What Makes A Compition Crawler A Compition Crawler?

[Longhair]

I know what a scale crawler is - rc's that look like the real vehicle they were based off of.

Reading through the forum, I see comments like "that isn't a comp crawler" even though it's not a scale crawler.

So what makes a compition crawler a compition crawler? Mainly for out of the box kits or rtr/rtc over home made ones.

 

[team3six]

You know, that is a good question. I would say that it is just a name based off the fact that they were the first competitive form of crawlers since scaling is recently new in competing. Both have excelled to great levels over the years, but obviously a scaler isn't as capable of crawling up a very steep hill because its made to look and act as a real truck. Let's face it, comp crawlers are lower and built to be tighter to the surface and have a great bit more room to articulate because of their design and purpose. Over all an out of the box product can be used as a comp crawler if the driver is experienced enough to do so. I would love to see pro drivers comp against eachother in a spec class. I think this would be a good way of showing who is actually the better driver.

I know what a scale crawler is - rc's that look like the real vehicle they were based off of.

Reading through the forum, I see comments like "that isn't a comp crawler" even though it's not a scale crawler.

So what makes a compition crawler a compition crawler? Mainly for out of the box kits or rtr/rtc over home made ones.

 

[oldhippie]

I consider a "comp crawler" something that is capable of winning pro competitions. While lots of rigs call themselves comp crawlers, what they really are is basher/trail/fun rigs. Nothing at all wrong with that but don't expect to be competitive at a real comp. Ya can still have a ton of fun though!"thumbsup"

 

[gunnar]

I'd have to say a real competition crawler is created, it's not something you can just buy(unless someone else has already built it). You generally start with a kit, but that stock kit will only get you so far.
In most cases, your going to have to change a lot of parts around to achieve a truly competitive rig. Since you don't want your car to fail/break down in a comp, usually axle and suspension parts need to be strengthened. Many stock chassis' do not have very good suspenion geometry for competiton, so they have to be changed or modified to work better. Wheel and tire/foam combinations are very important too, and usually have to be changed/improved, depending on condtions.
Electronics are generally upgraded for better performance/longevity.

Tuning the car goes along with all these changes, just getting good parts means nothing if the car isn't set up properly.

I just bought the new XR-10 kit, and even that needs several things changed to work better than it does in it's stock form.

 

[JeremyH]

The driver

 

[Longhair]

From what I understand, there is no real "right out of the box" competition crawler and it all comes down to using the proper combination of parts & set up (not including driver skill) ?

 

[TexasSP]

The driver

Well said! "thumbsup"

Give me the best set up berg, bully, or xr10, then put me against a good driver with a redcat and I will still get stomped.

 

[gunnar]

From what I understand, there is no real "right out of the box" competition crawler and it all comes down to using the proper combination of parts & set up (not including driver skill) ?

Even where you crawl and how the courses are made will dictate car setup. There are too many variables to discuss. You might have a lot of steep climbs and breakovers, maybe no climbs, but very technical slow/off-camber stuff. It's best to set up a rig that can do it all-within reason, and hope for the best.

The driver is going to do good or bad, depending on skill and luck. I don't consider myself a good driver at all, but sometimes I get lucky and do well.

There are guys-local and national, that do well in comps time after time. They are the good drivers and are the ones to watch and learn from.

 

[BuzzKilla]

The driver

"thumbsup"


/thread

 

[gunnar]

Well said! "thumbsup"

Give me the best set up berg, bully, or xr10, then put me against a good driver with a redcat and I will still get stomped.

I do agree also. Just last night, we had a little comp with 7 guys. 1 Axial with dig, 1 Axial sportsman-no dig, and 5 fairly well setup Bergs.

Axial dig won, The sport rig came in second, all the Bergs were behind. The courses were brutal, but the best drivers won that night.

I finished last, because I drove crappy

 

[JeremyH]

Axial dig won, The sport rig came in second, all the Bergs were behind. The courses were brutal, but the best drivers won that night.

We have a few guys that run axial in our local comps....one guy runs an axial with no dig (he runs in our comp class along side of the MOAs) and he does extremely well....even when some of our courses are geared toward MOA (high ledges, large breakovers, etc.) He is just a good driver and knows that truck like the back of his hand.

 

[Grumpster1980]

"the driver" I agree! also any crawler that you compete with would make it a comp crawler, but in the end it's the driver that makes all the difference.


I do not compette myself but I would hope there are different classes for crawling comps? like a stock axial class, modified class, MOA class, and so on?

 

[rooktakesqueen]

true

I think this is true, although the Bully comes real close.

I'd have to say a real competition crawler is created, it's not something you can just buy(unless someone else has already built it). You generally start with a kit, but that stock kit will only get you so far.
In most cases, your going to have to change a lot of parts around to achieve a truly competitive rig. Since you don't want your car to fail/break down in a comp, usually axle and suspension parts need to be strengthened. Many stock chassis' do not have very good suspenion geometry for competiton, so they have to be changed or modified to work better. Wheel and tire/foam combinations are very important too, and usually have to be changed/improved, depending on condtions.
Electronics are generally upgraded for better performance/longevity.

Tuning the car goes along with all these changes, just getting good parts means nothing if the car isn't set up properly.

I just bought the new XR-10 kit, and even that needs several things changed to work better than it does in it's stock form.

 

[rooktakesqueen]

Moa

There's been talk of an MOA class, but so far, nothing has come of it.

"the driver" I agree! also any crawler that you compete with would make it a comp crawler, but in the end it's the driver that makes all the difference.


I do not compette myself but I would hope there are different classes for crawling comps? like a stock axial class, modified class, MOA class, and so on?

 

[rooktakesqueen]

angle

I think the break over angle is the biggest diff between the two.

 

[version_three]

@grumpster: Classes are usually based on scale/not scale and wheel size (1.9, 2.2, super)

Occasionally, you'll also see sportsman class (no dig), and once in a while they may split MOA and shafties into separate classes.