Crawling with ...Non Crawlers?

[OldSchoolRC1 1090]

I've gotten to the point where there are really no crawlers on my "to buy" list. I have 20+ solid axle rigs and after a while, they are pretty much the same. Pretty much any truck you buy nowadays is a very competent performer right out of the box and I feel some of the challenge of building a good performing trail runner is gone. I still enjoy running and building them (I've vowed to get them all on the trail at least one this year) but I've been looking for more of a challenge from a build standpoint. 

So to that end, recently I've been building crawlers out of non-crawlers.. turns out it's a ton of fun! I love the out of the box thinking that it takes, and it's brought some fresh air into the segment for me. I was on the verge of burning out, but once I've started tinkering around, I've found that it's got my engines revving again! Plus, I've learned quite a bit by just trying out new things, especially with using independent suspension front and rear. I've found that some of the crawler rules I took as set in stone are maybe not always the best way. 

Really, the formula for any crawler/trail truck is getting the weight balance and COG right, grippy tires, and gearing. The rest is fine tuning. 

So I figured I'd post up a few of my projects just for fun, starting with my two Tamiyas of course.  

I took my Dynahead "Prime" out to a G6 2 years ago, and was blown away at how well it did. 6 tires worth of traction really counts for a lot. I'm running a Holmes 5 pole 540 mated to a 3:1 reduction and a 20t pinion, and all three diffs are locked solid with 3 extra diff gears crammed in each. Combined with the portals, this combo is absolutely perfect gearing for the trail. I have weights in the front wheels, and about 1/2 as much in the rear wheels to get a 55/45 weight balance, and 4.19 Proline Hyrax on it. That's pretty much it - the 4WS makes it prety agile, and if it can get a wheel on a rock, I can usually get up and over it. Plus, it sidehills like a champ - it just sticks on the side of the rock. I think the tallish body throws mw off, it looks top heavy, but it's not bad at all. Very pleased with the truck and LOVE the body, I have no intention of changing a thing.  

How about a TL01? Not your usual crawler, that's for sure. I've been messing around with this one for a while, and it was a TL01B with 1.9's on it for a while. I've since gone back to a more standard touring setup and settled on the hot rod body. I used Comical series arms front and rear for a bit more width, and put a set of Tamiya Portals on for more ground clearance. An Xacto mini motor works with a 3:1 reduction and it's a perfect combo for low speed resolution and tops out just above walking speed. Both diffs are locked for now, though that may change. The front wheels are weighted to balance out the rear motor.  

These are some older pics, it's changed a bit since... I think I have a thread here with it, I'll update it when I get some new pics. I have yet to run this out on the trail, but I think it'll do well. 


 

[OldSchoolRC1 1090]

I've also converted a few Traxxas as well. Can you crawl with a 4x4 Stampede? Turn out you can if you really try!

I've actually got two of these...one started as a well worn Telluride, and the other was a beat up 'pede 4x4 roller. Both were cheap Ebay finds since if the concept didn't work out, I wouldn't be out too much. I built one to play with, then picked up the second later on build up to compare different setups and they've evolved quite a bit from the initial build as I've tested and learned a few things. 

I still consider this the "Telly" since it evolved from the Telluride. Long story short, it has been converted to use Bandit rear arms front and rear for a narrower track. I managed to get some grippy 1.9's over those huge front hubs just barely, so it has a similar footprint as a TRX4 Sport.  90mm shocks gave me all the travel I needed, and looked way better than the huge stock ones. Some lead weights tucked in here and there, and a smaller battery shoved as far as possible to the front gives a surprising 60/40 weight balance - fantastic for a chassis where the motor is out back. A Danchee Ridgrock body tucks right over the top and I love the look. I did mod the steering a bit and I'm just shy of 45 degrees which is as good as it's going to get. Another Tamiya Xacto motor/3:1 reduction and a large spur put the gearing right in crawler territory.  

Surprisingly, after a lot of testing and tuning I found a front locked diff and a rear diff that slips a little to be the best performance setup. I filled the rear diff with silicone earplugs, so it turns, but just. Acts all but locked going down the trail, but on steep climbs when the weight shifts to the back, it allows the rear to slip a slightly which lets the front tires pull it up and over. It added a ton of stability to climbs (it tended to pull off to one side or another) - way more than with both diffs locked. Who knew? This is by far my best performing conversion, this truck will absolutely go anywhere my real crawlers do.    

This was my second build, very similar to the Telly, but with the longer Telluride arms and some larger tires. Built very similar, but I used an outrunner motor/3:1 reduction for a bit more power. I experimented with a center diff filled with 3m wt oil - why not?? - thinking maybe with enough goo in it, I could make it act like a variable overdrive. It's an option I don't have with my solid axle crawlers, (I did with my first crawler ever, the legendary TLT-1, but none since) so why not try it out. I found it added a lot of stability when climbing as the rear wheels stalled just below vertical, but I couldn't get it as tight as I wanted it so I went back to the slipper for now.  I might try again with some earplugs, just haven't gotten around to it. 

I've since rebuilt it with a longer Slash 4x4 chassis, suspension, and larger 2.2's to differentiate it a bit from the Telly. It's got a bigger outrunner now, and a 1/8 buggy body which I'm on the fence about. It's way function over form - It's light, clears all the tires, and tucks right over the chassis. Can't ask for more, but it looks funky. I guarantee I'll never, ever, ever, run into another one of these on the trail.  I haven't run it in this configuration yet, there's a couple small things to finish before I take it out.  

[OldSchoolRC1 1090]

This one evolved somewhat backwards. I won a set of 8" (!!) tall tires in a giveaway years ago and had no idea what to do with them. It took 2 years just to find the wheels since they're somewhat rare, but once I had them I finally decided to build something around it. 

The only thing I had that was wide enough to support them with a wide enough stance was a latest generation E-maxx I hadn't run in years. So I took off the suspension assemblies and cut a new chassis for them. It's huge, almost 1/5 scale. I added the diff lockers front and rear, set up 4 wheel steering using a pair of 1/5 steering servos, and used a 2 speed trans, reduced again with an Axial transmission. The motor is an odd sized 570, it's huge. On 3S, it has more than enough power for trail running and I think any more would break some driveline parts with those huge tires. It zips in high gear too. 

With my 1/18 axial, which I could mount inside the chassis under the body and no one would notice. An interesting idea. 

I've got a Redcat 1/5 body on it for now, it needs a bit of trimming to drop it down a bit. Not sure what I want to do here yet. 

The entire truck is very much a work in progress, it's not quite ready for a trail run yet. 

[87lc2 2853]

Very cool, it seems we have similar mindsets when it comes to trailing.  Anyone can build a kit (or worse but an RTR) and conquer the trails, but it takes some thought and patience to get it done in something that was never supposed to be on the trail.

I've done 2 custom carbon chassis TA01 Hummer H1s and they perform extremely well even with the limited gearing options and independent suspension.  Plus they're a lot more interesting to drive than a standard 1/9 or 2.2 rig with giant tires and solid axles.  In fact, they both look pretty similar to the chassis on your Emaxx, just a carbon plate holding up the gearboxes - a lot smaller of course.  That thing looks like it'll be unstoppable on the trail judging by the tire size alone. 

Another fun one is my 1/6 scale Hummer H1 built from a stretched and narrowed Summit chassis.  It retains the independent suspension, 2-speed, remote locking diffs and with 6" tall JConcepts Scorpios tires it is absolutely unstoppable.  

 

 

[OldSchoolRC1 1090]

However, as always once I get an idea, I tend to run with it. Realizing that Maxx's are cheap, plentiful, and have a ton of aftermarket options, I ended up picking up a cheap used T-Maxx 1.5 truck and set about to making a crawler out of it.  

Added the lockers F/R, and made a new crawler oriented chassis for it. Same wheelbase as stock, but now with an Axial 3 gear transmission and a Holmes 550. A single battery was tucked in up front. The lower plate is steel for a lower COG, but otherwise I added no other weight. 

I kept the 3.2 tires since they gripped well, and it's kind of a signature for the Maxx platform. Same with the dual shocks.. I love the look.   This thing is a blast in the woods. A single Holmes 5 pole motor on 3S moves the truck pretty well and with crawler gearing, it's a totally different platform. Has gobs of grip and suspension and it just floats up and over everything. It's a different drive than a solid axle truck, for sure. It crawled good for what it was, but I thought it could do better. 

So I just cut chassis v2. Added 4WS (since steering was terrible with 2WD), moved the motor as far forward as possible and put the battery down on the lower chassis. Also added some 3.2 beadlocks and more agressive HPI tires... this should be a beast out on the trail now. Body is awaiting paint and then it's round 2 test time. 


 

[OldSchoolRC1 1090]

Going forward, I'm eyeing up this HPI project. I can use OD/UD gears from Axial, and it's pretty stout. It's a smaller version of the C-Maxx really. Haven't gotten too far on it though. 

I've also got a Wild Dagger project in mind, been keeping my eyes open for a used one. I think the dual motors setup would be interesting. 

[MadInventor 3887]

This works very well on trail/mud. Selectable summit diff lock in the back, articulated chassis makes it very manoeuvrable, and near 10Kg of weight means plenty of traction. 5674 sized brushless motor on 3S LiPo and 150:1 gear ratio give ultimate torque.

 

Plus 540 powered winch is good for towing. 

[Busdriver 6539]

Interesting thread. Strangely enough I’m trying to do the opposite, ie make a crawler go fast!!! Enter the Alivebolt!!


in practice it works in that it’s quite quick, now I need to work on the suspension!!!

[droidy 91]

We walked a trail and I brought the Lunchbox to tag along with the CC-01. It was great! There were real rocks and steps and roots along the way.

The tires are very slippery and it has no throttle control but it bounces over and around a lot of stuff like a puppy dog. I think it might be quite good with the right motor, monster spike tires (is there a CW-01-sized proper crawling tire?) and a locked diff.

[OldSchoolRC1 1090]

@87lc2 - Agree 100%!  I've also done the custom Hummer, I built it ages ago during the dawn of crawlers. I'll have to dig around and see if I have any pics. Might be a fun one to re-do, things have come a long way since then! I used Tamiya BFG's back then, and ... well, crawler tires they are not.  

@MadInventor - That's fantastic work, always love your build threads!

@Busdriver - nice! That's a very cool looking Deadbolt!

I've gone down that route as well, this is my 2 speed 3800kv brushless TRX4, with SCX10 v1 axles and open diffs. it's way fast, and an interesting challenge getting speed and decent handling out of solid axles. Speed I've got, handling - not so much.
 

@droidy - never thought I'd see a lunchbox on the trail. I'm sure some very grippy tires could be adopted. 

[BJoe76 577]

I can honestly say that you are somewhat responsible for my MF-01x Jimny having portals, and I still thank you for it😁

I also think we’re among the few to modify our Tellurides into something worthy of crawling here in the U.S., if not world wide.

 

That said, I kinda want to find a Brushed Stampede 4x4 to build a rig like yours out of, but experiment with the long arms on?

Now those aren’t my first rodeo though,  Did some experimentation with my brushed E-Revo too!

 

[OldSchoolRC1 1090]

I remember the portal'd MF01! Great looking little rig! 

Wow, a Proline Helios! I haven't seen one of those in forever, I rocked one of those way back in the day on my Crawler King. 

Good stuff! 

[El Gecko 1556]

Love this thread. Mine is more a "rough trail" truck than a true crawler due to 2WD and semi-open diff, but I drive my vintage Sledgehammer all over the place, and I've been really surprised at just how capable it is. It'll still do ~18mph at full speed, but it'll putter along all day at walking pace too. Lots of little mods and tweaks everywhere, and it's still wearing what's left of its original body.

[Mad Ax 10828]

I'm loving this thread.  I'm a stickler for scale realism in my crawlers, but it's really cool to see what others have done and how successful it's been out on the trails, and the rigs in this thread look awesome.

I've had a modified Hummer sitting in a box in pieces for longer than I can remember.  I briefly and very quickly got it running and loaned it to a friend so he could join me at a crawler meet a few years ago (when I genuinely didn't have a spare 1:10 crawler, only my SCX10), and even on cheap Fastrax Kong tyres and standard gearing it was surprisingly capable.  It had to be winched over the bigger rocks, and the body picked up some fresh battle scars, but it was fun to see it bouncing around with Jeeps and Toyotas and other rigs with solid axles.  I've definitely got plans to revisit it one day with a custom high-clearance plate chassis and some sticky modern tyres.

[BJoe76 577]

On 7/3/2023 at 7:48 AM, OldSchoolRC1 said:

I remember the portal'd MF01! Great looking little rig! 

Wow, a Proline Helios! I haven't seen one of those in forever, I rocked one of those way back in the day on my Crawler King. 

Good stuff! 

Thanks, that MF-01x us a great little rig with the portals on it, it was worth every penny to get the Mobster Beetle TR kit to get the portals for it!

Nit only did I have the monster truck Helios body on this, but I had the smaller ones on my AX10 before turning it into a SCX10 and on my now retired Losi Crawlers.

[OldSchoolRC1 1090]

@BJoe76 Did you ever build anything out of the leftover Monster Beetle TR?  I went ahead and finished it up, sans portals. Turns out it's quite a fun little truck

[Shergar 148]

On 7/1/2023 at 3:00 PM, OldSchoolRC1 said:

@87lc2 - Agree 100%!  I've also done the custom Hummer, I built it ages ago during the dawn of crawlers. I'll have to dig around and see if I have any pics. Might be a fun one to re-do, things have come a long way since then! I used Tamiya BFG's back then, and ... well, crawler tires they are not.  

@MadInventor - That's fantastic work, always love your build threads!

@Busdriver - nice! That's a very cool looking Deadbolt!

I've gone down that route as well, this is my 2 speed 3800kv brushless TRX4, with SCX10 v1 axles and open diffs. it's way fast, and an interesting challenge getting speed and decent handling out of solid axles. Speed I've got, handling - not so much.
 

@droidy - never thought I'd see a lunchbox on the trail. I'm sure some very grippy tires could be adopted. 

To flip it on its head this is a SCX10 gearbox with TRX4 axles (and Monster Beetle shocks so I think it gets a pass!) its geared so low now I have a 15 turn motor in it to go at walking pace 😁

[BJoe76 577]

13 hours ago, OldSchoolRC1 said:

@BJoe76 Did you ever build anything out of the leftover Monster Beetle TR?  I went ahead and finished it up, sans portals. Turns out it's quite a fun little truck

I turned that into a Wild Willy 4x4!

[OldSchoolRC1 1090]

Crawler Maxx version 2.0 is finally done. Took the easy way out and just fudged on some Tamiya body mounts and dropped on an old T-Maxx body I've had for at least 18 years. I don't even know what it is....Proline Tundra I think. I found the window masks, but couldn't find the decals so I fudged some up. I went with the OG T-Maxx decal set for the throwback look. I freaking love it. 

4WS in full effect. It never turned well, but this should make a ton of difference. 

I know flex shots are passe, but I had to take one anyway. This truck has a ton of suspension. 

It's geared a bit tall still for crawling duty, but it made for some fun bombing around. Amazed at how well a simple $20 Crawlmaster on 3S throws this chassis around. Definitely has plenty of power! I'll drop on a 14t pinion before heading out on a run. 

Don't have much to crawl on in the backyard, but what I had it makes short work of. 

Did some fine tuning on the steering and ride height and it's ready to go. I've done a lot of custom builds, but this one is in the top 5 for sure. Can't wait to get this back out in the woods. 
 

[Nikko85 3950]

Just finished this off, a GF01 crawler. More of a trail truck really, but works well enough over rocks.

At the moment diffs are open as I quite like driving at speed too.

[OldSchoolRC1 1090]

Great looking build! Willys body looks right at home on there.