Have You Ever? 🛠️ Back in the Day: The Untold (Retold) History of RC Rock Crawling 🚙✨

[@georgegonzalez9281]

You forgot about Losi. They actually came out with a fairly competitive crawler years before Traxxas and I believe they were among the first to offer a mini in 1/18 scale trim. I remember Richard Trujillo who worked for Losi at the time headed up the design of their first rock crawlers. He was big into mountain biking, hiking and other outdoor sports so he was a natural when it came to designing Losi's first crawler. Traxxas didn't offer the TRX4 until purpose built crawlers transformed into scale trail trucks which launched an entirely new genre. Traxxas has never really been a go-to name when it comes to hard core rock crawling, but they pretty much took over the trail truck class. Loved the video - took me down memory lane. Keep it up!

[@hairball1]

What I’m about to say really isn’t RC. But I don’t know if anyone remembers stomper 4x4s. Little trucks with a single double AA battery. They only went in a straight line, but these things would go up and over most terrain. My favorite as a kid. That’s my first memory of A truck 4x4

[@redndeyes]

😂 i had one!

[@jasonbickford4283]

Yes! The stompers. Soft tires, the battery didn't break the bank and yes they went everywhere! I had several of them. They never ever broke that I remember also was an absolute must have when I was growing up.

[@Chuck-tl6no]

We would put 9v in them fast but would burn out the motor

[@boduke9428]

I loved those little things!

[@gmummy]

😮Don't forget the XTM Super class crawler. - MOA, I have one and so do😢 you em run my one a few times a year!

[@edwenger7897]

John, please do a video of the history of Holmes Hobbies. How and why was the company founded? Break into the archives and show us who may be relatively new to the hobby, within the last 6 years, some of the foundational item that the products that we now enjoy are based on.

[@BC-rc]

Great video, love hearing history of the rc hobby

[@pocketfuloducks1062]

I love history.

[@gamingwithdurly]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane John! So many trucks i wish i still had. The first motor i bought off you was the puller 7t. It was like 4 inches long and it was a monster! My scx10 is still out performing most of these new rigs lol

[@BullmanBuiltRC]

I bought my first TXT crawler on eBay in 2005. That led me to RCC. Now I’m collecting all those “vintage” parts and trucks I never had. I have a Clod stick on Moab XLs, a stock TLT, a Bender chassis TLT with Eritex beadlocks, a TLT “trail truck” with a 2 speed drill transmission and 2 brand new Axial Scorpions. They all just hang out on a shelf in the garage. Thanks for the history lesson for all the newbs that would have been flamed to death by DirkDigler in 2005 for not searching. 😆

[@jakem1902]

I still have most of the first crawler I built in 2006. It had a rustler transmission, e-maxx axles, and a really heavy chassis made out of 3/16 solid rod. I had all kinds of fun with that thing on Maxx sized proline mashers lol those were the days

[@shafiqjan1474]

Can't remember what year it was when I ebayed my thunder tech clod digger truck. Next I got a pre-loved SCX10, new 10-2 & 10-3, a few SCX24s then a couple of elements. It's been tons of fun. 👍🏻

[@KingKong-bo7nk]

I remember packing the clod buster diff’s with blue tack that putty for hanging posters to lock them

[@TheAmericanUhate]

The clod buster was my first crawler build back around 2002 too. Found an old used clod buster with the mechanical ESC on it, took the axles and threw the rest of it away lol. I used the CFNN kit from the crawler store, extended metal rod ends, proline beadlocks with 7 inch Moabs, an emaxx esc, 2x hitec servos, integy 55 turn motors, and a modded traxxas remote for the rear steer switch where the red rocker normally is. Had integy axle housings and aluminum Chubs & knuckles, all metal gears in the axles, and a bunch of other stuff done to it. I brazed my own metal cage out of brake lines and made metal panels for it. I still have the cage, but the truck itself got stolen by hobbytown usa in Dallas when I worked there. I've searched ebay and online listings for decades, in hopes of finding it one day, but I never will. I really loved that truck. I've got a pretty nice collection currently anyway

[@Livlifetaistdeth]

I put the speed on 1.35 and now I know what my neighbors feel like when they ask me an rc question and 20 minutes later I look up and I realize I just fire hosed them with rc info...haha that was fantastic!

[@Tipman2OOO]

😂😂😂

[@PSYCHO13GARAGE]

I loved MUDCOW. Thanks for bringing that up, nice trip down memory lane. Back when I was making a crawler out of clod axles. Happy Holidays!

[@ryurc3033]

I had played around with several nitro short course trucks that got stolen around 2008. Years later I was wandering through the hobby store, and saw an ecx barrage, a redcat E10, axial 10.1 honcho , and an axial wraith. I didn't care about going fast anymore. I wanted a wraith so bad, but he convinced me the ecx was the better starter rig, and also had way smaller differentials. Didn't know at the time scrub radius was ridiculous, it had 20mm wheel spacers from the factory, but I had no idea that was bad at the time. First upgrade I ever bought for it was proline 1.9 boggers. And I had to buy wheels because I melted the originals in the oven trying to unglue them. Then I started playing with different drill motors. Stuck a DeWalt 550 on it, and it was a completely different truck. Made an aluminum front link by drilling and tapping aluminum rod, and threading it. Eventually spending way to much on a savox servo because the drill motor was strong enough to start stripping plastic gears. Then my buddy sold me a used E10 with a Toyota body with 2.2 swampers after that....then the sickness really kicked in. I experimented with used gmade komodo axles. Made a 4 link setup... Frame, axial transmission and skid, my first real build. First attempt at upper link risers too....I knew what I was trying to do, but all I did was make it the same....very bad. Mismatch between axial and gmade link points was almost impossible to overcome at the time. Also learned chassis mounted servo and front 4 link does not fly.....and the pot metal diffs let me down so many times. I ran those trucks until the trx4 kit came out. Had seen several videos of them being beaten to death on 6s with castle motors and mambax esc. So I got the kit the week they came out. Instantly upgraded servo, put in my first Holmes hobbies motor, and 1080 esc. And proceeded to wear through 2 sets of axle housings. Putting 500+ miles on it. Now I have too many to list.

[@troywilliams3535]

Great educational video Nice to know the roots thanks again

[@areadierc2803]

Had an ax10 scorpion, one of 1st batch that arrived in the uk . I run 2.2 proline badlands . My freinds still running tlt axles . I remember my mates were running a sprung wire chassis. The losi comp crawler changed things aswell

[@chainsaw7887]

I still have some RC10 stealth transmissions from back then

[@WyteLOC]

I’ve been in rc for 26 years but I’ve been crawling for 12 years and I started with a scx10 dingo been crawling since

[@jeffnewhart491]

I started with a juggernaut. It ended up a full tube (welded brake line) chassis and xtm axles. This was the early 2000's.

[@TheImtoomuch]

I think you were thinking of "Scorpion" which is the AX10 RTR. Axial had an axle and transmission kit? I don't remember that at all. I got into rock crawling with the release of the Losi Mini Rock Crawler. It was OK. Tons of aftermarket parts which made it exciting. The Axial SCX10 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Kit AX90027 is what really got me hooked. I built that kit, found a local group to trail with, and never looked back.

[@neilelliott655]

Great video always entertaining I’d like to see an upcoming video you tinker with a H10 optics from vanquish

[@kenc4s134]

The crawler store made chassis for the ax10 scorpion in the beginning

[@nathanielbrowne5204]

My first crawler was a losi nightcrawler

[@tomlucasrccrawlers9108]

Hey John. You're thinking of the Scorpion. King Midas 6x6, you seen it at Pro-Line By The Fire started as my "ground up" custom comp rig 17 years ago. I bought my Clodbuster in 1989. By late 90, early 91, I was bored with open diffs. I bought the medal gears and Stormer Racing 4:1 gear boxes and installed either Black Magic Pulling Motors or Trinity Monster motors(I don't remember which one I bought first), lowered the body down as low as possible and put on two sets of rear Blsckfoot tires. Did I technically build the first rock crawler? I don't know. We didn't have the information highway we have now. Within a month or two, I made a 4-link out of All-thread and brass tubing.

[@donaldfite]

TLT, Clod, Kyosho Twin Force and I even made an Emaxx into a crawler... Good times

[@dude26600]

NN chassis with clod axle was my first one..

[@jonlaird5082]

Awesome revived history. I started off with a hpi wheelie king as it was all I can afford and I put traxxas t-maxx suspension and whatever I found like custom links etc. It did surprisingly well when it didn't flip. I knew nothing about crawlers coming from the monster truck scene so I didn't really know about lcg etc. oh and I think the axial ax10 version you were thinking of was called the scorpion if I remember.

[@JamesDirtRC]

My WPl, I made my own mounts out of a Tuna can..... Battery sits up front, 60a esc in the center above behind the front axles, with Receiver stuck to it. Then Motor and Tranny. Popcicle stick with magnets for the back of the Rails. No weight nothing back there. MN78 axles with Bears with the Links to fit it that i had to grind down. Only WPL is the Frame rails and Body LOL hahahaha Now i want a Car. Only 1/10 scale i could afford this year. Kits' $109. w/ Esc, Motor

[@vipxj1]

I stated with a New bright 1/6 jeep wrangler, then bought a clod buster kit for the axles, made a chassis out of alloy angle and own links.

[@Evolution8R]

i think DeWalt had a two speed even before the Traxxas transmissions, here where i stay it started in 05'

[@PSYCHO13GARAGE]

Axial AX-10 Scorpion

[@JamesDirtRC]

I Love your Face. Merry Christmas :) I am Ordering a Tamyia TT-02 and Making a Rally/ Road Car. Mmmm 1/10 scale Kit is going to be FUN. I was 16 the firs Kit. 37 years ago LOL 80's. Kyosho Ultima. buggy. I got it to 35mph and would Launch off my 4ft Skate launch Ramp. Years back i was MEtal detecting at a river bank and this guys RC truck looked sick and was Slow crawling up a Hill. I was like wTH bro. He told me Crawler......... I never forgot that. Anyways, This old guy is going to geet his First Holmes Hobby Motor for my Build at some point. My WPl is Flying in the 370 motor on 3s. Might need a motor for that soon too. Cause i Run it everyday almost. OMG i love this Hobby,

[@nathanielbrowne5204]

I've desperately been trying to find a pair of purple team spec's. The closest I've been is one I found a couple months ago bit I was in bad shape and the guy wanted almost full price for it. I'll keep looking.

[@shanefortner534]

Tcs chassis an mayhem engineering

[@JamesTejera-cj3ie]

Scorpion and ridgecrest…

[@jjbkozack]

PTI Goliath, proably the worst crawler specific chassis every made... horrible all around. Drove my new one down one stair and it was in 2 pieces. Can't blame ya for not including it as it was easy to forget.

[@KenH-fs4zf]

Cool story, but what a boring ass format. You got a table full of parts there and not a single one relating to the story. Lame! P.S. I still buy your hardware, this video sucked though

[@redndeyes]

Hey 🤡 link us to your channel for extreme entertainment or even better, stfu.

[@TrokaRC]

​@@redndeyes Lmao 🤣

[@gamingwithdurly]

It's all on the back wall 🤣

[@TrokaRC]

Mudcow channel is under: #crawling101 youtube.com/@crawling101?feature=shared

[@James-dg7eb]

I watched mudcow !!