What would be the ultimate mut crawler?

[Trac95ker]

I want to build a crawler from scratch. I have started on a tube frame.


I was thinking of using Savage parts, its what im most familiar with, the drivetrain is pretty tough. Make the IFS solid and use a brushless motor. I would dial in the brakes with my radio. One concern is the pitch of the spur gear. I havent come up with a good solution for that.

Anyways, im open to any suggestions for building the ultimate crawler.

[offroadin]

Don't bother with the brushless set up. They are no good for crawling. Cogging, overheating controllers just aren't suited to crawling.

From what ive seen, making indipendant trucks into solid axles ends up ugly and bulky looking.

Pick yourself up some clod of jugg driveline setups and you will save a lot of hassle.

[Trac95ker]

If the truck is geared low enough, I am hoping the Novak brushless will be fine. Its less money I have to put out also.

For me fuction is beauty. Half the fun is building it!

[toyofast]

Originally Posted by offroadin

From what ive seen, making indipendant trucks into solid axles ends up ugly and bulky looking.

Then you haven't seen many

Originally Posted by offroadin

Pick yourself up some clod of jugg driveline setups and you will save a lot of hassle.

I'd only suggest this if you want to make a mid-sized crawler, one that is more on the narrow side. Next thing above Clod/Jugg/TXT is X-Factor axles... most(95%) of the ORCRC guys run either Maxx hybrid solid axles or X-Factor axles in there crawlers... I'm one of the very very few that has competed using Jugg axle setup. It's hard to keep up let me tell ya

[Trac95ker]

Thanks for replying. Ive checked out your Landcruiser- e-maxx on various sites. Its sweet. What do you think about th Kyosho twin force drivetrain?

[toyofast]

Originally Posted by Trac95ker

Thanks for replying. Ive checked out your Landcruiser- e-maxx on various sites. Its sweet. What do you think about th Kyosho twin force drivetrain?

The Maxx hybrids are not mine... there hacksters. The Red Rubicon bodied one is his newest one and it's super smooth over the rocks.

[offroadin]

Then you haven't seen many

Trust me, I've seen many. I've been into RC for at least 6 years now. Been a member of many msg boards and have seen countless trucks.

Yes those trucks are nice. The landcruiser emaxx hybrid has angled straight axles which do aid the bulkyness problem. THere are always exceptions

However,
I have to disagree with you on the axle selection. Sure wider may give more stability, but long and narrow is where it is at for trail running, rockcrawling etc.

The X-Factor axles IMO just look too wide. Reason being, the distance between the wheels is greater therefore there is a greater chance of the axle being hung up on a rock etc. Another thing is just not being able to take certain lines because of your track width. (bar running jumbo Kongs or large tires)

Clods and Jugg/TXTs trucks will dominate X-factor axled and maxx hybrids in 95% of all showdowns.

Im currently building a Jugg based crawler and expect it to be a dman good crawler. I've built and ran many types of chassis so hopefully ill get it perfect this time.

I wish there were more ppl around here so a competition or fun crawl could take place.

[TwistedCreations]

Originally Posted by offroadin

Clods and Jugg/TXTs trucks will dominate X-factor axled and maxx hybrids in 95% of all showdowns.

Thanks for the laugh today, i needed it.. so a Maxx straight axle which is angled up for the most ground clearance will get stuck before a clod? the only main reason the clods do so well is that all of their weight is low as to where the maxx is set up higher. your kinda comparing apples to oranges. but if you build a Maxx SA from 3/16-1/4" metal ( whatever ya use) that will give you the added weight down low to stay with a clod, if not pass it up


what do you mean by " the bulkyness" of an Emaxx straight axle, specially if most people are using the stock arms to lock it in place? :?

[TwistedCreations]

Originally Posted by offroadin

However,
I have to disagree with you on the axle selection. Sure wider may give more stability, but long and narrow is where it is at for trail running, rockcrawling etc.

The X-Factor axles IMO just look too wide. Reason being, the distance between the wheels is greater therefore there is a greater chance of the axle being hung up on a rock etc. Another thing is just not being able to take certain lines because of your track width. (bar running jumbo Kongs or large tires)

so if long and narrow is where its at, you better tell all the guys out west in the comps and such to get rid of those 60's and put back in the Yota axles you realize that as the tire goes up, so does the axle. also, if the axle is angled up( like most Maxx SA) it will raise even higher. but if you pick the right lines, you won't have that problem to start

[skoolbus]

I would love a tuber, but it would make the worst starting point for a crawler. I'm kinda baffled why someone can't make some lightweight or smaller batteries..100 years and we still got these hunks o batts, what happened to that nuclear thing they were tossing around in the 80's

[Trac95ker]

Why would a tube frame be a bad starting point for a crawler? What size crawlers are the courses designed for?

[SR5Dave]

Originally Posted by Toyotafourwheeln

so if long and narrow is where its at, you better tell all the guys out west in the comps and such to get rid of those 60's and put back in the Yota axles you realize that as the tire goes up, so does the axle. also, if the axle is angled up( like most Maxx SA) it will raise even higher. but if you pick the right lines, you won't have that problem to start

People with lots of money who do it right and put a lot of money into their 60's dont get uber wide ones that came stock with their tow rig and they actually aren't SUUUPER wide. See, im cheap, so I have a dually front 60, 78" WMS to WMS (but hummer rims.. so it sorta evens out)

[SR5Dave]

Originally Posted by skoolbus

I would love a tuber, but it would make the worst starting point for a crawler. I'm kinda baffled why someone can't make some lightweight or smaller batteries..100 years and we still got these hunks o batts, what happened to that nuclear thing they were tossing around in the 80's

And I think you're nuts :P Tube frames are complicated and probably difficult to start with... But they're nice and rigid, they give you some sprung weight (A problem we have with clods!) and they look cool to boot!

oh yeah, where are those links? ;)

[skoolbus]

would a tube frame be a bad starting point for a crawler? What size crawlers are the courses designed

I'm wasn't trying to start expertising your plans at all. Just that a tube is probobly the single hardest chassis to build and your starting with sorta no exact plan. Mainly I said that though because your center of gravity is going to be working against you right from the start. Just my opinion. Also, brushless would be nice since the motors are sealed, but like someone said the controllers will burn up crawling around. And also to start with an IFS, your going to have your hands full. I would love to see that built...Seems like a tough project. Just my opinion though..I come in peace

[DirkDigler]

Yes, the X axles are very wide. That's why I recommend to everyone running them, to use Kongs. It's the only way to overcome the constant haning up on rocks at the diffs.
Being too wide is not true, in my opinion. After narrowing the Kongs, narrowing a maxx sized wheel with very possitive offset, brings my tire to tire track width to 16 inches. That is narrower than most of the Maxx hybrids and only slightly wider than a TXT. Combining the narrow track width with a 17 inch wheel base makes it very manuverable and it can still get into tight, twisty trails with no problems! Narrow is good!

[SR5Dave]

Originally Posted by DirkDigler

Yes, the X axles are very wide. That's why I recommend to everyone running them, to use Kongs. It's the only way to overcome the constant haning up on rocks at the diffs.
Being too wide is not true, in my opinion. After narrowing the Kongs, narrowing a maxx sized wheel with very possitive offset, brings my tire to tire track width to 16 inches. That is narrower than most of the Maxx hybrids and only slightly wider than a TXT. Combining the narrow track width with a 17 inch wheel base makes it very manuverable and it can still get into tight, twisty trails with no problems! Narrow is good!

Heck, thats only barely wider than my clod, at 15.5". 16 or even 16.5" would seem perfect.

[DirkDigler]

I think it's perfect!

[SR5Dave]

Originally Posted by DirkDigler

I think it's perfect!

Yeah, mine seems just a bit narrow. Which is another reason why portal axles would be great!

[rbgerrish]

"Clods and Jugg/TXTs trucks will dominate X-factor axled and maxx hybrids in 95% of all showdowns"

I'm sorry, but this is incorrect. The benefits of running wide greatly outweigh the need to fit through a tight squeeze once in a blue moon! Of course you dont want to be too wide, but Xfactor/emaxx axles, narrowed wheels, on a 16" wheelbased rig is a sweet setup. I have never seen an instance when a jugg or clod made it 'between' some spot and a Xfactor couldnt. It's very rare that you find an obstacle that allows a clod width truck but not an xfactor width truck.


(Now, using a real world example regarding Clod vs Emaxx): You're trying to tell us that a Dana 60 is better than a portal axle?

my 2 cents
ryan

[DirkDigler]

Posted: Fri May 28, 2004 4:03 am Post subject: Re: What would be the ultimate mut crawler?

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"Clods and Jugg/TXTs trucks will dominate X-factor axled and maxx hybrids in 95% of all showdowns"


I thought that was a very funny statement as well. Absolutely untrue!!!!!!!!!!!