What's the big deal with rock crawlers anyway?
 

Ok, maybe someone can enlighten me on this great mystery that iv'e been pondering for awhile. What is about rock crawling that's made it so popular the last two years? I've seen a few of my friends locally slowly and painfully crawl their way up dirt hills and some rocks and I honestly don't see what the attraction is.

I half assed tried doing some rock crawling with my Flux on some rocky boulders and rough dirt hills earlier this year and I honestly got bored as all hell with the slow and mundane pace of driving the truck thats about ready to get stuck or flipped over at any moment. Woopee, what fun. Give me high speed runs and flinging dirt in the air anytime of the day and landing *or not landing* jumps to watch the truck bounce around, now thats RC!

I think I would die of shear bordem if I went to a rock crawling competition where every thing looks like it runs at a snails pace.

Seriously, what's the attraction with this?

If it's not for you, then there is no point in trying to talk you into it. 80% of rock crawling is about building or wrenching on the truck. The other 20% is the challenge of it, slow and technical. There are a lot of guys that have little interest in running the truck, and more concentrate on the scale aspect.

It is actually quite fun if you are out with a few buddies and you all have similar vehicles that are about as capable. My friend went as far to get about 12 tons of rocks in his backyard and build a rock course. I like scale crawling myself, basically make a vehcile that looks as close to scale as possible, waterproff it, and then go wheeling! You can play just about anywhere, even in a ditch!

I will say that I think big powerful electric monster trucks are the ultimate rc fun, but some technical crawling of just playing in a mud puddle is alot of fun too. I still remember how cool it was to drive my 1st scale truck in 3 feet of water at the boat launch.

I care even LESS about the scale look aspect of RC.

So did you start the thread to tell us about how much you don't like rock crawlers? It seems as though you have already made up your mind about them, so why ask us?

Because I have been known to jump on bandwagons with enough hype/talk.

I've never had a go but I imagine it to be similar to sailing...painful to watch unless you know what you're looking at and painfully addictive once you start

I suddenly have a tiny amount more respect for you dude! I too have fallen victim to that!

Case in point, I am know the proud (?) owner of a Desert Eagle in 44 magnum... God only knows why I would buy it, but I just had to have it!

My best advise would be to give it a try, maybe just borrow a buddy's crawler and see if you like it. I thought crawling was a bit weird (and dumb) at first, but I have a few now and they just offer a different dimension in RC. I get bored bashing with a MT after 30 mins or so, but I can crawl/play for hours...

good for you (thats what my dad always said when i came up with a negitive opinion.................then he hit me:party: )



afew people still think 90's hoda civics are race cars if you put loud exhaust and a poorly made body kit on them :rofl:



thats the point, its all based on opinions and opinios are like assholes, everyone has one and they all stink



personaly i race everything, from 1/10 touring car up to monsterusly over powered 1/8 scale monster trucks and soon 1/5 im sure. i fly planes, i crash hellis, i love my rock crawler.


some one here on RCM said he never though going so slow could be so fun and he was right, it isnt easy, (ok its alot easyer than heli) but its a blast

i started crawling this year and my favorite part is wrenching on the truck ,makeing new parts and testing new ideas

ax10's are crazy,they can be anything i have seen them turned into, sand rails,corr trucks,top speeders,monster trucks, touring trucks and even semi's lol


also scalers rock, they are as unique as the people who build them

I wouldn't mind trying rock crawling with a scale RC.

The thing with our other RC's (monster trucks and what not) is that everything is far from scale. We have far far more power, a lot less weight, and typically more advanced suspension systems (only because on the 1:1 scale MT's they can't make an advance one that large without having strength/reliability issues). However, this typically means that if we hit an obstacle with enough speed and/or throttle, we'll make it to the other side, be it by going over the obstacle or through the obstacle.

With scale, you know your R/C is pretty close to an actual vehicle (at least, that would be how I built mine, to an extent), so when you tackle a tough course, you can slowly work your way up as you would in 1:1. In 1:1, rarely do you make it to the top of the mountain by powering your way up. You usually break something or flip before that happens (which leads me to say that RC's are typically REALLY REALLY wide). So in a way you are forced to go the slow and technical route since your scale crawler won't be all that wide.

same here...until i saw the slash baja with paddles!! that was cool!! (i'm a beetle fanatic)

I got into rock crawling in a big way this year - enough to fly across the US for the world champs in cali - I find it a lot more social and more fun than racing.

It is more technical, they is a lot going on in the cars - Its also a lot more of a mind game than you think...

But whatever takes your fancy... I've a few of my builds in the crawler section...

Just put it this way. Its only fun when your in control of the crawler. Otherwise it looks boring as hell.

I was thinking about the whole crawling scene too. I think it looks cool. May pick up a Losi Night Crawler for winter fun in my basement.

Better than other things I can think to do in a basement!

Sucks living in the south, no chance for a basement when you are below sea level.

Yes, yes. However you can probably drive all year long, as in Vermont we have this season called "winter". It's cold, wet, and snowy.

I didn't really get the point of crawling until I saw one of Arct1k's trucks this year, and the thing was seriously awesome. I've done a bit of pseudo-crawling with my revo, sav and other MTs, which was fun for a bit, but no way could compare to a hardcore specialized truck like his.

To me, the fun seems in what rediculous thing you can manage to get up. I don't know the rules and strats for points and all, but watching something flex and articulate and climb up an impossible pile of rocks seems pretty cool and quite a bit of fun.
Not so hot on the scalers tho.

If I had more time and wanted a new money pit, I may get one. OTOH anything I would get would most likely be a stocker, and would seem a bit sad in comparison. ;)
IDK, I may get an AX10 or something one day... that or a little foam plane...

I haven't made the plunge into crawlers yet myself, but they are frickin' cool!

4 wheel steer rigs, transmissions with "dig" units (locks an axle so the opposite end can pivot around it, turn on a dime) rigs with dual esc's and motors, pendulum wheels, working winches.............. it's all pretty cool.

And when crawling, batteries last 4ever!

I was the same way...whaat is the hype....im not into the slow thing. Well all I can say is I have about a grand in a 2.2 Berg crawler now and loved every minute of it.

1st misconception is its painfully slow....not really. I have 2 35t brushed motors in mine and when I need wheel action its there on the fly. I love strategy in life in general as well and I guess rockcrawling is like a RC chess game in sorts. You always have to plan a few moves ahead, think about what your doing, and be quick all at the same time as its a timed event.

As well I love nature....and I dont get enough of it. If you have children it can be a great part of an outing. Plus events are a family event quite often but not always. Rock crawling is a way to really take another look at simplistic beauty in life and nature that often we are going so quickly in life that we pass by.

Another point is you MUST realize that comps bring a WHOLE new life to the hobby just as racing is for us....although I have to say I am not a huge fan of racing RCs but the enjoyment I got out of Crawling with the locals is unmatched in my experience. They go out of there way to be helpful and keep you crawling. If I didnt have such a shittay job that I lived at most of my life I would still be out there on the weekends tearing it up.

The comment that crawling is 80% tweaking/wrenching and 20% on the rocks is not entirely true. If you buy a Berg MOA and build correctly you will be on the rocks and see alot of action with few breaks. If you do break its usually a cheap part.

my .02

Cheapy camera shots
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ract/006-5.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ract/032-2.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ract/033-1.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ract/027-2.jpg

I loved this place so much!!The best.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ract/021-4.jpg

Different rock and rig

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ract/032-1.jpg

some of the locals scale rigs...Im not patient enough for this segment
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...ract/013-3.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...stract/080.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...stract/095.jpg

solid climber
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...t/DSC_0446.jpg

Dont you wish we could do this with our 1/8 scale truggies??

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...t/th_005-4.jpg

One more time to show its not a fluke...EVERY TIME!!:lol:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...t/th_012-5.jpg

Desert RC - Nice shots!

I too was skeptical about crawling myself, but then decided on a whim last Christmas to pick one up on ebay, I got a nice ax10 for really cheap and have had a blast with it. My brother and I spent quite a bit of last Christmas holidays trying to see how many beer cases we could climb in the living room, we ended up making a whole course up (some how we kept having more beer cases???). The wife was NOT impressed when she got home.

Its a lot of fun and like stated above you can crawl anywhere, you don't need a lot of room, its not noisey and you can make obtacles out of just about anything (boxes, dirt, rocks, neighbours cat, etc) so if you live in an area that doesnt have an race tracks close crawling is perfect.

:lol: now i have to go try that

ROFL! Now thats funny :rofl:

I like crawling because it's always a challenge. Going fast is fun but once you've done it it's done. Crawling takes alot mentally (not saying intelligence) because you really have to plan out your driving. I have had spots challenge time and time again and I keep playing with my line up then suddenly I get it and the satisfaction is great.

NICE RIGS Desert RC!! That location looks awesome.

I just got my first crawler (LCC) as something to do over the winter. I can see why crawling gets addictive. I don't race so this gives me a chance to be competitive. It's amazing how just a simple tweak like moving a shock location or a link location can make or break your entire run.

-JB

That was a toy compared to how my rigs are now... Give me a call - will get you hooked up ;)

The only thing that has kept me out of it so far is that I too would probably grow bored with the driving. However, once the economics turn around, I will be getting a scaler started. I'm with Slowkrawl, building them would be kickass. That part of the MT's is what attracts me the most also - keeping your rigs stock is booooorrrrrring.....!

That really is no way "try" crawling. With your Flux that is.



Thats was me that said that. And I changed the fun to addictive. :yes:

I had done the BL builds and fast trucks and thought I was having a good time. And I really was. But once I tried crawling I was hooked big time. I didnt plan it that way. I was like many, WHAT?, Rock Crawling. How can that be fun? But little did I know what was about to happen.

I bought an AX-10, immediately started hitting every local comp, and then spent about $800 & 6 months on said AX-10. Sold all my E-Maxx's but one. Sold my Losi 8B and sold my Slash. I hated to spend money on MT wheels and tires. However now, I dont think twice about spending $100+ on just the beadlock wheels. I have 5 sets now. After all, it's for crawling. :whistle:

Well after that, I never looked back. I've been building comp rigs, competing as often as possible, securing sponsorship, spending way too much money, and traveling more than I do when I go on vacation. Thats been almost 2 years now.

The social side of crawling makes it's very desirable as well. Plus I really enjoy being able to spend a day a nice comp location. On top of a mountain, next to a river, at the dam. It never gets boring or mundane.

And the #1 reason I like crawling so much is that I can run 2 motors off 1 $30 lipo for almost 40 minutes. :party:


Here is a good example of what our crawlers are capable of:

Not me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atLod...ayer_embedded#

Little Rock City in Alabama:

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...9/DSCN2998.jpg

I've ben wanting to get into crawling seriously for over 2 years but can't justify it because I live on a sandy penninsula called Florida with NO Crawling clubs or Mountains, Hills, or rocks bigger than a speed bump. But they still intrige me and very much enjoy watching and reading about them.

I was one of those people that couldn't understand the fun in crawling like many others on here. However, after trying one just for a mere 10 minutes, I was completely hooked. Sold my 1/8 buggy and am currently building a full on comp rig. Just need an ESC and battery and it'll be good to go. I'll post up pictures once its finished. :wink:

I guess you could always by a ill handling, over powered, monster truck and run it up and down the street. http://planetsmilies.net/tired-sleep...iley-17401.gif

Wait..............................never mind.:lol:

This is one reason crawlers are so cool, they are unique!

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t181/dezfan/WP1.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t181/dezfan/WP2.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t181/dezfan/WP4.jpg

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t181/dezfan/WP3.jpg

Videos.

http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...t=CIMG5053.flv

http://www.orcrc.com/videos/warpig.wmv

http://s71.photobucket.com/albums/i1...rent=001-2.flv

The lack of nitro engines means that you can actually hear the person talking next to you. To me, it sounds like it would be a hell of alot more social:lol:

I was selling my hyper 7, and found a trading deal for an ax-10 with lots of fixins' since i've been thinking of crawling for a while. I have no clue whether I want to do it competitively, but I definitely want to give it a shot.

Also, seeing that there are lots of people who do some crawling on the side, and lots of people who want to start crawling, would it be worth starting a subforum for crawling? Or can we just take over that silly general nitro one?

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...icardmotiv.jpg

Even living in Florida get you a scale trail truck like the SCX10 and waterproof it. There is a lot that can be had in this venue. Not to mention the places you crawl are much more interesting than your street in front of your house or the local racetrack.

DEZFAN, that is one of the coolest trucks I have seen. Great work!

Good point, But the other problem is no clubs around here and none of the RC buddys think crawlin' is cool so it's solo deal. There only a few things that are fun by yourself.:whistle:

Ya Dez I have sweated this rig since day one. I absolutely love it and would buy it if that kind of cash. Unique is a understatement. Good stuff. You should post some more of you stuff and your vids.

Truth hurt?:whistle:

I wish I had that spare time. Id make a f*#kin mack train set, 69 Bronco crawler and have all my crap fixed. At 38 I have to pay people to fix my crap. Time is harder to find than anything these days. Even when paying someone to fix your crap its still 2/3rd's time.. Must be so relaxing to make something like that and chill.. in through the nose..out through the mouth BREATH