First Time TLT Axled Crawler

[Saito]

Here's a shot of my first scratch built crawler in progess. I was lucky to grab the whole TLT kit awhile back for about what one axle kit goes for today. The intention was to build a scaler with Jugg leafs but then the High Lift came out and the project ground to a halt. I enjoyed crawling with my CR-01 so much that I decided to dig out the chassis I had made from steel and the TLT axles. I really would have liked to put in an R2 from RC4wd, but with over 30 Tamiyas in the stable and half a dozen projects going at any one time, I went for the more budget AX10 tranny. Its rough (function over form) but I hope it looks passable.


http://www.ambersartwork.com/tlt.jpg

[Blazerbogger]

Looks like a good start. I'd ditch the axle guards though. They will just hang you up. The tranny also seems to sit a little low. I would need to see the final body position and tire size before I make a call on that though. If you're using 1.9's or a high body position, you can get away with raising the shock mounts on the chassis or lowering the shock mounting position on the axle (bolt the shock to one of the axle C bolts). Then raising the transmission plate in order to gain more ground clearance. That's just me though. Whatever works for you.

[bigoggy]

i agree about the tranny been low. what body you planning on using?

[Saito]

I plan on running 2.2s and a Tamiya Unimog body if possible. With the 2.2s mounted up, the ground clearance is about 66mm at the center. My CR-01's ground clearance with the suspension settled (my homebuilt lacks the cool droop of the CR-01) is about 73mm. My wheelbase is about 8-10mm shorter than the CR-01's. I figure it shouldn't affect the look of the body too much as the CR-01's wheelbase seem a tad too long for its bodies anyway. I'll try to get more ground clearace out of it if the plastic CR-01 shafts will allow it. Thanks for the input.

[Wyoming]

Looking very good so far, best way to build a custom truck is build it till you think you're done and then begin to change what you want to improve based on how you drive it and what you need it to do, also spend a lot of time cruising the build forums. I can't be of much help in the chassis department because i mainly focus on an overall look of a truck.

[Blazerbogger]

i mainly focus on an overall look of a truck.

X2! Bonus points if my chassis setup works!