What's the big deal with rock crawlers anyway?

[tedo]

Originally Posted by lincpimp

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.

[Finnster]

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...

[_paralyzed_]

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!

[Desert Rc]

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

[Desert Rc]

Cheapy camera shots





I loved this place so much!!The best.

[Desert Rc]

Different rock and rig



some of the locals scale rigs...Im not patient enough for this segment




solid climber


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



One more time to show its not a fluke...EVERY TIME!!

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.

[Semi Pro]

Originally Posted by Desert Rc

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



One more time to show its not a fluke...EVERY TIME!!

now i have to go try that

Originally Posted by FastXR

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.

ROFL! Now thats funny

[TexasSP]

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.

[JAILBIRD]

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

[Arct1k]

Originally Posted by Finnster

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.

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

[JThiessen]

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.....!

[RCShocker]

Originally Posted by Freezebyte

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.

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

Originally Posted by Semi Pro

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 easier than heli) but its a blast

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

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.

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.


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:

[Bondonutz]

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.