First RC Crawler Build

[peck126]

ok this will be my first rc crawler build ever i usually just make custom parts for my cousins' jato's but i thought about getting into making a micro crawler to compete with some of my friends. below is my build list and i would like to know if anyone thinks its a good set-up?????

1/24 Losi Micro Crawler RTR
Micro Wheel Widener Kit from crawlerx.net
Blade TMC Chassis from crawlerx.net
Links and Driveline Extension Kit from crawlerx.net
2 Blue Sterring Drag Links from hot-racing.com
Aluminum Main Gear Box Cover from hot-racing.com
Aluminum Main Center gear Case from hot-racing.com
Blue Internal Spring Air Shocks (4) from hot-racing.com
Hard Aluminum 56T Spur Gear from hot-racing.com
Blue/Silver Aluminum Rear Axle Lock-Out from hot-racing.com
2 Servo Mounts w/ Battery Mount Plate from hot-racing.com
2 sets of Aluminum C-Hubs for Micro Crawler from hot-racing.com
2 sets of Aluminum Steering Knuckles from hot-racing.com
Brass Bushing King Pins from hot-racing.com
Micro Wheel Weight Kit #3 from billet-works.com
2 Losi LiPo Charger/Battery Combos for Losi Micro from rcplanet.com
4 Rock Crusher Micro Crawler Tires and Foam from store.rc4wd.com

after these parts i will get this stuff for 4WS and DIG

Losi Micro Crawler Front Axle on rear

Losi Micro Crawler Steering Servo

Redcat Racing Sumo Crawler 4WS for Front Steer, Crab Steer, Monster Truck Style Steer, and Rear Steer

Custom Two-into-One Battery Connector for Two Battery Hook-up

Two Micro DIG Units

4 or 5 Channel 2.4GHz Radio

1/24 Scale Interior/Driver

Micro Sized Sponsor/Number/Letter Stickers

"thumbsup""thumbsup""thumbsup""thumbsup""thumbsup"

 

[The Mechanic]

most people on here dont like the hot racing shocks. ive read they take some breaking in. i personally dont have them. i run the stock shocks with a droop set up with shorter springs i got from the hardware store and it works pretty well. there are also redcat racing sumo shocks that are beefer than the losi shocks

 

[peck126]

do you think that integy piggyback shocks would be good for it without the springs???

 

[Evilinside]

Here's my opinion;

Loose the HR shocks, I don't know of anyone that has them running in comp rigs, only scalers because of their looks. Their performance is horrific, even after tons of tearing them apart, heating up seals, working them, filing them, they still are worse than stock springs.

Second, loose the dig and the 4WS. The dig unit is going to have to be made from stratch, which means you'll be chilling cool with like one of only a handful or Micro's with a dig unit... which means you'll be chilling cool by yourself and will never be able to comp with your comp rig. As far as 4WS, that is also a comp thing, you won't find many comps that allow 4WS, if you find any at all.

 

[rik]

Here's my opinion;

Loose the HR shocks, I don't know of anyone that has them running in comp rigs, only scalers because of their looks. Their performance is horrific, even after tons of tearing them apart, heating up seals, working them, filing them, they still are worse than stock springs.

Second, loose the dig and the 4WS. The dig unit is going to have to be made from stratch, which means you'll be chilling cool with like one of only a handful or Micro's with a dig unit... which means you'll be chilling cool by yourself and will never be able to comp with your comp rig. As far as 4WS, that is also a comp thing, you won't find many comps that allow 4WS, if you find any at all.

X2..

Besides that, you'll never fit it all in a nice 1/20 or 1/24 rig, comp or scale. Driver, seat, front and rear dig, 4ws with all three motions....to do the 4ws like you want you will need a new rx/tx and a new esc. All in all your rig, if set up the way you want, will have four servos. Not gonna happen. Also, ditch the losi brand lipo and get another brand. There are better out there for far less money. And, imo, most of the hot racing stuff is junk. Not all of it. But most of it.

 

[spoo76]

ok this will be my first rc crawler build ever i usually just make custom parts for my cousins' jato's but i thought about getting into making a micro crawler to compete with some of my friends. below is my build list and i would like to know if anyone thinks its a good set-up?????

1/24 Losi Micro Crawler RTR
Micro Wheel Widener Kit from crawlerx.net
Blade TMC Chassis from crawlerx.net
Links and Driveline Extension Kit from crawlerx.net
2 Blue Sterring Drag Links from hot-racing.com
Aluminum Main Gear Box Cover from hot-racing.com
Aluminum Main Center gear Case from hot-racing.com
Blue Internal Spring Air Shocks (4) from hot-racing.com
Hard Aluminum 56T Spur Gear from hot-racing.com
Blue/Silver Aluminum Rear Axle Lock-Out from hot-racing.com
2 Servo Mounts w/ Battery Mount Plate from hot-racing.com
2 sets of Aluminum C-Hubs for Micro Crawler from hot-racing.com
2 sets of Aluminum Steering Knuckles from hot-racing.com
Brass Bushing King Pins from hot-racing.com
Micro Wheel Weight Kit #3 from billet-works.com
2 Losi LiPo Charger/Battery Combos for Losi Micro from rcplanet.com
4 Rock Crusher Micro Crawler Tires and Foam from store.rc4wd.com

after these parts i will get this stuff for 4WS and DIG

Losi Micro Crawler Front Axle on rear

Losi Micro Crawler Steering Servo

Redcat Racing Sumo Crawler 4WS for Front Steer, Crab Steer, Monster Truck Style Steer, and Rear Steer

Custom Two-into-One Battery Connector for Two Battery Hook-up

Two Micro DIG Units

4 or 5 Channel 2.4GHz Radio

1/24 Scale Interior/Driver

Micro Sized Sponsor/Number/Letter Stickers

"thumbsup""thumbsup""thumbsup""thumbsup""thumbsup"

Items in green I would get first as they offer the most benefit
Blue items I would get 2nd. Only reason i say wait on the spur is because if you haven't really run the crawler yet you may not know which one to get.
rear lock outs dont offer any performance gain but I personally like the small amount of added clearance,slight weight and it keeps the rear wheels straight were the stock C's can wander off a bit

anything not colored you dont really need, unless you like the looks. I have the aluminum C's and knuckles but they honestly aren't needed at this small scale. Im sure its possible to break the stock parts if you drive like a moron when you are in a bind, but its not likely,
you definitely dont need the aluminum servo mount.
Ive posted some links to Lipos cheaper than the losi lipos and chrgers in the battery thread and the Noob welcome thread.

Dig and 4WS are "fun" but would be pretty much would be custom built.
also you should decide on one or the other as they essentially accomplish the same thing in a different way. to do dig or 4WS properly you would also need a ESC and Reciever.
I would leave those to last if you do them at all.

 

[Midlife Crisis]

You have quite a list going there. I agree with what Spoo highlighted for mods. Get the basic/essential upgrades and parts knocked out first and fine tune later. As of now, you got a $300 micro planned out! I've seen a few guys go balls deep on their builds and end up getting bored quick, then sellout and never make the cash back. I guess what Im saying is build and upgrade.....then build some more. Have fun with it and stick around a while.

 

[peck126]

ok thanks for the info guys and instead of the blade tmc i was thinking of using the DP Torsion chassis to completely eliminate the shocks"thumbsup"

 

[BerticusPryme]

it's a good chassis but takes some time to get use to. for it to perform the way it should make sure you run weight heavy on the rims. the more you drive it with alot of weight the better it will flex and after time it will get even better.

 

[peck126]

judging by how much this will cost me in the end are there any cheaper ways to get these kind of upgrades????????

 

[Midlife Crisis]

judging by how much this will cost me in the end are there any cheaper ways to get these kind of upgrades????????

:lmao: These things cost money ........period! I'm scared to add up costs my Eclipse Crawler. Just do what you can, when you can to build it up. I have no experience with the DP chassis, but I wouldn't try it, because I prefer body-less rides.

 

[Elastokinematic]

thats friggin funny! I was thinking that the people who spent 300 and bailed out were the smart ones. I have deliberately "lost" all the receipts so I can happily live in ignorance. With all the tooling, parts, and crap I have bought to make courses... :shock: thats why I call it a crack habit.

:lmao: These things cost money ........period! I'm scared to add up costs my Eclipse Crawler. Just do what you can, when you can to build it up. I have no experience with the DP chassis, but I wouldn't try it, because I prefer body-less rides.

 

[Evilinside]

I have three mirco's... I added up one once and it was a tad over 300 bucks... and I have three...

But my buddy has thousands of dollars into his mustang, another buddy has thousands into his rifle collection, another has thousands into mountain biking... so when it's your hobby, that's kinda par for the course, and imo this is one of the cheaper hobbies that's heavily electronic based.

 

[Midlife Crisis]

I have three mirco's... I added up one once and it was a tad over 300 bucks... and I have three...

But my buddy has thousands of dollars into his mustang, another buddy has thousands into his rifle collection, another has thousands into mountain biking... so when it's your hobby, that's kinda par for the course, and imo this is one of the cheaper hobbies that's heavily electronic based.

I have several $500+ a drop hobbies! Gets old.....but I'm always entertained! 1:1 rockcrawler parts and mandolins hurt the worst."thumbsup"

 

[longhammer]

I have to agree somewhat...some of the stuff on your list you really don't need to make a capable crawler. I have to disagree on the lack of love for HR parts, considering they are pretty much the only aftermarket company manufacturing these kinds of parts (yes there are aluminum parts available from losi) they do ok. I have a set of HR shocks that work extremely well. They were perfect right out of the packaging. (I dunno, maybe I'm lucky)
I would start out with the link and driveline extensions, wider hexes, flip the motor/ trans assembly, add weight to the tires, droop or no droop (your choice) and def go lipo. Most importantly, have fun with it

 

[peck126]

thanks guys and i decided to go with the new tmc buggy chassis when it comes out and i'm sticking with the hr shocks i'll post pics of the build as soon as i start getting parts

 

[Crawl Wonder]

I have to agree somewhat...some of the stuff on your list you really don't need to make a capable crawler. I have to disagree on the lack of love for HR parts, considering they are pretty much the only aftermarket company manufacturing these kinds of parts (yes there are aluminum parts available from losi) they do ok. I have a set of HR shocks that work extremely well. They were perfect right out of the packaging. (I dunno, maybe I'm lucky)
I would start out with the link and driveline extensions, wider hexes, flip the motor/ trans assembly, add weight to the tires, droop or no droop (your choice) and def go lipo. Most importantly, have fun with it

I was a lucky one as well. I love my HR shocks! The only "mod" I need to do is space them a bit from the chassis. Another member did it and they worked so much better. In stock location, they bind a bit against the chassis, limiting articulation. Funny enough, I only get this in the front and not the back!

 

[longhammer]

I was having the same problem with the shocks on my sumo. I ended up leaving the rear shocks mounted inboard, and swapped the fronts to the outside of the chassis....works much smoother.