"weighted" tires and rockcrawling

[Vonski]

OK, so it's no big secret that running large amounts of water in tires at rockcrawling competitions is now the norm. I believe that 7 or 8 out of the top 10 in Farmington were running water, or so I've been told.

We've been chatting about this around the shop lately, and I'd like to know what you guys think about my idea.

I'm not saying outlaw the use of water, or ANY other form of weight (calcium pellets for example), but regulate it's use to even things out a bit.

They could set an individual tire/rim weight limit. For example, Carl's buggy has a tire/rim weight of approx. 125 lbs. each. That is definitely not light! They are steel rims with 1/4" centers along with inner and outer beadlock rings that are 1/4" thick. 37" Krawlers are not super light either.

Here's the plan... just to be on the safe side, allow 200 lbs. for each tire/rim. If you want to take your 125 pounder and make it 200 dead on, go for it. Anyone can afford a freakin' bathroon scale from Walmart, so I don't think it would be a great inconvenience.

They could easily do random checks, or simply do a check of the Top 5 or so finishers immediately after the event (or at the end of each day of competition).

Alright then, bring it!

 

[Shawn]

I do like the Idea,, sort of. You are bringing at world of "Motor Sport" the the comps. Ya, know, everyone has the same CI Motor, Can't weigh over so much. The cool thing about Rock Crawling is that there is now same, same so to speak.

Do you guy's run water?

I wouldn't just for the weight factor. Everyone one says to Rock Crawl one must be light.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Is this also a viable way to keep the tire size to a controllable level?.. such that a guy with 44's will be close to the level from the beginning.

 

[Vonski]

I know, I know... I'd rather not go the NASCAR way of things, but this is one issue that needs some "leveling out" I'm thinking.

To answer your question, we don't run water.

Yes, lightweight is good. However, a lightweight chassis/drivetrain w/ a low center of gravity PLUS lots of weight at the ground is nearly unstoppable.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by Vonski
PLUS lots of weight at the ground is nearly unstoppable.

Unless you are going over backwards..

 

[Vonski]

Originally posted by cruiseroutfit
Is this also a viable way to keep the tire size to a controllable level?.. such that a guy with 44's will be close to the level from the beginning.

As people start running larger tires for competition, maybe the weight limit I mentioned should go up. Who knows, I'm just kickin' around some ideas here...

 

[Vonski]

Originally posted by Shawn


Unless you are going over backwards..

True, just ask Kevin Hawkins...

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by Vonski


True, just ask Kevin Hawkins...

Dam,, (I mean Darnet) I could have done that yesterday

 

[Cody]

isnt' it a trade off. the extra tire weight is harder on drivetrain components isn't it. some can gamble and break stuff, others can do well. it's a competitors decision.

Cody

 

[Vonski]

Originally posted by GroceryGetter
isnt' it a trade off. the extra tire weight is harder on drivetrain components isn't it. some can gamble and break stuff, others can do well. it's a competitors decision.
Cody

Dammit Cody, you had to bring it up, didn't ya!

Yes, some competitors simply can't afford to run water because they don't have the high strength ($$$) axles that can take it.

Am I a little biased, sure. Am I looking out for the little guy that could beat the big budget guys, sure.

 

[crimsonride]

I'm lost, is it benneficial to weight the tires with water?

 

[Cody]

you could use soft water. thats lighter isn't it?

does the water make that much difference?

 

[Vonski]

Originally posted by GroceryGetter
you could use soft water. thats lighter isn't it?

does the water make that much difference?

soft water, Hmmmm...

Well, let me put it this way... You can do things that other rigs cannot. Is that enough of a difference?

 

[Vonski]

Originally posted by crimsonride
I'm lost, is it benneficial to weight the tires with water?

Yup, it's old farm technology. Tractors work really well with a couple hundred lbs. of extra weight down low...

 

[Andy]

Von I think your rig would work even better with water in the tires, being as light as it is. Can you really tell from the way a rig climbs if they are running water? I have not been able to tell from watching a comp yet. I might try it on mine and see how it works. If you want to run water in your tires I say run as much as you want, it's bound to catch up to you some where. This is almost the same as spotters in the crowd, if that's how you want to play go ahead. my .02.

 

[Vonski]

Originally posted by Andy
Von I think your rig would work even better with water in the tires, being as light as it is. Can you really tell from the way a rig climbs if they are running water? I have not been able to tell from watching a comp yet. I might try it on mine and see how it works. If you want to run water in your tires I say run as much as you want, it's bound to catch up to you some where. This is almost the same as spotters in the crowd, if that's how you want to play go ahead. my .02.

Carl's rig would indeed work better, but the risk of breaking junk is too great. Sure, thats the trade off. I guess the only part of this that becomes an issue to me is that it has nothing to do with driving skill.

 

[Floppy Hat]

My take on this is that the way the courses have been set up lately with so many steep climbs have made more people start running the water. I would love to see a course set up to hurt people who were running water. Maybe have a course designed to make competitors climb in reverse or something. If the course designers can't discourage the use of water with the courses, then I would like to see a rule like Vonski proposed.

 

[Vonski]

One high speed obstacle course during the event would do it.

 

[tuck]

I guess it depends what your goals are.

If you want to win rockcrawling competitions and aren't willing to risk breakage and run with water... then you'll want to level out the playing field with weight restrictions.

If you want to see rockcrawling competition courses get more difficult and more exciting, keep the water and force the competition to build vehicles to compensate for the extra wheel weight.

My $.02, keep the water... vertical climbs are cool.

 

[Vonski]

Originally posted by tuck
I guess it depends what your goals are.

If you want to win rockcrawling competitions and aren't willing to risk breakage and run with water... then you'll want to level out the playing field with weight restrictions.

If you want to see rockcrawling competition courses get more difficult and more exciting, keep the water and force the competition to build vehicles to compensate for the extra wheel weight.

My $.02, keep the water... vertical climbs are cool.

Hmmm, more exciting you say? Exciting for who, the drivers or the spectator? If spectators, the excitement comes from rolls and carnage, no? Sooo, keep the vert climbs, eliminate the water, and *poof*--more rolls, more carnage.