Can a Slash 4×4 transform into a trail-worthy RC crawler? I don’t think this is a new question, in fact Ultimate RC did something very similar with a Stampede 4×4 almost 10 years ago.
I took some of the cues from that build and wondered if we couldn’t do it even better. I don’t intend to keep it track worthy like Jang’s Chimera, but can we make it truly trail worthy?
Goal: Independent suspension trail-worthy truck
To start this hair-brained experiment I started with two main ingredients:
I understand that the thought of an independent suspension Jeep Wrangler gives many people an uneasy feeling. Somehow, it’s just wrong. But this is a thought experiment, and if you need help suspending disbelief, this does in fact exist in the real world.
I’m enamored by the Slash (both 2wd and 4×4) – it is the best selling RC platform in the world. With excellent parts compatibility between other Traxxas models, why not see if it’s possible? That’s what this hobby is all about anyway, making something custom from your own ideas.
I also love Jeeps. The Pro-Line Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited body, while made for the TRX-4, should be a perfect fit for this build. It just happens that the long wheelbase configuration of the TRX-4, at 324mm is exactly the same as the Slash 4×4
But could the Slash 4×4 be narrowed enough to look convincing? And could it still maintain good suspension articulation? Let’s try to remove some width and find out! Stay tuned for the rest of this build series.
[…] going to remove 50mm of overall width, bringing it from 296mm wide to potentially 246mm – less than the goal of 249mm. So we have some width we can add if need […]