How to Build an RC Rock Crawler Course

The task at hand is to build an RC rock crawler course. Sounds simple, right? 

Unfortunately, it’s not. Based on my experience, this is no small job. I’ve spent my fair share of time in the RC world, from grassroots-level comps to nationals. So, if you’re wondering what’s the main objective besides building an RC crawler course, it is to make your audience happy. 

But how do you build an RC rock crawler course? Here is a multi-step guide, along with a few pointers on making your audience happy. 

Supplies you’ll need 

Before we delve into the guide, here is a list of the items you’ll need to build an RC rock crawler course:

• A tiny utility trailer or wheelbarrow to carry the gravel, dirt, and rocks. Also, come with a sturdy wagon.
• Several gardening tools, including a spade, rake, shovel, pickaxe, and a tiny planting shovel. 
• A hat, sunscreen, Gatorade, and gloves. These items will be handy in shielding you from the sun’s heat and injuring yourself when building. 

Further, you’ll require other materials for the construction, including:

• Rocks of different coarseness, from sand to big-sized boulders
• Plastic rolls to place on the surface before placing rocks down to hinder weeds from thriving in your course. 
• You can add some plants if you’d like to turn your course green. 
• River pebbles, sand, gravel, pea gravel, and lava rock will make the terrain more realistic, precisely if you use some filler between the rocks. 

How to build an RC rock crawler course

Having gathered all the materials and supplies required, it’s time to start building! Here’s how to go about it:

Step 1: Lay down the plastic strips

Search for the perfect spot to build the course according to your needs, including the shape and size you want. Once you find the right place, lay the plastic down. Ensure you overlap the plastic pieces by 3 to 4 inches to discourage weeds from growing between the strips. 

This should be followed by placing a huge rock on each corner of the laid-out plastic pieces. 

Step 2: Lay down the rocks.

You’ll first have to take several medium and large-sized rocks, position them close to each other, and attempt to intertwine them. This will be handy in achieving a more solid surface for your RC car. 

Step 3: Lay down more rocks 

After you’ve covered a significant portion of the previously laid down plastic strips using the large and medium rocks, go on piling and intertwining larger and smaller ones atop the initial layer of medium and large rocks. 

Step 4: Create another layer of rocks 

Continue piling the stones to make additional layers until you’ve established a terrain that delivers a fitting challenge according to your needs. Next, add topography and height to these rocks two times to ensure this terrain is challenging enough for your RC vehicle. 

That said, it needn’t be a tough challenge that will leave your crawler stuck when racing. 

Step 5: Landscaping

This step is optional since some people might not prefer having a landscaped terrain.  Nonetheless, if you’d prefer making its real purpose less evident, you can opt to landscape it, allowing it to look a lot more like its surroundings. 

You can pick something simple when landscaping, like surrounding huge cacti with several rocks and a lovely winding dirt trail. Obviously, this is optional, though you should think about doing it, especially if you intend for the course to blend in with the environment around it and avoid sticking out like a sore thumb. 

Step 6: Test out the course

Once you feel you’ve constructed an RC rock crawler course ideal for your racing needs, the next step is to try it out. This gives you the opportunity to check the rocks to see their stability and whether they can handle your RC crawler. Also, ensure that the large boulders are not moving. 

If some rocks aren’t adequately steady, consider adding small rocks beneath them and check to ensure the huge rocks aren’t moving. Once you make sure everything is okay, you can take your RC vehicle and begin racing!

Handy pointers

Simplicity

Keep the course simple to help the driver understand how it flows. Despite the length’s course, the drivers should be able to tell how the terrain flows; from start to finish. If your course requires a navigator, it’s too complex to use. 

Safety

Make sure that the course you construct won’t leave the drivers in difficult situations or the people trekking at risk of injury. Honestly, the drivers competing will concentrate more on their vehicle than their footing; hence, it is vital to ensure your newly constructed course accommodates the safety of the individuals walking on it.  

Build with caution and discernment. Your competitors will carry a transmitter with them; therefore, don’t construct a course where people can’t walk without consistently watching their feet. 

It would be best to allow them to walk around smoothly without needing to take their eyes off the road and their RC vehicles. Just because RC crawlers can deal with difficult terrain easily doesn’t mean the drivers have to. 

In conclusion

Building an RC rock crawler course is quite the process. However, depending on your needs, it can be anywhere from an easy and short task to a difficult and long process. You can spread out a few rocks in the front or back yard and use it as a course or construct an explicit course for holding RC rock crawler races. At the end of the day, the choice is yours. 

Moreover, it is essential to come up with a budget for the construction process since you can use plenty of funds on equipment and rocks if you purchase them from the local store. Instead, you can get rocks delivered for significantly less than if you decided to purchase it from your local store. 

Therefore, if you intend to build a huge course, purchasing the gravel in bulk would be a good idea as you`ll get to save some cash. 

So, how do you build an RC rock crawler course?

1. Gather the materials and supplies
2. Lay down the plastic strips
3. Lay down the rocks
4. Create another rock layer 
5. Add another layer of rocks
6. Landscaping (optional)
7. Test out the RC rock crawler course