The Interesting World of RC Car Crawlers

Ask any RC car or truck owner how much the hobby has changed just in the last decade and they’ll probably tell you the difference is like night and day. RCing continues to be one of the fastest growing hobbies in Australia, and it’s largely due to electronic innovation and miniaturisation helping make RC car behaviour more realistic than ever.

Perhaps the most interesting reality about modern RC cars is that with their power, controllability and programmability, many are validly worth comparing to the remotely controlled lunar rovers of the 1970s. And this is especially true with hobby-grade crawler-style RCs, as their precision and range of technical options qualifies them as perfect stress relievers for adults.

Hobby-Grade RC Crawlers Take Adult Recreation to the Next Level

Let’s be honest: while most people think of RC cars and trucks as children’s toys, adult hobbyists know that rugged off-road RC car crawler and trailer vehicles are anything but toys. These 2WS (Two-Wheel Steering) and 4WS RC vehicles are engineered for enthusiasts who expect full-sized, professional UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle) levels of performance and realism but smaller scales, such as:

• 1/10 scale. 1/10 is the most popular scale for crawlers and RC trail trucks. It offers a solid balance of off-road performance for both basic trail driving and technical crawling, great interior and exterior detail and a massive amount of aftermarket tuning support.
• 1/8 scale. 1/8 RC rock crawlers and trail trucks are the top of the line when it comes to scale-sized off-roading. 1/8’s longer wheelbase and heavier weight allows for larger motors and better traction, giving them an advantage when it comes to ground clearance and overall stability.
• 1/18 and 1/24 scale. 1/18 and 1/24 scale RC car rock crawlers are at the micro-sized end of the off-roading scale. They’re recognised for the massive amounts of power they produce for their size, suitability for both indoor and outdoor use, and excellent value at a lower price.

With emphasis squarely on full-sized off-road vehicle concerns like maximising traction, maintaining stability on steep inclines and optimising weight distribution, hobby-grade RC rock crawlers for sale are in a scale-sized league all their own. And for enthusiasts who relish the technical challenges of exploring tough terrain and conquering large obstacles without tipping over, mastering driving an RC crawler is possibly more enjoyable than taking a full-sized off-roader on the trail.

Electronic Controls Designed to Give Hobby-Grade Crawlers the Advantage

From factory-spec’d RTR (Ready-To-Run) vehicles that can be driven straight from the box, to builder-minded ARTR (Almost Ready-To-Run) vehicles for enthusiasts who prefer using electronics and controllers they’ve spec’d themselves, premium RC rock crawler manufacturers like Traxxas, Axial Racing and Rlaarlo understand technology is what sets hobby-grade RCs apart from their toy-grade counterparts. 

Unlike the low tolerance motors, gears and electronics used in toy-grade RC car crawlers, hobby-grade RCs rely on brushed and brushless motors with integrated cooling, electronically regulated gear and drivetrain suspensions, and gyroscopically controlled steering systems. These are only a few of the components that give the latest generation of hobby-grade RC crawlers the advantage when it comes to:

• Powerful, longer-life motors designed to deliver maximum traction and output while providing virtually maintenance-free operation;
• Increased ground clearances, aided by optimised centres of gravity and turning angles, adjustable shock absorbers and suspension parts, and hardened gear and drive pinions; and,
• Maintaining optimal steering and tilt control with gyroscopic controls designed to prevent rotations and rollovers, especially when climbing or traversing steep grades.

Electronic speed controls (ESCs) with support for multiple driver profiles round out the technological advantages that hobby-grade RC trail crawler cars and trucks have over toy-grade models. ESCs enable smooth, gradual power regulation and motor rotation adjustments for maximum roll control and braking with complex technical manoeuvres, especially ones that involve driving backward putting. 

And as they’re designed to minimise the loads placed of batteries and motors themselves, they can also be used in pairs with rock crawler RC setups with twin battery/motor configurations, or employed as a single dual-ESC if supported by a hobbyist’s choice of transmitter.

Specialised Transmitters Made Complex RC Car Crawler Movements Possible

As impressive as the on-board electronics and ride control systems are on hobby-grade rock crawlers, hobbyists still need the right type of transmitter to put those systems to use. Crawler and climber enthusiasts have to be able to assess difficult terrains that require calculating endpoints, exponential rates, and real-time telemetries – all programming parameters that neither toy-grade or on-road RC car transmitters are designed to support. Fortunately, transmitters outfitted for use with modern RC rock climbers fit the bill perfectly.

From their variable front and rear wheel steering servo modes and telemetry settings, to their ability to switch between multiple radio channels to support complex mixes of vehicle operating functions and features, the transmitters used with RC rock crawlers are in a class all their own. Adjustability is what gives these dedicated transmitters the edge when it comes to making critical off-road driving decisions, and that includes parameters such as:

• End point adjustments (EPAs). EPAs involve calibrating the transmitter with the absolute maximum travel distance of the crawler’s steering and throttle servos, thereby preventing servo damage that could result from over-steering or over-throttling.
• Throttle curve. Throttle curve adjustments involve using the transmitter to modify (shape) the throttle/ESC response to get the most finely controlled power deliver during the most highly technical movements.
• Sub trim adjustments. Sub trim adjustments involve digitally calibrating the transmitter and the crawler’s steering, throttle, or gear changing servos to a perfectly straight (neutral) setting.
• Exponential adjustments. Adjust the sensitivity of the crawler’s steering and throttle, making driver inputs smoother and more precise for crawling at their neutral point, and more aggressive further from neutral.
• Dual Rate (D/R) adjustments. With D/R adjustments, enthusiasts are able to switch between different transmitter channels corresponding with different crawler servo inputs.

Ideally specialised crawler transmitters allow enthusiasts to make the kinds of quick, proportional changes in steering and throttle response that are crucial for highly technical climbs and precarious descents, especially when all or part of the manoeuvre needs to be performed in reverse. They also offer greater compatibility, with longer ranges and better battery lifespan than their toy-grade counterparts. That makes them the perfect choice for hours of relaxing, uninterrupted climbing activity.

The Final Word

At the end of the day, as the technology powering RC cars and trucks continues to evolve, the impact that it’s having on hobby-grade RCs is nothing short of amazing. Their reliability, degree of customisation, and range of capabilities ultimately make them more enjoyable to drive than ever. And it’s no surprise that these are the qualities that rock crawler enthusiasts want the most. 

Rugged off-road RC crawler and trailer vehicles are the hobbyist’s preference when it comes to scale-sized realism and relaxation. They’re every bit as exciting as full-sized off-roading, but at a fraction of the cost.