What is a “cheater truck”? - What are the “factions” in the hobby?

[Nazhuret]

I see the term thrown around a lot, but I can’t figure out what exactly it is from context.

Seems sort of like when the term “hipster” came up in the early oughts: nobody could “really” define it, but they all knew that everyone except for them was one.

I’m really hoping it’s not just another bit of jargon that divides folks into camps in this hobby. I’m pretty sure it is, though... I saw a lot of that on the forums of Boardgamegeek.com and is a large reason I stopped participating in the larger “community”.

I’ve been looking a little on the forum and seeing a definite divide here between “scale nerds” and “compers” and whatever the other group is that doesn’t do either of those things.

Sigh... I’m hoping this sort of thing is just exaggerated in the online forums. It’d be cool to just go climb some rocks with folks without having to worry about dumb crap like that. Please tell me I’m wrong about this.

 

[HumboldtEF]

I'll just say I see a few silly comments from maybe 2-6 members but out in the real world running with friends theres none of this kind of BS. So I'd say it's not really an issue you should worry about at all.

Variety is the spice of life, theres no sense in sticking to one little niche within RC IMHO.

I think the Comp guys are still angry that their scene has vanished and they take it out on Scale guys, silly rule structures add to this.

Though one thing these guys dont get is that scale is just a different level to compete at. Some comp guys will say they like shafties because they require a bit more driving skill or struggling a bit more on line but ironically they never seem to see the similarities to dropping down to scale trucks as doing the same thing in upping the difficulty.

 

[Zondar]

It just means a truck that is stripped down to reduce weight and lower the center of gravity, and hence typically not very "scale."


However, it's a silly phrase, and there's nothing wrong with modifying your truck. Just don't expect to be eligible for or to win scale competitions with it.

 

[kincer]

Don't worry about any of that, just get out and run and enjoy your rig with or without others. Everyone that I run with doesn't care about terms or any of that, we all keep our trucks pretty scale looking but there's a couple every once in a while that will have a something not so scale, who cares, run what ya brung. "thumbsup"

 

[dezfan]

I call my “Cheater” rig, Bill Clinton.

 

[Inspector86]

First, Welcome to RCC!

A cheater truck simply refers to a competition vehicle that does not conform to the rules of the competition in which it is entered. Competition rules do not apply to those of us who just go out and crawl on rocks and trails with friends and therefore there is no such thing as a cheater truck for us. If you don't compete, the only rule that applies is that you must have fun. I would also recommend spending less time on Fakebook and instacrap groups, way too much bogus information there.

 

[Jeff6x6]

Soon as I put my Trx-4 Defender on the rocks and saw where it scratched the bumpers....I went to the work bench. Raised the bumpers and shortened them. Removed all top heavy parts. Cut on the body. The approach angle is much better now. It looks just like I want it....capable and not stock looking. Build it to your fun level. One I airbrushed and added accesaries to look scale...but still had to make it a Rock crawler first. My friends enjoy the hobby and my company and everyone modifies their trucks to their needs not mine.

 

[Trick]

I call my “Cheater” rig, Bill Clinton.

I literally laughed out loud. "thumbsup" Good One!

 

[Timmahh]

I call my “Cheater” rig, Bill Clinton.

PURRRRRRRRRRRRRFECT.


Can you hear Meow? lol

 

[gottorque]

A power wagon body, no bed whatsoever, on some fancy flat rail chassis. Also tends to use a hundred hash tags in photos on social media.

 

[andymac0035]

It’d be cool to just go climb some rocks with folks without having to worry about dumb crap like that.

That's how I approach it. 99% of all my crawling is trail-running. Now that doesn't mean it doesn't get competitive, as once one guy makes it over something... you might get picked on a bit if you don't make it, but no one is serious about it, it's just a friendly ribbing, because most know they will be on the other end of that ribbing sooner or later.

I have been accused (in jest) of having a "cheater-rig" (even though we are on a trail, not a comp), "cheater-tires" (with suction cups), and an anti-gravity device..... :lmao:
...this usually happens if I'm running a low-cost rig and the other guy has a grand or more in parts in his rig and can't make the same line I just did.... and you better believe I'm going to pick on him for that.

 

[DukeMinnix]

back in the day you had comp rigs. MOA and shafty. they were minimal chassis, minimal body, looked like a one man escape pod with shocks and links and a couple axles and tires thrown at it. Would do stupid gravity defying things.



along came scalers and the sorrca rules committee for a different kind of competition. These are rigs that resemble 1:1 vehicles and mimic what they are capable of but on a much smaller scale. The more realistic you make them, the more in depth your experience.



I'd say what you're hearing people call "cheater rigs" are either class 2/3 sorrca rigs or close to them. Still have bodies that resemble actual vehicles and perform much like a purpose built offroad machine would with very similar goals in mind. Lower your center of gravity. Minimize your weight. Do things your vehicle shouldn't likely be capable of, yet still using a ladder chassis of some kind and a "traditional" drivetrain in the sense of motor not being on axle, utilizing two driveshafts to power axles, assuming 4x4 here, I suppose one could build a 6x6 also in the same fashion (I kind of am currently). Basically fringe the lines of traditional vehicle dynamics and pure performance.