any crawlers in MN?

[Nicklepimp]

OK guys... Here's just a liitle bit of fun we had yeasterday with a couple of our Clods. Nicklepimp and I decided to try a little tug-of-war.
(and per Kevin's request, I am supposed to mention that his batteries were dying.)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6004582795055007637

I'll have some photo's up of Troy's rock pile and the bit of crawling pics later this afternoon.

I'm entitled to a rematch!

 

[freetimecrawler]

Hey Guys! I can't believe I haven't seen this thread before (although I really don't get on this site often enough). I was just given the link to the new MN Crawlers web site. It's very cool to see another club here in MN!

I'm Ben Prenevost, owner of Team PRP and part of MMTR (MN Monster Truck Racers) MMTR is a MN racing club for Clods, TXT's, tough trucks, etc... and from time to time we go out and do some crawling. We welcome ANYONE to run with us on Wednesday nights (racing). However, the school shuts down for the summer, so after June 7th we'll just be racing at club members' homes. The schedule will be on our site. We'd love to see more people show up!!!

For our crawling sessions, we have gone to Taylors Falls and are planning another trip soon. For the most part, we have just made some crawlers that are more of a "stock" class and resemble slightly modified street trucks. But I think some of us are going to be making more competition level trucks soon.

I've been really lazy with the crawler stuff because I have been focusing on NRCTPA race events for the team, but I'm getting an itch to make some new crawlers

Ben

Welcome to the Mn thread Ben, glad to see you've found us. I assume you're the guys North country (Big Joe) was talking about earlier?
You didn't mention what the name of your site is?
Time to get some comp crawlers going, we're having a summer comp series you might have noticed on our club website?
There's still time to get a crawler ready, we're having 8 comps in the series, but only the best of 6 of them will count towards the final points. Our first comp is Sat June 10th, might be a little soon to be ready? However, our 2nd comp isn't until July, that should give you guys time? Either way, come on out and meet the rest of us and check things out.

Welcome back 4x4rcfreek!!

On a side note, I'm going to be around home working on trucks and the course this weekend. If anyone's in town and not doing anything? Anyone's welcome to come over and add suggestions to the course layout and do some running.

Here's some pic's of the rig I went and picked up this morning.

 

[Nicklepimp]

Hey Guys! I can't believe I haven't seen this thread before (although I really don't get on this site often enough). I was just given the link to the new MN Crawlers web site. It's very cool to see another club here in MN!

I'm Ben Prenevost, owner of Team PRP and part of MMTR (MN Monster Truck Racers) MMTR is a MN racing club for Clods, TXT's, tough trucks, etc... and from time to time we go out and do some crawling. We welcome ANYONE to run with us on Wednesday nights (racing). However, the school shuts down for the summer, so after June 7th we'll just be racing at club members' homes. The schedule will be on our site. We'd love to see more people show up!!!

For our crawling sessions, we have gone to Taylors Falls and are planning another trip soon. For the most part, we have just made some crawlers that are more of a "stock" class and resemble slightly modified street trucks. But I think some of us are going to be making more competition level trucks soon.

I've been really lazy with the crawler stuff because I have been focusing on NRCTPA race events for the team, but I'm getting an itch to make some new crawlers

Ben

Thanks for checking us out, and welcome to our thread. I'm glad you checked out our site. I think I heard about you a few years ago when I first bought my clod. Were you guys running out in Brooklyn Park? Anyways, feel free to come on out to any of our comps or gtg's. Be sure to bring your rig, I'd like to check it out.

 

[Nicklepimp]

Freetime, that thing looks bad a**!! I know you're not going to drive it too much, but have you tried it out yet? How's it run? You know pretty soon you're gonna need a second trailor to haul all your trucks

 

[freetimecrawler]

Freetime, that thing looks bad a**!! I know you're not going to drive it too much, but have you tried it out yet? How's it run? You know pretty soon you're gonna need a second trailor to haul all your trucks

This thing runs great, and is a blast. I'm gonna drive it plenty, just not gonna make it into a crawler. I"m having trouble getting it into high gear, but looking at it closer, it apears it's just a servo ajustment.
Hell I already need a 2nd trailer, last gtg I had to make 3 trips to the 1:1.
What I really need to do is go pick up that 5'x8' enclosed trailer this week and start geting that set up. I have a very busy schedule this next couple of weeks.

:idea:
Ok, now I know about half of you are gonna think I'm crazy. But.......
I've been a model railroader for 27 odd years, we use alot of hardshell plaster in our scale landscaping. We also used to make some of our layout in modules to be able to take to shows. What I was thinking is, with a little ingenuity and some creativeness(sp?) we could take 3-4 4'x8' sheets of plywood, some 2'x2's, some chicken wire, and newspaper and hardshell plaster, mold and build our own climbing "mountain". I was thinking it could be built to stack on top of each other on the trailer for transportation, and designed to set up and take down easy for demos and such. It would be alot lighter then real rocks of course, and I might have an option of a place to put it in the winter for when we get that crawling bug at -20.
Just think about it, about every small town has some sort of fill in blank here Day's, most are very welcoming of groups like ours for demo's etc.
I know this takes more time and dedication then some are able to put in, anyone who has spare time will be more then welcomed/encourgaged to help, since I have alot of free time most of the time, I've decided to dedicate most of it to helping promote this club, in any way possible.
I really really wanna see this club grow into something that we can all be very proud of being a part of, and we're off to a great start.
I'll be working on the backyard test course most of the day tomorrow, putting together a stick bridge.

 

[Nicklepimp]

This thing runs great, and is a blast. I'm gonna drive it plenty, just not gonna make it into a crawler. I"m having trouble getting it into high gear, but looking at it closer, it apears it's just a servo ajustment.
Hell I already need a 2nd trailer, last gtg I had to make 3 trips to the 1:1.
What I really need to do is go pick up that 5'x8' enclosed trailer this week and start geting that set up. I have a very busy schedule this next couple of weeks.

:idea:
Ok, now I know about half of you are gonna think I'm crazy. But.......
I've been a model railroader for 27 odd years, we use alot of hardshell plaster in our scale landscaping. We also used to make some of our layout in modules to be able to take to shows. What I was thinking is, with a little ingenuity and some creativeness(sp?) we could take 3-4 4'x8' sheets of plywood, some 2'x2's, some chicken wire, and newspaper and hardshell plaster, mold and build our own climbing "mountain". I was thinking it could be built to stack on top of each other on the trailer for transportation, and designed to set up and take down easy for demos and such. It would be alot lighter then real rocks of course, and I might have an option of a place to put it in the winter for when we get that crawling bug at -20.
Just think about it, about every small town has some sort of fill in blank here Day's, most are very welcoming of groups like ours for demo's etc.
I know this takes more time and dedication then some are able to put in, anyone who has spare time will be more then welcomed/encourgaged to help, since I have alot of free time most of the time, I've decided to dedicate most of it to helping promote this club, in any way possible.
I really really wanna see this club grow into something that we can all be very proud of being a part of, and we're off to a great start.
I'll be working on the backyard test course most of the day tomorrow, putting together a stick bridge.

Freetime, half of us already think you're crazy But seriously, I think that'd be a great idea! You know those tires I was going to turn into trophies, I think the hardshell plastic would work for my idea on those too. Where do you get that stuff, regular hobby stores? model RxR stores? Do they come pre-made or do you make your own shapes?

 

[speedsport22]

I have to agree. I think that would be great Freetime. I have worked with that stuff as well. You ever need any help with that or any thing just give me a call.

 

[freetimecrawler]

Well, I've been out working, in and out cooling down then back out for awhile working on a stick bridge for the home course. It's about 6' long and actually turned out pretty good. I think I've kinda figured out a layout, only thing left is to get and place the rest of the rock, I have another load available to get today, but it's just too damn hot. I might get them when it cools down this evening. I've decided for looks, I'm going to make a waterfalls and a small stream through the course, the water won't be deep because it will be running down hill and not allowed to pool anywhere. About the only effect it will have is maybe if you get a wet tire and make it harder to grip until it drys, otherwise it will be mostly for looks. The bridge is going to go from one large pile to the other, if you choose not to take the bridge? you'll be left to deal with the tank trap to get over to the other pile.

On with some other club related news.
A friend of mine has hired me to help him build a tlt crawler, I'm going to use the P4 Delrin chassis and a bunch of stuff I have here, he's a newbie to rc, and ran one of my tlts today on the home course and wants to get into crawling, and join the club. I'm planning on having his P4 done before the June 10th comp, so it can be tested and tuned for him for the comp. He also loved my clods, and wants to have one of those next. I'll see if he can make it next Sat to the organizational meeting. His name is Joe also, since we have 2 Joe's, one is big Joe,(North country) and the new Joe is Joey B.
Joey B I doubt will be posting here, I don't think he does anything more then his customer invoices on the comp, (I'll try to get him to get on-line) Right now I will be his voice and vote for him here.

Time to go get some pic's of that bridge quick.

 

[freetimecrawler]

Stick bridge I made today. right now one end is just sitting on my trailer, it's going to be going to about a 4' high pile of rocks with a waterfall at the top.

 

[Nicklepimp]

Over at Freetime's today we were making a tank trap. It's turning out really nice (nice meaning challenging!). But we learned the hardest part, by far, is keeping Scooter out of the pit!!!

 

[North Country]

That course looks great, I like the bridge. Good idea with the water fall and stream.

 

[freetimecrawler]

Club member up-date & meeting reminder

Ok, just a quick currently active member list so we know where we're at.

Currently actives:

Rereock
Nickelpimp
Adogg
Denny
Speedsport
9Guy9
North country
North's dad
Pro beater
Pro's son
Maddjack (pro's dad)
Joey B (new member)
4x4rcfreek (welcome back dude!!) ( you have a pede tranny around?? shoot me a pm,I'm on the hunt for 1 asap)
Patrick?? (he still interested in crawlin?)
Freetme

Members? but non current posters. Where in hell are you guys??

Clodesota,?? I know you're a ways up there in Cushing and I didn't figure you'd make many gtg's, but you're always welcome if you can make it, and we might have a comp up near you. post up.

Cole18?? whats up, where are you?? been awhile.

ToyotaT?? your tlt was about done, and your buddy was all hopped up to build his, what hapened to you 2 ??

Mn Gumby?? haven't heard from you for awhile?? whats up??

mgtmania?? you're in Rosemount, you're half way to our last GTG in Cannon Falls. Where you at??

Scho0643?? School about out for the summer? any luck finding a summer
job ? or car? Post up!!

Hulk??

Mudman20??

Ben, welcome, I hope your group gets going on some crawlers and gets into our summer comp series?? At least check out a GTG?

Also, a reminder for ALL club members that can possible make it, next Sat June 3rd is a competition organizational meeting. This meeting is about club organization, competition course planning, competition judging, and general class and rules revue.

This is an important meeting for all to try hard to attend.

Time and location will be posted up by Tues night.
Please check back here for that info, and please try hard to make it. It shouldn't take more than 1.5-2 hours?

 

[North Country]

Got my new chassis cut out today, hopefully I'll be runnin tomorrow.

Freetime, what you got going on tomorrow?

 

[Etype R]

Freetime sent me a pm and let me know about this thread. I just happened to check up on the site again, haven't for a month or so? I have not been working on my rc trucks much lately. But I am a member of the MMTR club and race with Ben nearly every week. So I do work on my race trucks when they need it.

Some of you may have come across my website which is always in need of updating. I have a few crawlers, they are all in need of some work though. My current crawler line up is a Juggernaut, I need to put some parts back on it, but its just about ready to run. Then I have my TLT crawler on a set of Bruiser frame rails and a custom tube frame top, no body. It just needs a better esc and some battery mounts. But it can be driven as it sits right now. Then I have my other TLT... It went from a race truck, to crawler, and back to race truck. Currently it is a mangled pile of parts and needs a complete rebuild and redesign before it can crawl again.


My Juggernaut is the first true crawling specific truck I ever built. I did my research reading deeply into what worked and what did not here. Its setup with revo drive shafts, savage shocks, a shaved stock tranny with a gd reduction unit. Super rooster esc pushing a single stock mabuchi motor. Hitec 645mg servos front and rear. Custom one piece carbon fibre chassis and a 6 cell saddle pack.

First two pictures are from a park that is just north of Stillwater, on the river. Some great crawling in there with a mix of large and small rocks. The last picture is from Taylors falls, a amazing area for crawling.

Here is a silly shot of my TLT bone stock, on some rocks out in Wisconsin, some park off of 94. Noticed the big rocks along the highway and seen a exit sign for a park. Happened to have the TLT with me.

And my TLT Bruiser tuber mutt truck thing.... I started out with Toyofasts old TLT Bruiser truck. The parts on it were just hack jobs and I have no idea how the truck even held together. The first thing I did was fab up the tranny skid plate/mount and the side plates. The side plates bolted to the tranny skid, and then used stock holes on the frame. I also mounted my 4 links off the side plates.

From there I started toying with a handful of ideas. I tried a few different shock mounting setups, and finally found one that worked. The truck is not light, it is top heavy, and it does not flex much. But it is fun to drive

And here is the underside of the truck, this was in stillwater.

And here is a vid of the TLT in action, just at snail lake park.

http://www.rc-offroad.com/downloads/tlt spring test run.wmv

And I do not currently have any pictures of my other TLT crawler on my website, ran out of space. But I'll try to rebuild it soon and get some pictures up. Its chassis is close to what I run on the Juggernaut. Though I might be changing that.

By the way I live in White Bear Lake. So Stillwater is not to far of a drive for me, and it has some great crawling.

 

[pro beater]

welcome to the board etype glad to see were get'n more numbers added to the masses ....

freetime , gimme a call when ya get a chance , i'm back from fargo last 2 days have been a pain in the *** , Literally , started out sat in fargo , jumped on the harley rode out to bismark (2 1/2-3 hour ride) followed a nasty lookin storm in to bismark , go to destination , sat down for dinner , it started raining , well better bring the hog in the garage, glad i did!

as soon as i got the bike under cover , i hear Tink tink tink , i turned around and 1/2 the street was covered in hail so much for ride'n back sat night...
sun morn we headed our , was cold as hell , stopped by wallmart do the woman could get pants, 15-20 min on the road , were both sweat'n like crazy , other than a numb *** and about a bizullion dead bugs hit'n me in the face at 75 mile an hour , a good time was had , got back to fargo , and my brother who borrowed me the bike tells me , he put the pocketbikes i brought up IN THE CAB OF MY TRUCK ...

needless to say one tipped over , and i got high as a kite on the way home from gas and 2 cycle oil that had soaked into the drivers seat of my truck...... anyone know how cure fuel rash on the sack???LMFAO

i'll be hit'n up the scrap yard for another seat soon...now that i am home i can relax! :shock:

freetime gimme a call when ya see this if i dont talk to ya first

 

[Nicklepimp]

Thanks for checking us out Etype R! Looks like you've got a nice collection going there. In case you didn't know we are an officially recognized club on this site: MNRCRC. We're hosting 8 comps this summer as a points series. You're more than welcome to join up, or even just stop by and check us out. Our first comp is Saturday June 10th in Cannon Falls. Also you can check out our website http://mnrcrockcrawlers.com

 

[pro beater]

Hey Ben , welcome to the board , i bought a prp chassis from ya a while ago (i dropped the chassis and needed the replacment peice had doug grab it and bring it to the warehouse) glad to see ya on here , hope all is goin well with the racing , hopefully i can put a face with the product developer some time

 

[Nicklepimp]

welcome to the board etype glad to see were get'n more numbers added to the masses ....

freetime , gimme a call when ya get a chance , i'm back from fargo last 2 days have been a pain in the *** , Literally , started out sat in fargo , jumped on the harley rode out to bismark (2 1/2-3 hour ride) followed a nasty lookin storm in to bismark , go to destination , sat down for dinner , it started raining , well better bring the hog in the garage, glad i did!

as soon as i got the bike under cover , i hear Tink tink tink , i turned around and 1/2 the street was covered in hail so much for ride'n back sat night...
sun morn we headed our , was cold as hell , stopped by wallmart do the woman could get pants, 15-20 min on the road , were both sweat'n like crazy , other than a numb *** and about a bizullion dead bugs hit'n me in the face at 75 mile an hour , a good time was had , got back to fargo , and my brother who borrowed me the bike tells me , he put the pocketbikes i brought up IN THE CAB OF MY TRUCK ...

needless to say one tipped over , and i got high as a kite on the way home from gas and 2 cycle oil that had soaked into the drivers seat of my truck...... anyone know how cure fuel rash on the sack???LMFAO

i'll be hit'n up the scrap yard for another seat soon...now that i am home i can relax! :shock:

freetime gimme a call when ya see this if i dont talk to ya first

Getting high on gas fumes and a numb a** huh, sounds like an interesting weekend:???:

 

[freetimecrawler]

I went and picked up another load of rock this morning, I also came up with a new bridge design in my dream last night. Gotta give those clods a hard time.
I taked to Pro beater and he's going to bring another load of rocks by later today, and I'll be picking up a load myself at that time.
I'll be out back starting on the waterfalls, doing some flow testing and stuff.

Welcome aboard EtypeR.
I hope you and Ben and any others in your MMTR group that want to crawl, will think about joining our summer comp series??
Looks like you've got a decent collection and it wouldn't take much to have something ready. Great pic's, we're always open to finding new crawling area's, as our comp's and gtg's are going to be in various locations to keep things interesting.

 

[freetimecrawler]

Pro beater came over today with another load of rock, and we re-worked the course. Pro beater did most of the work, so I must give credit where credit is due. We got the trench dug for a flowing stream through the course, starting with a waterfall and ending some 25-30' later after flowing through the course. It turned out great!! A few small details to finish up, and a few more loads of rock, and this course will be awsome if I do say so myself.
All are welcome to come check it out and run on it. Like I said, it's not quite finished yet, but it won't be long.
Here's some pic's during re-construction of the course and construction of the stream.
I know it's hard to tell whats what at this point, it got dark before we were finished and we couldn't take pic's of the waterfall or running stream. I'll have those up tomorrow and it will all make more sense.