Ever wanted to build your own RC rock crawler? Hopefully this article will give you helpful tips and ideas for building your RC rock crawler no matter how you choose to configure it. Here are just a few tips to start you on your way to building your RC crawler. Please keep in mind this is not the end all way to do this merely some helpful advice.

1. Choosing a chassis – One of the first things you will want to do is choose a chassis with a low center of gravity. As obvious as this sounds it is sometimes over looked. You want to keep every ounce of weight as low to the ground as you can when climbing a steep incline. If your weight is not distributed correctly you run the risk of rolling your RC rock crawler over on it side.

2. Tires – For tires you’re going to want soft, large tires with a pronounced tread pattern for maximum ground clearance and grip. If you run the tires without foam inserts to allow them to flex but the tires don’t support your truck adequately, then look to soft inserts for support. The reason you want soft tires is that you want your tire to flatten out and give under the weight of the crawler. This is the same effect as deflating your tires in a full size crawler. This will give you maximum traction during the climb.

TIP: To soften hard tires try spraying a little WD-40 on them.

3. Rims – Specifically beadlock rims, which will make tweaking your tires and foam much easier, albeit a little time consuming. To tweak, add, or remove your foam inserts all you need to do is unbolt the beadlocks. If you decide to use glued tires you may find that you will need three to five sets of glued tires with different inserts or no inserts at all. You may find that beadlock rims will be much easier in the long run.

Cons: A little heavier, a little more expensive, some say to much effort to change tires.

4. Suspension – When it comes to RC rock crawling the suspension is the main ingredient, but not just any suspension will do. Articulation is the key here, but an independent A-arm type will not allow you to get the adequate articulation required. What you will need is a solid front and rear axle with a 4-link suspension. This will allow for maximum articulation and grip.

TIP: For maximum axle articulation keep your shock and spring combination soft.

5. Locked differentials – In most RC cars differentials are a must, but not when it comes to crawling. This is the most important modification you will need to do. If you don’t have locked differentials the power will be sent to the opposite wheel that isn’t under load. By having locked differentials the wheel maintains constant power when going over rocks. Locking out the differentials can be done a number of different ways: epoxy, JB Weld, or you can purchase lockers.

6. Stock electric motor – A stock electric motor should be all you need, as speed is not the objective here. Torque is what you need and that is derived by the correct gearing. A high RPM will only turn your crawler into a flipper and you will find you’re on the top more than the wheels.

MORE HELPFUL TIPS: Four wheel steering, forward mounting your battery, mount your steering servos on top of each axle.

If you enjoyed this article please click on one of my sponsors, help me support this site.