and we'll see what it can do!

[fuzzhead]

looks like it could be a lot of fun. might have to look into one of these. after i get a tlt

[jason]

We've gotta make this thing lightweight! So the first step is to see where we are to begin with. Starting weight is 71.86 g.



Without the body we're at 62.42 g. That tells us the body weights 9.44 g, or 13% of the total weight 8O

[fuzzhead]

ditch the lights. not to mention doing that will increase run times. maybe not by much but hey who cares a minute more is a minute more. and maybe shave some stuff with a file and drill some necessary holes

[hcfr34]

What did you pay for that thing?

[jason]

$24.99 the Zip Zap, $6.99 for the extra wheels and tires.

[hcfr34]

I guess thats worth it, where do you get'em. Make good christmas gifts for my boys.

[jason]

Radio Shack

[hcfr34]

thanks, those will be alot easier than screwing with these old midnight pumpkins I got.

[jason]

Well, just spent a few hours building a tube chassis, but I don't like it, and it is heavier than the stock body, so it's gone.

Here's what it looked like.

[jason]

Word to the wise, DO NOT pull the screws out of the bottom of this!!! I pulled them out because I was removing the coil springs. It took me an hour to get all the tiny pieces and springs back where they need to be.

[XFACTOR]

lol, they look sweet..I don know if they have them here or not..although I saw the mattracks by radio shack in a shop here in new zealand (im on holidays there at the moment) and they are about $60us..

I might have to buy one tomorrow and when i get back to aus..tr and put the tracks on the clod might go good?

Ill have too see how I can get a mini truck like that though!

[TerribleOne]

What about the tires?....are they soft or like rock hard

[TwistedXT]

I picked one up the other day and also got the tire combo kit,american truck bodies and the engines and gearign combos... i found that the supplied stock motor is a wuss. it has no torque, i upgrade the motor to the turbo motor with the green stock low gears and the mickey thompson looking tires and the black chevy silverado body and this thing will climb anything! im sold... this is cool.

[DirkDigler]

damn! My radio shack didn't have the wheel and tire set. I'll have to go look for those!!!!!!!!!!

[TwistedXT]

if you get really bored you can alway trim the stock tires.... now that would keep you busy for a little while... break out the dremmel and small sanding stones...

[spicollie]

Do they actually have axels? How in the world would make one into a crawler?

[Tjbell88]

thats a pretty nifty little truck
plan on doing any 4 link suspension on it?

[Jeeper]

i went and saw one. i thought it lacked power but if you got another battery or two and an upgraded motor, i'm sure that it would be sweet. maybe i'll have to try it.

[Novak76]

i got one the other day with the right gears and motor itll climb over
just about anything