RC Rock Crawling Basics

November 18th, 2009

rcOne of the most important things in a RC rock crawler is the suspension. To be able to climb steep rocks and claw over and around them, you need a multi-link suspension. An independent A-arm suspension just won’t cut it. To get maximum suspension articulation, you need solid front and rear axles with multi-link suspension and the softest spring and shock combination possible to reach places that other non-rock crawler remote-controlled vehicles will be unable to.

As mentioned here, the ideal height should not be too high, nor too low to provide a balance between clearance and center of gravity for a stable, yet solid RC rock crawler. Getting it too low would make the chassis drag through the rocks which we do not want, but raising it too high will compromise balance.

Unlike RC cars built for speed, RC rock crawlers benefit from controlled power or torque instead of just speed and RPM. A setup wherein power is delivered in a steady manner at a relatively low speed will prove to be more beneficial when climbing those rocks.

For optimum maneuverability, you need 4-wheel steering to complement your soft suspension. Since the 1980’s, having the ability to control both the front and back wheels to enable the vehicle to turn to whichever direction you want it to go has been the norm. This capability gives RC rock crawlers easy maneuverability in narrow spaces and uneven surfaces, as well as provides better traction. Locking differentials reinforce this by giving power to the wheels to cruise through the rocks instead of risking getting them off the ground. If you prefer, you can make also make adjustments to the setup in case you want all 4 wheels turning on the same direction all the time as well.

Furthermore, tires of RC rock crawlers are typically soft, narrow, yet large and equipped with an aggressive tread pattern for more tread on the sidewalls and ultimately, better traction all around.

What makes RC rock crawling fun is the fact that it’s not just your ordinary racing hobby, which involves speed and almost nothing else. RC rock crawlers are more complicated leaving enthusiasts with a lot to discover, tinker with and improve on, making it all the more enjoyable.

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Why you should try building your own RC rock crawlers

November 18th, 2009

axial_racing_ax10_rear_steer_piFor an RC rock crawler enthusiast, there’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing the vehicle you built from scratch in action. Beginners can actually get themselves a complete chassis and suspension setup and some find joy in modifying their existing RC rock crawlers, but the real hobbyists know that there’s more to watching the neat vehicles maneuver through the rocks. The entire process of finding parts and putting it together makes it much more fun.

You’re probably thinking, why bother learning and spending time building your RC rock crawler when you can actually buy one that you can use right away? For one, a ready to run RC rock crawler doesn’t come cheap. To begin with, these babies already cost serious dough, but home assembled ones still cost significantly more than ready to run kits.

Perhaps an even better reason is the fact that building it yourself will allow you to understand its mechanism further. Thus, it will make you a better handler and you’ll find it easier to diagnose its problems and deficiencies and make the necessary adjustments to make your RC rock crawler perform better next time.

You will need a few tools to get things going: sets of Philips and flat blade screwdrivers, as well as miniature ones often used in tightening eyeglasses, needle-nose and slip-joint pliers, as well as some knives and blades to make sharp, clean cuts.

Although it might seem complicated, once you get the hang of it, you’ll find yourself cruising through the process and before you know it, you’ve got yourself a shiny new toy. Once you have the tools ready, all you really need to do is follow the instructions that came with the kit. It’s not rocket science. A complete kit would require axles, chassis, transmission, shocks, links, wheels, tires and body. If you’re a beginner, it might be best to buy a complete kit in one box. Later, as you continue to understand the mechanism and what each component contributes, you can gather the parts individually from various kits so that you can make a unique, show ready, crowd pleasing RC rock crawler that you can proudly call your own.

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RC Rock Crawler Chassis

October 31st, 2009

AxialFrameAn RC rock crawler’s chassis is one of its most important components. It is the remote control vehicle’s body frame and platform by which the motor, engine and receiver rest. It must be lightweight, but also very durable and they’re typically made from durable plastic, carbon fiber, aluminum and other metals.

A rock crawler chassis’ overall design is very important. It should have a high ground clearance so that it doesn’t drag on the rocks, but it should also have a low center of gravity and a well-distributed weight so that it’s stable enough not to flip over when you’re crawling on steep rock terrains. Unlike other RC on-road vehicles whose ground clearance is typically set very low to get good speed, RC rock crawlers are usually designed with a higher ground clearance. This will allow the vehicle to handle rugged, rough and uneven terrain off-road.


Used in conjunction with a tough suspension, this will permit a smooth landing for your remote control off-road vehicle after jumps and maneuver through the grass, hills, grooves and rocks more comfortably. Because setting an RC rock crawler’s ground clearance can result in decreased stability, manufacturers try to achieve a balance between these 2 components.

If you want your RC off-road vehicle to perform well off the road, take these things into consideration before choosing your RC rock crawler chassis.

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The Venom Creeper for RC Rock Crawlers

October 31st, 2009

VEN-8300GR-Actual

The Venom Creeper Crawler Kit is a 1:10 Scale 2.2 Class Rock Crawler designed to be used by anyone and everyone, from beginners to long-time enthusiasts alike. It has an innovative design and unique features that others only try to replicate. What’s great about the Venom Creeper is that it’s got a hardcore chassis that will appeal to R/C hobbyists and yet, it has the ease of use and amazing scale realism that everyone can enjoy.

The Venom Rock Crawler has both front and rear locking differentials that provide increased traction and climbing ability, which you can control either manually or using an optional remote differential lock kit. This means, if you do not need the extra torque, you can use the 3rd channel on your transmitter to unlock the differentials and increase maneuverability on the fly. To control the front and rear differentials using the 3rd channel, you can use 2 remote kits and a Y-harness. On the other hand, if you want to control them independently, you can use a 4th channel.

In addition, with the internal anti-roll springs in the 4 threaded body composite shocks, you can get 65˚ of limited “bind-free” suspension articulation but once you remove them, it will allow over 70˚ of unlimited “bind-free” suspension articulation. The shocks function to maintain the chassis ride height and attitude for more consistency while climbing. Tune both the internal and external springs to adjust rebound, compression, ride height and articulation for the best setup for your RC Rock Crawler.

The Venom Rock Crawler also has Ridgeline Competition Crawler Tires, the Beadlox System, Rock Rings and Memory Foam Inserts. The 2.2-inch Ridgeline Competition Crawler Tires are made with a soft V1 tire compound and the Beadlox tire bead design with aggressive lugs that provides sufficient grip intended for rock crawling. The Ridgeline tires measure 127mm x 55mm R 2.2 in and meets competition legal measurements. The 2.2-inch Beadlox Crawling Wheels feature a new elliptical tire bead captured and locked between the wheel and aluminum rock ring. The memory foam inserts reduces tire bounce and increases grip for hardcore rocky terrains. You can also get optional wheel weights in 1.3 oz and 2.5 oz to add 0.5 and 1 lb to each wheel respectively if you want more traction.

Furthermore, the Venom Rock Crawler has a sealed gear box with the 5 heavy duty glass-filled nylon gears and 10 ball bearings inside. To ensure durability, Venom Rock Crawlers use sturdy steel drive joints and steel/plastic composite drive shafts.

For more information, visit http://venom-group.com.

Features:

  • Front and Rear Locking Differentials
  • Beadlox™ 2.2 in Crawling Wheels and Tires
  • 40 Degrees of Steering Deflection
  • Over 70 Degrees of Suspension Articulation
  • Ridge Line™ 2.2 in Competition Crawler Tires
  • Memory Foam Inserts
  • Internal Anti-roll Springs
  • True Triangulated 4 Link Suspension
  • Sealed Gear Box
  • VC Drive System
  • Centered Drive Line
  • High Strength Glass Filled Nylon Parts

Specifications:

Age Rating – 14+

Length – 17.5" (445mm)

Height – 8.25" (210mm)

Width – 10.75" (267mm)

Wheelbase – 12.5" (317.5mm)

Tire Dims – 127 x 55 R2.2

Weight – 5 lb (2.27 kg)

Chassis – Aluminum Plates

Drive Train – Shaft Drive

Shock Type – Oil Filled Threaded Body

Body – Clear Poly-Carbonate Body

Ball Bearings – 30 Ball Bearings

NOTE:The following are not included in the Venom Creeper Crawler Kit for RC Rock Crawlers: motor or engine, speed control, radio, servos, batteries and charger.

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RC Rock Crawlers

August 15th, 2009

rcrockcrawlerAs long as there have been cars and trucks, there have been toys modeled after them. Whether its putting together your own model car or getting involved in various types of remote controlled devices, experimenting with miniature trucks and cars is more than just a hobby for some people. Indeed, it is not unusual for people to become enthralled with these types of things, and RC Rock Crawlers are just one really good example of this phenomenon.

RC (remote controlled) cars and trucks are undoubtedly popular. Traditionally, many remote controlled cars have been highly prized for their speed and their ability to race around sharp curves and around homemade courses and tracks. However, RC Rock Crawlers are entirely different and, some would say, more entertaining to experiment with. That is because, unlike other kinds of remote controlled cars, RC Rock Crawlers are the all terrain vehicles of the remote control world.

With RC Rock Crawlers, you do not need to supply a smooth driving surface in order to enjoy them. In fact, you want to give the rugged terrain to test their skills at! The possibilities are truly endless with these kinds of vehicles, and it is little wonder that so many people become such huge fans of RC Rock Crawlers. Many of them are available already assembled and ready to go; others are designed from scratch or custom designed to be able to handle rough terrain.

The type of RC Rock Crawler that you end up purchasing depends a lot on your skill level, and whether or not you want to put one together. Purists would say that designing your own is the absolute only way to go; it allows you total control over its components and can give you the opportunity to create RC Rock Crawlers that go above and beyond anything that you can find already assembled at a typical store.

There are two main, necessary components to RC Rock Crawlers - power and maneuverability. These trucks must be designed incorporating both of these. Beyond that, the individual traits are highly customizable. However, if you are just beginning to learn about RC Rock Crawlers, you might find the following list useful in determining what kinds of characteristics are the most important to you.

Power: When it comes to RC Rock Crawlers, power (or torque) is far more important than the ability to get up to very high speeds. These types of vehicles generally use lower gears that allow them to easily travel over rocky, uneven terrain.

Clearance & Center Of Gravity: RC Rock Crawlers need to be high enough off the ground to easily pass over rocky outcrops and other obstacles. But at the same time, they should be able to handle the motion and not tip over when put at steep inclines. An RC Rock Crawlers will therefore have very large tires to give it good clearance. Weight will be evenly distributed so that its center of gravity isn’t too low, causing it to tip over frequently.

Maneuverability: The steering and suspension on RC Rock Crawlers needs to be soft, not stiff. This way, they can make the frequent turns and twists necessary to handle rough courses and terrain. Four wheel drive, as well as four wheel steering, are common on RC Rock Crawlers to give them more accurate steering capabilities.

Traction: Since RC Rock Crawlers have to climb steep surfaces and sometimes slippery rocks and boulders, their tires must have excellent traction. The rims and tires will need to be narrower for these machines, employing off road characteristics. This way, your RC Rock Crawler can easily handle just about any terrain that comes in its path.

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Axial AX-10 Scorpion

August 15th, 2009

axial-ax10-scorpion-rock-crawlerThe Axial AX10 Scorpion Kit is a 1/10 scale, 4WD Electric RC Rock Crawler. This is the first RC Crawler of its kind as its built from the factory as a performance level competition base kit. Previously the only way to build a competition capable rock crawler was to buy bits and pieces of several different kits here’n'there. This long and sometimes frustrating process would take as long as several months just to get the right parts together before you could even start the build. Now you can get everything in one box, and within a matter of a few hours build-time you’ll be able to hit the rocks with your competition ready AX10 Scorpion Rock Crawler!

Axles:
The axles have been designed with many features that are not available from other products on the market.  Everything from the axle strength, pinion angle, caster, and ground clearance were taken into consideration when designing these axles. The result is a far superior axle that will stand-up to some severe punishment. To ensure added longevity from the start an aluminum diff locker is included along with hardened drive shafts.

Chassis:
The AX10 Scorpion chassis is lightweight and stiff.  Twin 2.5mm aluminum side plates are tied together with aluminum posts that create a rigid structure. The molded nylon skid/transmission plate is designed not only to be strong, but it’s radiused edges aid in preventing hang-up’s on jagged surfaces. Additional design features include channeled grooves which assist in directional stability. Scale was also taken into consideration, and the chassis was made as small and compact as possible to cut weight as much as possible.  A simple, yet highly functional battery/radio tray makes installation of your electronics quick and easy.  Wheel base is adjustable from 304mm ~ 320mm.

Transmission:
The AX10 Scorpion transmission was designed to place the weight of the motor as low as possible to maintain a low CG (Center of Gravity). The ultra compact transmission doesn’t compromise performance because it also allows for a wide range of gearing choices.  The overall ratio can be adjusted from 15:1 all the way up to 74:1 using different pinion/spur gear choices which allows for super high speed or to competition level crawling speed.  The transmission is locked with no differential action which allows for both wheels to get the maximum amount of traction. The out-drive shafts come in a hard anodized aluminum for added durability.

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