Axial Ryft Rock Crawler

So we started with the basic Axial Ryft Bouncer kit, thinking we could develop a decent rock crawler based on the platform. We wanted to stick with the Ryft cage and overall look, but tune and adjust for optimal performance. To get things started, we removed / omited items from the kit build.

Removed Items:

• Rear trailing arms
• Sway bar
• Entire transmission
• Open differentials
• Trimmed cage
• All OEM bearings from kit directly to trash can.
• Parts of battery tray.

The next step was to modify the skid plate to accept a Vanquish RC 3-Gear transmission. The OEM skid is pretty well laid out and molded from a good poly material. Even though we may liquid print our own version some time in the future, modifying the OEM skid made sense. The first step was to pour an epoxy base, filling up all molded holes and voids. From there we established the positioning of the transmission for proper weight balance, driveshaft alignment, and motor clearance. With the transmission placed, we popped the skid into one of the milling machines and decked off the inside of the skid and drilled new mounting holes for the transmission.

Now it was time for new parts.

New Parts Install

• Custom stainless steel rear lower links
• Custom link riser
• Vanquish lockers
• Vanquish ring and pinion gears with OD ring and pinion up front
• Hot Racing brass C hubs
• Avid aura bearings for the axles.
• Vanquish 3-Gear transmission ( Fast Eddie OEM bearings also placed directly into the trash can, Avid ceramic bearings installed )
• Kimbrough 88 tooth 48p spur gear
• OEM shocks rebuilt with new springs and internal springs, pistons modified for fast-flow. Filled with 25wt oil
• Hybrid AR-60 / AR-90 Axial widlboar drive shafts for the front and rear axles.

Electronics

• 3BRC G3 direct-power servo
• Holmes Hobbies Crawlmaster V3 ESC
• Holmes Hobbies Revolver Classic outrunner 540 L / 1450 kV
• 350 mAh 3s Lipo battery

Wheels / Tires

• Vanquish RC Black aluminum KMC beadlocks
• Crawler Innovations 2-stage 5.5" foams, comp cut, dual outer rings.
• JConcepts 2.2" Ruptures
• Stainless steel wheel weights - front only.

Tuning

Once assembled, we continued to rework the front of the cage, removing material in order for the front axle housing to fully compress and allow the front upper link mount to travel up and into the cage, rather than bumping against the bottom of the OEM battery tray.

After a number of trail runs where we adjusted link positioning, the Ryft crawler is now performing well beyond our expectations. It's geared properly for slow crawling and the Holmes Revolver classic has a crazy amount of torque when compared to any brushed or brushless inrunner motor.

The performance of this machine on the trail is stunning. It easily handles some of the most difficult trails at Badrock and Leclerc. It's limitations are skid clearance and overall weight, but on our technical ascents, it has yet to fail making it to the top.