RC Rock Crawlers

[ZEUS]

Hey an RC VX - Cool!

The HPI one sounds good, but it looks like it goes a bit fast - and therefore not the best gearing/motor, but certainly a good start

Nick

The HPI come in several forms - a 2wd Wheely King, the 4wd version, the Crawler King (also 4wd) and now the new Nitro 2wd version. The stock axle shafts are weak and end up breaking quite a bit. There is a slipper clutch in the trans but it doesn't always save the axles. To really crawl with the HPI you need to upgrade to CVD's (constant velocity drives) and straight axles for increased steering angle and greater overall strength. The axle housings can also flex which can strip your ring and pinion. It is best to drill thru the housing and clamp bolt it back together and also step up to RS4 or Savage hardened gears in the HPI's. They don't steer very sharp at all so most use aluminum "C's" and knuckles for greater steering throw. Plus the axles are a bit too wide for 2.2 size wheels. So now the HPI doesn't seem so good after you realize the weak points in the axles, right? Also beware, all RTR or RTC crawlers come with near-inferior motors and electronics. The Losi Mini Crawler comes with an FM radio which is quite nice and the electronics are pretty decent as well but they can still be improved.

So since I have an HPI, I would say you can start out better with either an Axial AX-10 type crawler (scaler or comp rig setups available) or the Venom Creeper. The market is most dominated by the Axial so you can consider it the Jeep of the RC crawler world - maybe that analogy only applies to this side of the pond. The Losi is tiny and cute but you can throw some rocks down in your yard and have a constantly changing area to crawl with it. I made my own crawl spot for my crawlers in my back yard by bringing in large (some 20 to 80 lb) rocks and forming my fire pit within the crawler course. My hope is to integrate a putting golf course with astro turf to also act as my patio around it and bring everything together. I also have hopes to install a water feature to tie into it all as well.

I find RC crawling WAAAAY fun and several of my friends are jumping aboard making it even more fun. Competitions are held all over Utah (even the international event that pays cash) so it has moved past the simple little boy's toys over the last several years and people have formed careers revolving around it.

So Mr. Rocket - hurry up and move to Utah so we can start our drafting firm and RC crawler parts business!

[crotchrocket]

The HPI come in several forms - a 2wd Wheely King, the 4wd version, the Crawler King (also 4wd) and now the new Nitro 2wd version. The stock axle shafts are weak and end up breaking quite a bit. There is a slipper clutch in the trans but it doesn't always save the axles. To really crawl with the HPI you need to upgrade to CVD's (constant velocity drives) and straight axles for increased steering angle and greater overall strength. The axle housings can also flex which can strip your ring and pinion. It is best to drill thru the housing and clamp bolt it back together and also step up to RS4 or Savage hardened gears in the HPI's. They don't steer very sharp at all so most use aluminum "C's" and knuckles for greater steering throw. Plus the axles are a bit too wide for 2.2 size wheels. So now the HPI doesn't seem so good after you realize the weak points in the axles, right? Also beware, all RTR or RTC crawlers come with near-inferior motors and electronics. The Losi Mini Crawler comes with an FM radio which is quite nice and the electronics are pretty decent as well but they can still be improved.

So since I have an HPI, I would say you can start out better with either an Axial AX-10 type crawler (scaler or comp rig setups available) or the Venom Creeper. The market is most dominated by the Axial so you can consider it the Jeep of the RC crawler world - maybe that analogy only applies to this side of the pond. The Losi is tiny and cute but you can throw some rocks down in your yard and have a constantly changing area to crawl with it. I made my own crawl spot for my crawlers in my back yard by bringing in large (some 20 to 80 lb) rocks and forming my fire pit within the crawler course. My hope is to integrate a putting golf course with astro turf to also act as my patio around it and bring everything together. I also have hopes to install a water feature to tie into it all as well.

I find RC crawling WAAAAY fun and several of my friends are jumping aboard making it even more fun. Competitions are held all over Utah (even the international event that pays cash) so it has moved past the simple little boy's toys over the last several years and people have formed careers revolving around it.

So Mr. Rocket - hurry up and move to Utah so we can start our drafting firm and RC crawler parts business!

This is sounding better by the minute!!!! Utah here we come!!!! (hey were starting to pick up at work fyi!! thank goodness) THanks for all that info! claires going to cut my nuts off if i spent 370 quid on a 'toy truck' lol

What do you think of the tuned up Tamiya thats on ebay, it ends tomorrow and theres only one low bid still that doesnt meet the reserve. Maybe people know something i dont?? Its at 200 (my pound sign key doesnt work) at the moment and buy it now is 350. The Tamiya kit is 320 at least plus 200-250 of radio gear plus 200 of hop-up parts. seams fairly reasonable to me?? and all the parts that could go (gears, drive shafts etc) have been changed to aluminium.

[Triathlete]

I like that Venom...looks like a solid platform for a beginner and all said and done is fairly inexpensive. Might have to put one of those on my "in the future want" list.

[ZEUS]

This is sounding better by the minute!!!! Utah here we come!!!! (hey were starting to pick up at work fyi!! thank goodness) THanks for all that info! claires going to cut my nuts off if i spent 370 quid on a 'toy truck' lol

What do you think of the tuned up Tamiya thats on ebay, it ends tomorrow and theres only one low bid still that doesnt meet the reserve. Maybe people know something i dont?? Its at 200 (my pound sign key doesnt work) at the moment and buy it now is 350. The Tamiya kit is 320 at least plus 200-250 of radio gear plus 200 of hop-up parts. seams fairly reasonable to me?? and all the parts that could go (gears, drive shafts etc) have been changed to aluminium.

Excuse my ignorance on the currency, it makes it hard to figure out what you are actually spending, but I think the Buy It Now price is $575 and if so, that is a fair price! It's a high cost but a fair price for all the goodies! So for less than $600 you could have everything in the auction... or:
Venom Creeper kit or Axial AX10 kit - $150
Full Spectrum Radio $80
Motor and Speed Control $115
Battery $50 +/-
Charger $50 +/-
Hi Torque Steering Servo $50 +/- (x2?)

$550 = $25 difference

Honestly, you have to ask yourself what you think you would provide more fun within your area and terrain. If you have a bunch of places full of boulders a Venom would be very entertaining but a scaler would need to go elsewhere, most likely. The Tamiya is going to be heavy and it will struggle to pull itself up walls and such... basically, the Tamiya is set up to be a trail rig, the tires that are on it are suited to trails, the weight of the chassis keeps it away from steep climbs, the body has lights on it which makes night trail runs really fun.

The Venom or Axial is much lighter, the trans of the Axial is tiny therefore minimizing extra weight up high. The Venom or Axial will scale things that would blow your mind partially becuase of the softer tires but mainly becuase of low weight. The more you gear up a crawler to be a scaler or a bling king the less performance you get out of it. Have fun!

[alterastro]

James I didn't mention the eBay one you found because I thought you thought it was too much, but for all the goodies I think it's good value even at £350. You'll probably be able to get it for less if there is only one other bidder.

I paid close to that for my Crawler with 2 body shells and some bits and this one seems even better.

I'd say if you can afford it, go for it!

Nick