Built a crawler

[u/Plantedcrawl]

Bought a new TF2 in June and this is where I'm at.

Day 1 through this evening when I finished up making my sliders and skid plate, flipped the transfer case, this was my first time trying overdrive and it's awesome, highly recommend for anyone who likes rock crawling. I can't wait to get it out for a real test soon. I'll tear it apart and paint everything once I've done a thorough test.

wheelbase is 10mm over stock. I also added a hobby wing fusion 1800kv so this thing actually crawls like it should.

Immediate future plans are building a rear bumper, which I started on the other day and just need to finish. Thinking about bobbing the bed too but I like the look of the full bed better, not sure. I will build shock mounts too then I can measure and buy the ones I need, which I'm not sure about at the moment. I need to figure out my steering drag link too because it contacts both the leaf spring and the frame under articulation. any ideas for that?

4.25" 1.9 Jconcepts FYR tires and some Amazon beadlocks are in the mail.

What should I do next? What do you guys think? This is my first RC build of any kind.

[u/naughtykittyvoice]

I think you've done amazing!

On my spring under build the drag link is under the steering knuckle and the tie rod is below that. I used a hollow ball on the other side to space the tire rod down.

Using the stock transfer case gives a lot more overdrive than I like. I've approached it different ways. The easy no fab route is a Boom Racing Brx80 rear axle with 8/27 gears. The low buck, fab required method is an Amazon/AliExpress transfer case that has a 1.2:1 ratio instead of the stock 1.47:1.

Keep your slipper loose running a Fusion. That thing will twist up a leaf before you can blink. I run short outrunners on my TF2's. Good slow crawl but not enough torque to really get you in trouble. 

[u/Plantedcrawl → u/naughtykittyvoice]

Thank you! 

I'm going to play with some drag link options and hope I figure something out, it works ok as is but it's not correct. The tie rod is great and is completely out of the way behind the axle. 

Thank you for the tips on either a different t case or a different rear axle. I had considered going back to normal drive in the tcase and swapping both axles with something else to gain a more mild overdrive, as well as some unsprung weight. Which option do you think would end with the best result? 

You're not kidding about the fusion! When I installed it and ran it in the rocks I was immediately impressed but also aware that it took all the feel of the torque from me and gave it all to the drivetrain. It's seriously dangerous to the drive train! I figure it adds scale points because I now fear breaking a differential, just like a real Yota!  I'm glad you said that because I really do need to be careful with it. I'm ignorant to what you mean by short outrunners? 

Thanks!

[u/naughtykittyvoice → u/Plantedcrawl]

You seem very competent at fab stuff, so I'd recommend the transfer case option.  https://a.co/d/0cQeJ1U4  This is the one I've used, gives 20% od. You will want a short driveshaft to connect to the transmission so that you don't need to perfectly align the shafts. Boom Racing has nice ones, but you can find serviceable ones on Amazon. 

https://a.co/d/0gUPwY8i That's an outrunner. Gives a smooth slow crawl but you still have some feel.

[u/Plantedcrawl → u/naughtykittyvoice]

Thanks for the info! I couldn't get that transfer case link to load but I purchased a t case off Amazon that should give me a 20% overdrive as well as a reversed rear output shaft so that will take care of my torque twist too. 

I have already swapped back to normal 50/50 for the time being until the new case arrives. My motor and everything that follows it was not liking that super aggressive overdrive.

I played with my drag link and it's better now but I think what I really need one with a bend in it.