So I spent 9 boring hours traveling yesterday and had a thought that may be completely stupid but what the hell I'll throw it out there. What if you could I independently steer all four tires, would that have any benefit in a competition style crawler? For example you could toe in on approach of an axle to somewhat narrow your track width to start the ledge, you could square the face up of a tire for added traction, stuff like that. Obviously your going to bind it up and scrub, but I bet the axles could take it. Pain in the ass to steer and set up controls, absolutely but with enough time and money probably doable. I'm not going to do it, but kind of interesting to think about and just curious what folks on here think?
True 4-wheel Steer?
- Thread starter Gawynz
- Start date
So I'm thinking if you're approaching a ledge that has a large protrusion coming towards you that will hit the axle before tires contact the ledge you could "pinch" that point at the forward most point of your tires to get up on it and then straighten out once up. It doesn't change your true track width obviously but at the forward and aft points of the tire your contact points could change quite a lot.
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
I can see it working but I'm curious how often you'd want that? The 7 times you used it in your build may or may not make it worth it? I dunno (sez the guy that rarely uses front/rear dig---or even that Jeep for that matter)
Trate D
Well-Known Member
Reminds me of this blast from the past.
I agree for the casual wheeler like myself, but I'm wondering if the option would make sense for the serious competition folks.
Reminds me of this blast from the past.
Ya that things pretty wild, is it still around? I remember seeing it a looong time ago but nothing since.
I've spent a lot of time on course and we've never been in a situation where I could see the benefit of that. I also think it would be too complicated to make it simple and durable but I dunno. The things that drive innovation at the leading edge of comp car design are simplicity, durability, weight reduction and visibility IMO.
I think the most recent innovations at the top of the sport have been cheater shocks, reverser box, shorty 904's (P removed to make the case shorter), overdriving the front axle, and last but definitely not least... portals that actually work well.
I think the most recent innovations at the top of the sport have been cheater shocks, reverser box, shorty 904's (P removed to make the case shorter), overdriving the front axle, and last but definitely not least... portals that actually work well.
That thing wouldn't make one of the unlimited gates in the 10 minute time limit, let alone a whole course. I've always appreciated that guy's ingenuity and props to him for building something unique but it just doesn't make sense for what we do.
Reminds me of this blast from the past.
In our time on the competition scene Ryan and I have heard a few people say they're going to build something crazy or out-of-the-box or something that hasn't been done or that they can't even talk about what they're adding to their new build but those dorks all come back the next season with the same thing everyone else has because it works.
- Location
- Stinkwater
Like, running a lower gear ratio than the rear?
I accidentally put a 4.10 front diff in a 4.30 truck once, it took me a couple wheeling trips before I figured out what felt so wrong.
Higher gear ratio in the front. We’ve done it on Ryan’s last two moon buggies and it’s basically become comp car standard. I think his is 4.88 front and 5.29 rear. It helps keep the front end pointed uphill on big climbs/keeps the car straight and it helps get the front up undercuts or big ledges without the rear pushing it so hard. It seriously makes such a big difference!
That’s supposedly what made people want to try it.