We hope you enjoy "Project Rock Ripper". We started this project as rock crawling newbies and still have a lot to learn. Throughout the project pages, you will see what we did with our truck and we will also try to list some alternatives to get the job done. Our hope is that by providing some alternate methods to acheive the same end goal, more people will tackle a project like this and get into crawling!

  FINAL REVIEW  

FINAL REVIEW
Overall we are extremely pleased with the looks and performance of our crawler. it has conquored more obstacles that we ever imagined and it will only get better from this point on with additional fine tuning and modifications. Speaking of additional modifications......

TIME FOR REFLECTION.....WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED

As with any project, there is always room for improvement. Here are just a few items we will continue to refine and redesign:

- upper shock mounts (better system for improved movement)
- radio tray (redesign for even easier removal)
- improved servo mounting (reduce mount flex)
- more powerful servos (more tire turning power)
- improved upper axle link mounts (reduce flex, add strength)
- move lower axle links to a higher position (more ground clearance)
- add three or four IB 3800 cells to each axle (more weight down low and more run time)

SPECIAL THANKS....CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE!
We would like to extend special thanks to the members of the BYT Forum for helping us during the project build. As RC Crawling is fairly new to us, we were often posting questions on the forum to get feedback during the build process. Our forum members also helped us name Project "Rock Ripper" and this makes it even cooler!

Thanks to Unruley (member of the BYT Forum) for his great writeup on the differntial locking procedure. It helped us greatly as I am sure it has helped many others.

Extra special thanks to Motorrad, BYT Forum Moderator and resident BYT Crawling Expert. We would not have been able to pull this project off without his help, advice and expertise (well, we would have built it but it would have been a piece of junk when we were done).

WHERE WE GOT OUR CRAWLER STUFF AND WHAT IT COST

MANUFACTURER/SELLER PART DESCRIPTION QTY PART # *
COST**
Tamiya Donor truck - Used Clod Buster (purchased on e-bay) 1 n/a
$102.00
FullForce RC Clod Buster rubber sealed bearing kit 1 CB070
$25.00
FullForce RC Savage shock boot set 1 G002
$12.00
AJS Machine X-75 Maximizer Bead Lock Wheels (2 wheels per set) 2 MP1305
$53.98
Horizon Hobby Team Losi Claw MT Tires (2 tires per set) 2 LOSB7201
$28.49
Horizon Hobby Team Losi LST Rod Ends (8 ends per set) 3 LOSB4020
$21.00
Horizon Hobby Matrix Pro Lathe Motor (55 turn) 2 INTSCM5501
$39.98
The Crawler Store Wheel Adaptors (4 adaptors per set) 1 CLD2MX
$45.00
The Crawler Store Adjustable motor mounts (2 mounts per set) 1 TTRAMM
$29.99
Tower Hobbies Novak Super Duty XR High Voltage ESC 1 LXJAC0
$141.99
Tower Hobbies HiTec HS-645MG High-Torque MG Servo 2 LXUZ89
$79.98
Tower Hobbies Kimbrough Gas Car/Truck Servo Saver #124 2 LXS361
$12.58
Tower Hobbies Robinson Racing Pinion Gear 32 Pitch / 9 Tooth 2 LXEW94
$6.78
Local Hardware Store 6061 3mm thick Aluminum plate - n/a
$10.25
Local Hardware Store 3/16" solid aluminum rod (30" length) 1 n/a
$4.50
Local Hardware Store 1/4" solid aluminum rod (30" length) 2 n/a
$3.50
Local Hardware Store misc hardware - n/a
$5.00
Local Hardware Store BB's (tire weights...2 lbs. total) 2 n/a
$5.00
Local Hobby Store Deans Ultra Wire 12 ga. (25 feet) - black (on sale / half price) 1 #1421
$17.50
Local Hobby Store Deans Ultra Wire 12 ga. (25 feet) - red (on sale / half price) 1 #1420
$17.50
Local Hobby Store Deans Ultra Plugs (one male and female plug per set) 2 #1300
$7.50
PFM Distribution Apogee 3-cell LiPo battery (830mah) 1 3S1P830
$42.75
Traxxas Receiver AM (stole from T-Maxx spare parts box) Try e-bay! 1 2215
-
Traxxas TQ3 AM Transmitter (stole from T-Maxx) Try e-bay! 1 TQ3
-
Ashnic's RC Paint Shop Bronco body custom painted for BYT 1 n/a
$60.00
Radio Shack Three position switch for rear wheel steering modification 1 275-620A
$4.99
TracGear Locking axle gears 2  
$69.00
TOTAL PROJECT COST
$846.26

* Part number listed may not be the manufacturers number. It is the part number from the web site the part was purchased from.
**Shipping, handling and tax costs not included




© Copyright 2001-2006  Beat Your Truck.   Site best viewed at 800x600 or higher with Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher.
Advertise with Beat Your Truck     *     Donate to Beat Your Truck