RCCrawler Forums

Happy_trucker · 05-19-2009, 12:20 AM

My brother has a stock TLT, he is looking into rock crawling with his truck, is there anyway he can get his truck ready for crawl spending the least amount of money?? Can I build him a half@$$ tube frame to mount all his stock stuff to make it work??? Thanks guys

CRAZYACE63 · 05-19-2009, 12:23 AM

First you will need a better tranny and put some jb weld in the diffs to lock them. I tried crawling with the stock tranny and the belt just slipped. Since I gave up on the stock setup I have gone with using just the axles and an axial tranny. You will probably want to ditch everything except the axles. HTH.

JeremyH · 05-19-2009, 01:56 PM

Agreed! The stock belt drive tranny sucks. You can chop the stock chassis plates to fit a stampede tranny (which can also be locked with JB weld) and make your own longer suspension links. Re-work the suspension mounts for a good shock setup. Most of this can be done for fairly cheap...

Happy_trucker · 05-19-2009, 09:36 PM

ok, it seems like i can't get away without hacking something up. So a stempede trans will work? where would I be able to get one for him?? What kind of shocks??

wildthing · 05-20-2009, 12:29 AM

I am still using the stock tranny of the TLT. It was locked by removing the ball bearings and drilling out a 2 holes to lock with a bolt and nut.

I remedied the slack of the belt (so it wouldn't slip) by adding a belt tensioner (I borrowed this from one of my old on-road RC).

I also reduced the drive ratio - I used a 90T - 12T combination of Spur & Pinion (48Pitch gears). To do this, I have to modify the holes for the motor, the plastic guide of the motor and motor bolt holes.

Downside of this set-up is that it has a high center of gravity... because the motor is heavy and it sits on top. Having an axial tranny or even the stampede tranny will lower the cg.

JeremyH · 05-20-2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy_trucker

ok, it seems like i can't get away without hacking something up. So a stempede trans will work? where would I be able to get one for him?? What kind of shocks??

http://www.shop.rpphobby.com/product...&productId=349

Regular Maxx shocks from Traxxas will work well and can be found in most hobby shops for a cheap price. You'll probably want a softer spring....the Losi white or yell springs work nicely with those shocks.

some87 · 05-20-2009, 03:43 PM

one word BMV!!!!! i got one and i LOVE IT!!!!! and its very cheap. you can find them for about $20 if you put a wanted add up. and the best part you dont need shocks. the way i have my truck setup atm is a bmv chassis with mip cvd's all around and lockers in the back with a r2d trans and old maxx drive shafts. ill get somoe pics of it tonight. i have had an axial and that thing always pissed me off till i sold it and ran my tlt again and i can tell you the only other crawler i will ever even try out would be the new losi and even at that i dont think ill stop useing my tlt. the down side with the tlt's is that even the mip shafts are not strong enough for big 2.2 tires. i have a friend with hpi rovers and he breaks them every time he runs the truck. im useing comp claws atm and they seem to be holding up.

Robb · 05-20-2009, 03:48 PM

Stampede trannies were popular in TLTs because, well, AX10 trannies weren't available.

AX10 tranny is smaller and cheaper.

some87 · 05-20-2009, 04:14 PM

a used r2d is cheap and has dig

wildthing · 05-20-2009, 04:40 PM

the layout of the R2D is good... but in my country it is not cheap :(

M.C. pee pants, got any pictures of your TLT?

some87 · 05-20-2009, 10:27 PM

sorry for taking so long but here are the pics

JeremyH · 05-21-2009, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robb

AX10 tranny is smaller and cheaper.

I've given away some of my old Pede trannys that I don't use anymore......ya cant get much cheaper than that! That is the one reason why I mentioned that trans. Yes, it's more expensive when new is compared to new, but they can usually be found for cheap in the for sale section...

CronusTRD · 05-21-2009, 08:59 AM

Get the AX10 transmission. It's cheap, and you have the option for DIG.

caymin last · 05-23-2009, 06:23 AM

Another way of limiting the slip in the stock tranny is to use old T-maxx slipper clutch friction pegs in place of the little balls, and then tighten the screws real good.

Happy_trucker · 05-23-2009, 01:05 PM

i"ll have to see how my bro have it set up now' but thanks for all the suggestions. I'll look around for the parts and see what I can come up with.

killswitch · 06-12-2009, 12:56 AM

back in the early days of the TLT I used a nitro 4 tec gear diff locked with epoxy in place of the ball diff on the belt drive gearbox. I also used a touring car belt tensioner and never had any slipping issues.

Big Mike · 06-16-2009, 11:51 AM

MY first rig was a stock TLT. I ran the stock chassis and transmission for close to a year, with new links to stretch the wheelbase out to 11 3/4" and Hot Bodies shocks. I ended up running a droop setup to lower the COG.

The belt slippage can be eliminated with a belt tensioner. I made my own from surplus hardware and a pair of bushings. There is also an HPI belt for the RS4 (I think) that is the same diameter as the stock TLT belt, but thicker and wider. This helps as well. Once I got the tensioner dialed, I never slipped a belt again.

One thing you'll never be able to cure with the stock TLT tranny is the ridiculously high center of gravity. The motor mounts up top. That doesn't mean you won't be able to create a fun and capable rig with the stock chassis/transmission, I had a great time driving mine while it was together. Just don't expect comp-worthiness out of it is all.

If you just want to have fun crawling, the TLT can do it for you with some thoughtful modifications...

bent70 · 06-16-2009, 05:02 PM

If he's really interested I have a bunch of different stuff I could sell you that would really help out.
Are you going to genentec weds?

05-19-2009, 12:20 AM	#1
Happy_trucker Rock Stacker Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Francisco Posts: 90	Build a decent crawler from a stock TLT? My brother has a stock TLT, he is looking into rock crawling with his truck, is there anyway he can get his truck ready for crawl spending the least amount of money?? Can I build him a half@$$ tube frame to mount all his stock stuff to make it work??? Thanks guys

05-20-2009, 12:29 AM	#5
wildthing Rock Stacker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Angeles City, Philippines Posts: 64	I am still using the stock tranny of the TLT. It was locked by removing the ball bearings and drilling out a 2 holes to lock with a bolt and nut. I remedied the slack of the belt (so it wouldn't slip) by adding a belt tensioner (I borrowed this from one of my old on-road RC). I also reduced the drive ratio - I used a 90T - 12T combination of Spur & Pinion (48Pitch gears). To do this, I have to modify the holes for the motor, the plastic guide of the motor and motor bolt holes. Downside of this set-up is that it has a high center of gravity... because the motor is heavy and it sits on top. Having an axial tranny or even the stampede tranny will lower the cg. Last edited by wildthing; 05-20-2009 at 04:37 PM. Reason: typo error corrected

05-19-2009, 12:23 AM	#2
CRAZYACE63 Rock Crawler Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: LOMPOC Posts: 701	First you will need a better tranny and put some jb weld in the diffs to lock them. I tried crawling with the stock tranny and the belt just slipped. Since I gave up on the stock setup I have gone with using just the axles and an axial tranny. You will probably want to ditch everything except the axles. HTH.

05-19-2009, 01:56 PM	#3
JeremyH I wanna be Dave Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 16,952	Agreed! The stock belt drive tranny sucks. You can chop the stock chassis plates to fit a stampede tranny (which can also be locked with JB weld) and make your own longer suspension links. Re-work the suspension mounts for a good shock setup. Most of this can be done for fairly cheap...

05-19-2009, 09:36 PM	#4
Happy_trucker Rock Stacker Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Francisco Posts: 90	ok, it seems like i can't get away without hacking something up. So a stempede trans will work? where would I be able to get one for him?? What kind of shocks??

05-20-2009, 03:43 PM	#7
some87 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico Posts: 284	one word BMV!!!!! i got one and i LOVE IT!!!!! and its very cheap. you can find them for about $20 if you put a wanted add up. and the best part you dont need shocks. the way i have my truck setup atm is a bmv chassis with mip cvd's all around and lockers in the back with a r2d trans and old maxx drive shafts. ill get somoe pics of it tonight. i have had an axial and that thing always pissed me off till i sold it and ran my tlt again and i can tell you the only other crawler i will ever even try out would be the new losi and even at that i dont think ill stop useing my tlt. the down side with the tlt's is that even the mip shafts are not strong enough for big 2.2 tires. i have a friend with hpi rovers and he breaks them every time he runs the truck. im useing comp claws atm and they seem to be holding up.

05-20-2009, 03:48 PM	#8
Robb RCC Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: VARCOR Posts: 1,826	Stampede trannies were popular in TLTs because, well, AX10 trannies weren't available. AX10 tranny is smaller and cheaper.

05-20-2009, 04:14 PM	#9
some87 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico Posts: 284	a used r2d is cheap and has dig

05-20-2009, 04:40 PM	#10
wildthing Rock Stacker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Angeles City, Philippines Posts: 64	the layout of the R2D is good... but in my country it is not cheap :( M.C. pee pants, got any pictures of your TLT?

05-20-2009, 10:27 PM	#11
some87 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico Posts: 284	sorry for taking so long but here are the pics

05-21-2009, 08:59 AM	#13
CronusTRD Quarry Creeper Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: MD Posts: 323	Get the AX10 transmission. It's cheap, and you have the option for DIG.

05-23-2009, 06:23 AM	#14
caymin last Rock Crawler Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Naples Posts: 609	Another way of limiting the slip in the stock tranny is to use old T-maxx slipper clutch friction pegs in place of the little balls, and then tighten the screws real good.

Sponsored Links

05-23-2009, 01:05 PM	#15
Happy_trucker Rock Stacker Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Francisco Posts: 90	i"ll have to see how my bro have it set up now' but thanks for all the suggestions. I'll look around for the parts and see what I can come up with.

06-12-2009, 12:56 AM	#16
killswitch RCC Addict Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: St. Albans Posts: 1,441	back in the early days of the TLT I used a nitro 4 tec gear diff locked with epoxy in place of the ball diff on the belt drive gearbox. I also used a touring car belt tensioner and never had any slipping issues.

06-16-2009, 11:51 AM	#17
Big Mike I wanna be Dave Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Martinsburg WV Posts: 2,781	MY first rig was a stock TLT. I ran the stock chassis and transmission for close to a year, with new links to stretch the wheelbase out to 11 3/4" and Hot Bodies shocks. I ended up running a droop setup to lower the COG. The belt slippage can be eliminated with a belt tensioner. I made my own from surplus hardware and a pair of bushings. There is also an HPI belt for the RS4 (I think) that is the same diameter as the stock TLT belt, but thicker and wider. This helps as well. Once I got the tensioner dialed, I never slipped a belt again. One thing you'll never be able to cure with the stock TLT tranny is the ridiculously high center of gravity. The motor mounts up top. That doesn't mean you won't be able to create a fun and capable rig with the stock chassis/transmission, I had a great time driving mine while it was together. Just don't expect comp-worthiness out of it is all. If you just want to have fun crawling, the TLT can do it for you with some thoughtful modifications...

06-16-2009, 05:02 PM	#18
bent70 Pebble Pounder Join Date: May 2005 Location: san francisco Posts: 193	If he's really interested I have a bunch of different stuff I could sell you that would really help out. Are you going to genentec weds?

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