By Tim Odell
As the affordability of high-end video equipment progresses the interwebtubes have been flooded with gorgeously shot videos of the cars and trucks we love. Alas, all too often they’re rich music an slow-mo-shots of nothing happening. This time around, we get to see a classic truck (Ford? Studbaker?) on a gnarly 4×4 chassis putting its knobby tires to good use. The downside? In place of the burble of an old V8 or I6, we’re treated to the whir of an electric motor. Nonetheless, it’s worth the jump.
The come courtesy of Youtube user Full Speed Design, aka Nicolas De Vuyst of Belgium. Be sure to check out the rest of his videos, the most recent of which features a (mini) Pinzgauer slogging through the snow.
Via Ralf Becker
Jeff Glucker 
Kamil Kaluski
It's got a grille like a Stude and corner lights like a Ford. Still a bitchin little toy
While the lack of the "right" sound can be an issue, using an electric motor for crawling is perfect due to its high torque at low RPM. I am surprised that no one has yet tried to build a full size crawler with in-wheel motors and a small, swappable battery coupled with a bank of super capacitors. The in-wheel motors would lower the center of gravity while allowing for a very flexible suspension (no drive shafts!). The swappable battery pack only need to last for one trip around the track (a few minutes?). Super capacitors would allow for great instant power. Also having a motor in each wheel would allow for great torque vectoring…
That was surprisingly entertaining, heh.
Reminds me of a few key things for offroading: low-range transfer case for precise control, power steering because instantaneous changes of wheel angle in rugged terrain are a big part of staying on course, low tire pressure for really biting into shifting ground, willingness to let the body and undercarriage get banged up. But really, I don't think I would have chosen those wheels for that truck, more appropriate rims in that size are dead cheap.
the problem with that setup, though, is that steering feel is going to be terrible. One level worse than drive-by-wire.
That was cool, makes me want an off-road rc car!
Ahh, who am I kidding, I can't even drive straight in (beside?) an rc car; as soon as it faces me, I lose the relation between intended travel and steering direction. Now, RC plane pilots are in a totally different league. I think they are one of the most skillful groups of people on the planet.
[youtube ZdEpgtBP9bA&feature=fvw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdEpgtBP9bA&feature=fvw youtube]
skip to 0.20 for the takeoff, and 2:10 is the butt-clenching landing. You have no idea how much I want to build one of these things.
Lots of cool video. I like his UPS'ESSA, the Dodge UPS van.
I've been shopping RC trucks lately, and I'm leaning towards the Tamiya CC chassis with the Unimog 406 body– not a hardcore crawler, but more of a basher that I can chase the cats around the apartment with. I haven't touched RC in a good decade, but I've had the itch for ages.
This post is/is not helping.
The grille is NOT like a Studebaker.