Budget Powerhouse: Danchee Ridgerock

In this video I finally get my hands on the Danchee Ridgerock by Redcat Racing! This budget friendly RTR RC crawler is loaded with fun and functional features like four wheel steering, motor on axle drivetrain, massive articulation and huge 2.2 wheels and tires. While it could be considered toy grade, it’s performance would suggest otherwise. And at a price under $140, this is serious bargain fun!
Danchee Ridgerock: alnk.to/d3AWiBE
Cape Crawlers Merch: capecrawlers-shop.fourthwall....
Affiliate links:
Tower Hobbies:
Horizon Hobbies:alnk.to/aLFxP5n
Amain Hobbies:
FairRC: shrsl.com/3w3co
Discount codes
5% off RCAWD: rcawd.com/?ref=E5EBF8Fu - discount code CapeCrawlers
$10 off any order $100 of accessories: www.fmshobby.com/capecrawlers - discount code Capecrawlers
5% off any Injora products: www.injora.com - code Capecrawlers05
10% off any Little Guy Racing Parts products:
littleguyracingparts.com/ - code CAPE10
10% off any Flubberstufferz products: flubberstufferz.myshopify.com/ - code Flub10CC
10% off any Cow RC products: cowrc.com/ - code CAPECRAWLERS
Email me with suggestions or collaboration inquiries: [e-mail]
Follow us on Instagram @capecrawlers!
First look & Key features: 0:30
Rock crawling & driving impressions: 5:09
Final thoughts: 17:02

[@CapeCrawlers]

Give me your best Danchee mods and upgrades below too please! Timestamps First look & Key features: 0:30 Rock crawling & driving impressions: 5:09 Final thoughts: 17:02

[@CarmineRC]

WP880 Hobbywing ESC! And Tires.

[@BENALLEN1973]

New wheels and tyres, brass wheel weights, modded lower spring cups and move the shock top mounts back. New steering servos. Mine is a complete go anywhere beast now.

[@josephwimerYoYoYo]

I hand siped the original tires, removed the foam, swapped out the servos, moved the battery to the lower compartment, detached the wires from the suspension components to give it more balanced articulation, made my own servo link arm to take some of the flex out of the steering, installed a much lower Baha Bug body, and installed an 8 piece light kit using the stock AUX port. Thing looks like a mini monster bug, and I have no body rub now. It's so bottom heavy that I can crawl vertical.

[@justthatguy2199]

Adam i can’t understand how you dont have more subscribers your videos are awesome man i love everything you put out keep it up man!

[@AnyAssumptionBanter]

Thanks Adam for doing this video. This is special to me. Love this rig and without it I prob wouldn't be in this hobby cuz the value vs cost is so outrageously good. Plus, it is challenging to drive; when to use crab or mirror or just using the rear. This was my first intro to RC crawling. In Dec 2022 I bought one. Came in broken, ordered another and had to wait until mid Jan 2023. Wow... then in March it fell into a puddle of salt water and froze up completely. Had to buy another one. Next 2 came broken but 3rd was good. I put new tires/wheels, high clearance links that are for everest10 but fit perfectly, weight inside the motor housing as there is empty space, and repainted the body. The rear not turning is just too much load. they all do it. I find it okay. The lack of proper drag break I overcome by adjusting the fwd/rev throttle trim on the fly. Free mods I did was moved the wires to inside links so wheels don't rub on them. I also flipped the shocks to put that weight down more. I cut a few rings off the shock springs too or you can take off the caps to lower it that it makes a difference. There is a ton of other mods available and a whole facebook group dedicated to this rig with a pdf of all the most common mods people do and links to all the parts.

[@AmpRC]

Great entry RC! I really enjoy this crawler and with better servos it’s as good as any high end crawler! Great review

[@bobcatarizona4840]

I would like to see you do the budget buildup of this new RC. Would love to see the comparison to the fully maxed out rags. Thanks for your hard work and posting this.

[@DMHRC]

My daughter's Ridgerock has been a great rig. We upgraded the servos and installed real servo horns, threw wheels and tires on it and it was much better than factory. After a few months we did a tummy tuck. Huge upgrade. Also added a couple automotive wheel weights to the front axle. One last thing, if you cut the headlight stickers off the grill sticker and remove them, there's clear headlight lenses underneath. I added cheap led lights glued inside the hood and they came out great. Her Ridgerock has the been our cheapest rig and has been one of our most capable. I really wish there was more aftermarket support for it.

[@robc5296]

So glad you picked this one up. I bought one from REDCAT years ago when it was $119.99. Still the best value for a beginner 1/10 scale out there. I haven't noticed any issues with a lag on the rear motor. Mine is still stock - looking forward to see your future upgrades/ recommendations. Hope all went well at the new job today.

[@falconxvid]

Nice demo, I just ordered one, can't go wrong with this one...

[@drehahaha]

I've been wanting one and you definitely have confirmed my decision! Thank you!

[@RedLionRC]

Hi 🙋🏼‍♂️ good choice I cut on mine the lowest point of the chassis. Relocated the power button, changed to 2x 25kg servos, added weight on the wheels and changed the tires. Now it is invincible 🔥

[@JohnyPatrick]

Amazing rc. Amazing how your builds crush that course! ❤.

[@rcjoe406]

I run 2.2 proline apex pins in predator compound on stock rims with med foams still on stock servos enjoy it brother remember it has all plastic gears

[@braindamgedat1981]

Pretty sweet start for a rig if someone wants to get into 1/10 scale! I wish i had more big rocks and stuff around me to justify having a 1/10 scale. Middle of Nebraska doesn't have much to offer for crawling. The main reason i love the 1/24 scale so much! Great find/buy!

[@user-pd4py1tj1l]

I’ve had mine just sitting because of the serval but now I’ve been wanting to play with it and my papa had rc trucks too and he left some stuff left and I found weighted tires and it helps a lot

[@roady1710]

Time to add on some Lead weights on the front end put mine on the motor housing in front. Really helped

[@matthewcopeland4441]

Appreciate the continued content! Agreed with others-minor upgrades: tires, little weight on the front end, drop the ride height some. Part of the attraction of these is the budget entry price. Enjoy!

[@0xpadx0]

Great video! If you are in Europe and want one of those check out the FTX Ravine for the UK its the same thing. In the rest of Europe i think this is the T2M Pirate Swinger (what kinda name is that).

[@ronaldsmith5375]

I bought a ridgerock during covid love it, but it has been in the closet for a minute as I did not see a good path to upgrade (honestly it is my first crawler and I did not understand the value of weight and tires. I only considered electronics which is limited as the motors are concealed in the axles). I'm eager to see what you come up with for upgrades on the channel. Based on the comments so far I may start playing with the tires and adding weight at the axle. Keep the video's coming.

[@fpvpilot7713]

With two motors the thing is that the front gets light when climbing and will start to spin. That was a good thing with the clod buster and would enable it to climb very steep angles because the front wheels would start spinning and hold on better. It also kept the center of gravity low. That style seemed to fade away after the clod even though it worked well in some ways.

[@REAR_VIEW_MEDIA]

a ridgerock build would be sweeet

[@MitchellBolognaniRC]

Ok I'm sold on it Adam let's build one that articulation was epic. Definitely tires first.

[@speakerbox3103]

Danchee / Redcat Ridgerock is a capable RTR RC, out the box. At the low price point, I almost want two. For my current build, here are the mods. - Completely debadged. Contemplating paint or resticker. - Shock tower extensions. - Body drop & body porting for suspension extensions. - New 2.2 wheels - rim vented - New tires AIMRock - (2) 25kg metal servo’s - Dope ass 1/10 custom painted 55gal drum. (Fake payload) - 1”+ Tummy tuck and lower linkage relocated. 1”+ chassis delete. - Reused belly pan after tuck. Loaded with 6oz of tire weights. - Metal lower links swapped in from a Redcat Everest. - ESC relocated next to battery. (After tummy tuck it needed to go somewhere lol) - on/off switch - “air mounted” lol - Motor power cabling extension. - Took a different cable route for servo & motor cabling. Less chance of crawling damage, took the upper links as a pathway. - Axel brass hex extensions. What’s next: - Power upgrade, ESC re tipped for tx60 or deans. - Body trim for front servo- small bumper delete - Body trim for front tires - small fender rub - Add more fake pay load. Maybe ramps, or Jerry cans. - Detail paint on fake payload. - Axel weight could be added, seen some great KZbin’s on how folks are achieving this optimal weight positioning. - Delete springs coil overs and add inner shock springs. Pen springs mod Id add a pic, don’t think we can here. Keep making great videos!!

[@LJKRC420]

would you post a pic of your build plzzzz!!!!

[@speakerbox3103]

@@LJKRC420 Happy St Pattys day!! Sorry for the delay. I just posted a video on my channel of my Danchee RidgeRock. You will see it has changed a little from my previous description. In two hours my new custom crawler bed design will be complete. “Hot off the press” haha. I’ll get the new truck bed with fenders, and lights installed, and post an update. Go team!! 🤙😎 Link to radness: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZSzmpZjga52apYsi=ClCvbU1Um0KHsGbA

[@Callmebutturblk]

All you need heavy 2.2 rims and replace servos to at least 25kg power and lower ride height by removing lower spring cup holder on all four. Depending where your crawling…replace the tires softer 2.2 for slick rock clibling, the ones on rtr great for beach rock climbing. 💪 great RC track…did you make that? I luv rusted bike look 👍

[@fastkrt10]

Should get a Redcat E10 and just put rear steer on. Much better rig in my opinion. Keep the vids coming. Love ur work

[@christianrambissoon1141]

Take off the bottom spring cup, move the top shock hole to highest position. Links will sit flatttt! Change tyres for more grip. This truck really surprised me!

[@RCCrawlerz209]

Hell yeah Broseph!! 🤟🏻

[@scottmaxson9250]

4ws axial capra rtr is a pretty nice rig

[@DarkDanegan]

Nice driving ArticulAdam!

[@tundrasr5709]

You'll be surprised when you put better tires on it. Don't go to big as they may hit the links while turning. I trimmed the body down and that helped a lot. I can't wait to see what you do with this thing. I got mine on Amazon for $122.

[@Elisplushies360woodierc]

So what I’ve noticed with mine since I’ve owned it for about 2 years is when I put my cell near the controller when recording the esc shuts down.When I’m out with it not recording it never happens or if i record with my cell on the tripod away from the Danchee it’s fine. As for the motors being out of sink I’ve learned that is called a cog stall.I guess it’s normal for motor on axle crawlers.The the tires that have less weight in them mostly the front will spin until you give it more throttle and then the rear tires will then kick in. As for the shocks feeling stiff they are more for control side to side flex than the body and chassis when going straight over ruff obstacles.I went ahead and put 50weight oil in mine to control the loose flex it has For other mods it doesn’t need much. I just put a set of springs from some extra scx24 shocks I had inside the shocks of the Danchee to lower it a bit and a set of injora beadlock with what ever tires work on the terrain you run at.Also I trimmed the body down and made new holes to mount it.Body now sits lower doing this and also added some lead weight on top the front servo.it’s my most capable crawler I have and most fun I have out of my trx4 bronco 2021 and axial scx10.3 early bronco. I don’t record it much when I’m out though because I’m just out having fun with it.I forgot before you want to try that inside spring mod out just remove the bottom shock retainers off to lower it and make it more capable.

[@WoodsUnknown]

You would really enjoy a redcat everest 10 and a losi nightcrawler as well.

[@Casitascrawlers]

Thank you like you I’ve been looking at & wanting one for literally years. There are many upgrades available. Definitely build it up for better performance. How do the motors work 2 esc’s?

[@Stealthfoams]

Do a burnout for a bit to get the factory ouls of the tires and it improves them alot

[@Mikes_rc_adventures]

Best thing is upgraded servos and better tires. Other than that mine been fun

[@thewildbunch5477]

I heard the rear axle has more weight on it than the front. It takes more to turn the rear wheels. It can't keep up with the front sometimes

[@jeffstiger6053]

I'd like to see you mod / upgrade this, i have one, and love it

[@joshuatyeryar8001]

need more danchee content

[@thathobbyguy6135]

Are you planing on getting the redcat ascent?

[@joshuasmith311]

We have a pretty big facebook following for this rig. Come check it out. I have 3 of these and it was awesome to see you run one. Been following for a while on your 24th scale stuff. The danchee was my gateway drug back into rc, so it was really great to see your opinions on it. You're right, a few mods and they are pretty good for pretty cheap. Thanks for what you do. Keep up the great content.

[@TheNeck-rc46]

You get what you pay for. But I think you did great for the money. Was looking to step up to 1/10. Christmas is coming, an my grandson will be getting one, for sure now.

[@MrRichventurarv]

Please build it out!!!!

[@JUSTTRYITDIY]

any upgrades to the Ridgerock yet?

[@michaelnelson7240]

Capra comes in 24 and 10 scale

[@CrawlHub]

I say fully build it out

[@jeremyts9032]

Im thinking on getting one, are the spare parts widely available? For the location of the motors, are compatible with other brand motors or they are hard to replace?

[@CapeCrawlers]

Replacement parts are easy to come by but there isn't a lot of aftermarket support that I've found.

[@Stealthfoams]

Take the foams out the tires they r way better after u take them out

[@Brayl129a1]

4:30 off-road be like

[@joshuatyeryar8001]

i need more danchee content u

[@divingfalconfpv4602]

Does it have separate receiver or is reciever esc together?

[@CapeCrawlers]

It's a 2-1 combo

[@farmoboy83]

mine has better metal front servo, reinforced front steering link, huge 13cm soft tires, motorbike wheel weighst on front and rear axle, canceled on/off button because was malfunctioning, lipo 2s battery and thats it. The only problem is to find inside a small european city a place with challenges to crawl

[@josephlawrence6873]

Are you planning any mods for this rig?

[@josephlawrence6873]

I just add Axial BF Goodrich Krawler T/A R-35 compound on ridgerock stock wheels. I also flipped the shocks upside down and it's ability to crawl was increased. Next upgrade is redcat everest-10 high clearance lower links, also in the pipeline is 25 or 30 kg servos to replace stock ones.

[@Miscellaneous6111]

Bro upgrade that thing bro 😅