Topic of Discussion Trickle Down Crawler Tech

[Greg]

What technical mods can you think of have trickled down from rockcrawling competition (UROC, WEROC, etc) to recreational wheeling that are now common place for the recreational offroader?

 

[Greg]

My thoughts...

Front & Rear digs
Suck down winches
Competition sticky tires

 

[kmboren]

Cutting brakes.

 

[Agility Customs]

Portals!
Running water in tires.

 

[Hickey]

Good suspension geometry

 

[Greg]

Portals!
Running water in tires.

Portals and water have been a total game changer!

 

[N-Smooth]

I’d say rear steer. So many rec wheelers have it now.

 

[Gravy]

Hydraulic assist steering.
Deep low range gearing

 

[Greg]

I’d say rear steer. So many rec wheelers have it now.

That one blows me away, I have a few local friends with rear steer recreational rigs and it seems incredibly excessive for a trail rig... but I get jealous when they weave their way thru lines I can't even think about trying.

 

[Greg]

Good suspension geometry

Another game changer... leaf springs used to be fine, after people figured out how to make a 4 link work for rock crawling, leafs just don't cut it for challenging trails, climbs and obstacles.

 

[Cody]

I remember the first arca events... Tall lifts, 35-38.5" tires... Stingers lol

I'd say shorter lift heights and bigger tires, suspension travel skewed way more towards down travel than up.

Anti rock style away bars.

 

[kmboren]

Another game changer... leaf springs used to be fine, after people figured out how to make a 4 link work for rock crawling, leafs just don't cut it for challenging trails, climbs and obstacles.

My YJ would disagree. So would Ryan's CJ.

 

[Greg]

My YJ would disagree. So would Ryan's CJ.

I mean, flat and flexy leafs that induced wheel hop, stopping climbs in their tracks. My sprung over YJ was prone to breaking driveshafts on big climbs, hopping around. Once people started building traction bars for soft leafs, the next step was a proper 4 link.

Also, speaking to trickle down technology from comps to recreational wheelers... leafs are much less common these days. Doesn't mean a leaf sprung rig can't work well.

 

[kmboren]

Also, speaking to trickle down technology from comps to recreational wheelers... leafs are much less common these days. Doesn't mean a leaf sprung rig can't work well.

True.

 

[Hickey]

Another game changer... leaf springs used to be fine, after people figured out how to make a 4 link work for rock crawling, leafs just don't cut it for challenging trails, climbs and obstacles.

I was referring more to a typical TJ from 2003 with short arms and 4” springs, versus today having several companies with well engineered 4-link kits and integrated skid plates.

 

[Greg]

I was referring more to a typical TJ from 2003 with short arms and 4” springs, versus today having several companies with well engineered 4-link kits and integrated skid plates.

Ahhh... yeah, fully agree.

 

[Mouse]

Better safety equipment - roll cage tech/design, suspension seats, harnesses, fire extinguishers

Also, oil accumulators, skid plate design (plastic covering), and maybe radio/intercomms

 

[RockChucker]

I was referring more to a typical TJ from 2003 with short arms and 4” springs, versus today having several companies with well engineered 4-link kits and integrated skid plates.

True testament to that when you consider most stretched TJs are as capable or more capable than a buggy from 20-25 years ago. The limitation really has become a full-size body.

 

[Johnny Quest]

Bigger than necessary tires, full hydro, 300m, CNC bling, stupid amounts of horsepower, coilovers and bypasses on mall crawlers, hell, beadlocks aren’t even necessary for probably half of the trail rigs out there, but people wanna “look the part”

 

[N-Smooth]

The Ecotec craze definitely started with the comp scene and spread from there.