Explore extreme terrain with confidence with RC rock crawlers, and go where no other vehicle can go. Rock crawlers are extremely modified trucks, jeeps, or buggies with the intention of overcoming the toughest obstacles. obstacles.
This site’s intention is mainly help educate rc hobbyists or prospective rc hobbyists. RC Rock crawlers are considered a sub-genre of RC cars. While not mainstream, the hobby has grown enough for companies to offer a wide array of products to the consumer. With the popularity of RC rock crawlers booming, many things can be confusing, and it is my hope that I can be of some help.
What Makes Rock Crawlers different?
The main difference between RC rock crawlers and other RC trucks is mostly in the suspension, power train, and chassis, so basically…everything is different. The suspension must have a longer travel for those high angle of attacks. Some RC rock crawlers also have four wheel steering to allow for a very tight turning radius. Maneuverability is an absolute key in order to successful navigate ungodly placed boulders. Slow and steady is the name of the game here. In the world of RC rock crawlers, there are two main types of trucks, competition crawlers, and scale crawlers. Competition crawlers break all rules in order to gain the advantage over the terrain, while scale rock crawlers look more like full sized trucks, but lack crawling potential. With the explosion of RC rock crawling as a hobby, there are now many options available that are a good compromise of the two.
Motor
As far as power, a large powerful motor is usually not required. That sounds weird, why is that? Because, a good reduction gearbox will provide maximum torque from a small motor. The compromise is that most RC rock crawlers do not move very fast. This is fine, since rock crawlers are not meant to move fast.
Differential
Another important feature for all rock crawlers are locking differentials. Oftentimes when crawling rocks, one wheel will end up in the air, this is routine. Without a locking differential, that one wheel that ends up in the air will end up spinning, while the wheel on the ground does nothing. In this case, all power is sent to the wheel with the least traction, and this is not good in the world of rock crawling, radio controlled or full sized trucks. With a locking differential, power will be split evenly to each wheel, and all will rotate at the same speed.
Wheels
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A set of tall aggressively treaded tires are a must. Tiny little wheels will not be able to make that initial bite into a rock to even begin climbing it, and you will probably end up running home crying. In full sized trucks, tires are often set at a lower pressure, using special fasteners to keep the tire on the rim. In the RC rock crawler world, there is no need, since tires contain no air pressure, and are already soft to begin with.
Body
When crawling extreme terrain, you may want to ensure that you have a roll cage to protect all of your electronic components, and especially your dummy driver. Rollovers are inevitable, and you don’t want to risk smashing something important on the way down.
It seems as if the craze for rock crawling is ending up being a lot more prominent with every passing day, maturing with off road vehicles such as monster trucks, stadium trucks or merely your straightforward cross-country trail car.