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While the urge to further upgrade this tiny crawler is always there, this time's update isn't about that. It's about putting the crawler to good use! With the miniature Defender tested on rough terrain, this time round we decided to head to Rifle Range Trail with some friends for a nice, extended trail crawling session. Just imagine hiking, but with our RC cars in tow as well! While the previous crawling spot was just a plot of land with the various obstacles carved out by other RC crawling enthusiasts (thanks to them we get to enjoy our RC crawlers!), heading to a hiking trail like Rifle Range Trail meant that we weren't restricted to a small area. Instead, we could drive our crawlers as we proceeded along the hiking route, conquering obstacles along the way, and adding to the realism and fun! Due to the thick foliage, and the fact that it had been raining a fair bit recently, the trail was muddier than expected. While this added plenty to the fun and realism, it proved to be a bit of a hassle later on... you'll see. Watching the suspension system on the little crawler getting pushed to its limits with plenty of articulation sure was a fun experience! The fact that it was fully built and modified by me, further adds to the sense of accomplishment when it manages to conquer obstacles that seemed too tough for it at first! After a full day of fun crawling at Rifle Range Road, the batteries were almost empty and we sure were tired. It was a hiking trip of sorts after all! But the day hasn't ended yet, for the crawlers are now too dirty to be kept at home... Just look at how dirty and muddy it is! Oh, and I almost forgot.. the front prop shaft gave way at the trail and was nowhere to be found... guess it's time to order some parts to repair it :') - Zhi Xuan

On my last post, I've completed the build of my RC crawler, a miniature Land Rover Defender. What's left is of course to bring it out and test it out on some uneven surfaces! While I should probably try it out before adding more mods... I still ended up purchasing the entire catalogue of available upgrades to throw at my crawler But I ended up modding more stuff before I even took it outdoors. The upgraded suspension that I first used weren't smooth enough for my liking, hence I got another set that also made a taller ride height possible. Along with that, I also got a different set of rims and tyres that would likely result in more grip in the dirt (at this point it was all guesswork as I hadn't actually tried it outside of my home). I also swapped out for a bigger motor with a lower gear ratio that promises maximum torque to conquer whatever I throw at the crawler! Here's a photo of my highly-modified Defender crawler beside a completely original one Now that it's all modded, I'm ready to bring it out for a crawling session with friends! On the first outing, I am pretty impressed with the amount of articulation that the suspension allows. That said, the small scale of the crawler meant many obstacles are too huge for it to scale... Little crevices becomes massive cracks on the surface that could almost swallow the entire crawler, making it pretty challenging to navigate. A little over zealous attempt to scale an unsurmountable obstacle resulted in this... The best part about RC crawling though - there's no real risk of injuries. Flipped your car? just grab it and flip it back around! That said, the real fun happens when you are trying to navigate through precarious terrains as though you were driving an actual off-roader. If the slope is too steep or the surface is too broken to traverse, it is time to work your brains and skills to find an alternative route. Sometimes, a burst of throttle could free you from a sticky situation, and yet on other times, it will just cause the tyres to break traction and your crawler might end up in a worse position than before... While it seems like just driving around with a toy car, there's actually quite a fair bit to RC crawling than you would think! Hmm, who knows, maybe I'll end up modding the crawler more? Or maybe I should check out a different spot to crawl... Stay tuned for the next instalment of my RC crawling journey!

Have you ever found yourself mesmerised by overlanding and off-roading videos, just watching those lifted off-roaders conquering obstacle after obstacle, kicking up mud, driving through puddles, inching down steep slopes and climbing up steep gradients that seem impossible to scale? I sure did, but without the time, money and commitment to actually do it, I could only remain as a spectator behind my computer screen... This scale crawler had a ladder-frame chassis along with live-axles just like a true off-roader That was until I found something that's about as close as I can get to the action, but at a fraction of the cost - RC Crawlers! At 1/16th to 1/10th of the scale of an actual off-road vehicle, an RC Crawler still manages to offer plenty of fun! I'm someone that can never be content with something that's stock and unmodified - from cars to watches to toy cars to keyboards to computers... needless to say, the RC Crawler got plenty of upgrades before I've even ran it the first time I started my RC Crawler journey with the purchase of an affordable 1/12th scale (though strictly speaking, it's closer to typical 1/16th scale RC cars) Defender from Taobao - the MN D90. This Chinese-made radio-control crawler kit isn't an officially licensed product, but the details are pretty amazing. Especially when you consider the fact that it could be bought for less than $100. I've made sure to paint the body in stages of light coats to ensure durability, the painted body was then clear-coated for maximum protection, and a gloss finish While it is available as a ready-to-run kit, I opted for the unassembled one, as I love putting stuff together. In fact, I've also bought a variety of upgrades so I don't have to live with a fully-stock car. Modifications, customisations and upgrades are what keep me blood pumping - the same applies to my own car... but that's a story for another day. Having prior experience with building 1/10th scale RC drift cars, this build didn't take much effort to complete, I even painted the shell to a 'Battleship Grey' colour that I thought would be perfect for the rugged nature of an off-roader. Now, even though I've already had a bunch of upgrades, I am already eyeing more - I would love to increase the articulation of the suspension, maybe raise the height of the crawler for even more clearance, weighted wheels for more stability, a larger motor for more torque... You get the idea, this is just the start of a fun, and potentially expensive journey. But first, let's bring it out into the elements, and get it dirty! -Zhi Xuan

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a38036111/ford-patent-exhaust-tips-retractable/ "Retractable Exhaust Tips Star in New Ford Patent The point of the 'exhaust tip retract module,' or ETRM, is to protect it during off-road driving. Don't worry, the "where's the problem, we have a solution" squad over at Ford has been busy, apparently, with figuring out a way to make your truck's exhaust tips disappear. Well, at least retract back into the safety of the rear of the truck when you're going off-roading, for example, in order to allow for better departure angles. The idea is called ETRM, for "exhaust tip retract module," and it appears in an application Ford filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.. It's nuts what some people will hang off of their truck's rear bumper. A new Ford patent shows that strange ideas can be a part of the entire back end of a truck. Say hello to the retractable exhaust tailpipe. While this kind of chrome turtle head has elicited its share of ridicule online, it's not like having an exhaust tip that doesn't stick out as far is a worthless idea. Especially when installed on a truck that is going to see some off-road time, thinking about departure angles is a worthwhile experience. Ford's patent even says a system like this "reduces a probability of vehicle tailpipes contacting a ground surface in an off-road condition." Ford calls this invention the "exhaust tip retract module," or ETRM. The idea here, as Ford takes great pains to point out in its patent application, which was published earlier in October, is not just to extend the tailpipe, but to retract it to protect it. The ETRM "enables the exhaust tips to be retracted a certain length when in an off-road mode in order to take the exhaust tips out of the way and changing the limiting component to be a rear bumper instead of the tips," the application reads, after talking about two other, similar patents for retractable exhaust tips that didn't solve the off-road problem. Ford really thinks it's solving a problem here. What are the benefits of a tailpipe that moves instead of just building the exhaust system so that the tips don't stick out in the first place? you might ask. The obvious answer is that Ford knows how worried some truck drivers are about how they might appear to the outside world if their exhaust tips don't poke out. Or, in Ford's words, "the application of this system does not interfere with the looks, styling, or aesthetics of a vehicle." Ford's ETRM patent was filed in both the U.S. and Europe, according to CarBuzz, which first surfaced the application, so if Ford ever wants to build a real-world ETRM, it might do so on both markets. It is worth noting, though, that a lot of European cars have faux tailpipes due to insurance policies. If the actual tailpipes are too close to the rear bumper, a small rear-end accident can cost more if the exhaust system gets damaged."

Hi, Anyone with comments to share on this model for offroad driving? I am musing to go into offroad driving holidays

Bros and Sisters out there, anybody have lobang or contacts for fox suspension system for trucks? Many Thanks

The Pajero name is alive? Not bad looking I say, has the new face like the Outlander. Although rear tail lights look like Honda Jazz/Fit with an extra line. ...Interior though reminds me of really old cars or Nissan. At least better looking than Forester, but dunno how the qualities are. Should be good offroad too.

Not too long ago, we had the chance to sample the Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited in its natural habitat. We jumped at it, considering we never had the chance to witness the car's capabilities off-road. To do that, Jeep organised a trip for us to venture into the wilderness of Johor. On the way there, we also tested the Wrangler’s high speed stability via some of the highways. Considering it was built to excel off the tarmac, its on road manners was pretty good and it was more comfortable with four up than what we expected it to be. Its 285bhp, 3.6-litre V6 powerplant made short work of the highways too. We wished the Wrangler's steering could be adjusted for reach though. Otherwise, the cabin is user-friendly and it felt like it could last a lifetime. Once off-road, everything fell into place. Its ride, which was slightly soft on road, soaked up all the bumps and ruts easily. Ample suspension travel allowed its wheels to articulate well also. Having some fun with mud... Switching to low range 4WD mode, the Wrangler made mince meat out of the muddy climb. Like little boys, we aimed well at the mud puddles and charged through. Another hill that proved too easy for the Wrangler. All in all, we had a blast driving the Wrangler. If you want something funky looking, capable, fun-loving and be an occasional cabriolet (its doors and roof are detachable), this may just be for you.

Some cars, like whisky, just get better with age and the Range Rover is certainly one of them. The mother of all SUVs that you see here has lost some 420kgs from its previous model, thanks to the lightweight all-aluminium monocoque body structure. From the beautifully grained leather to the metal finishing, the material selection and build quality is immaculate. Even the plastic and rubberised mouldings exude an impression of quality and luxury. With a formidable output of 503bhp and 625Nm of torque, throttle response from the 5.0-litre V8 Supercharged Rangie is lag-free while taking off from the line is monumental. The 0-100km/h timing of 5.4 seconds is formidably fast for an SUV. The Range Rover is like the sweet girl you knew back in secondary school, just that she has matured, lost a few pounds and has the right curves at the right places. She even carries herself with the kind of style that isn't overly exaggerated now. It just simply reminds you why you were attracted to her in the first place.

Hi, Lately, have observed that we have many lorries & trucks plying the highways epecially during peak hours (both morning & evening timing), where some of these truckes are zooming in & out of lanes dangerously... Maybe it is time for us to consider measure(s) like other countries?...where big trucks / lorries can only go onto highway during off-peak hours? Believe this can help to reduce traffic conjestions / accidents.

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sg...eu_are_not.html i think he really sway

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singapor...d=76001#comment hey guys!!!!! check this out!!! Section 44 PARKS AND TREES ACT (CHAPTER 216) Parking of vehicles on green verges and turfed open spaces prohibited 44.

any bro know where to get used steel 4x4 rims ?

We all seen the gold SsangYong Rodius/Stavic taxis. Stavic is selling in Singapore as 7 seater or 9 seater, 2WD or 4WD. I just found out it can be a 11 seater too, and not too bad going offroad compare to other MPVs. Who says we must drive bus/van to carry more people, or SUV to go offroad? http://smotor.kiev.ua/models_line/stavic/photo/ http://glassguide.goauto.com.au/mellor/mel...A256F720073470F

I have driven my SUV offroad in punggol end, punggol and sengkang. Keen to explore new locations. Anybody got suggestions on new locations? Hopefully there's a good view at those location where I can have a picnic with wife and kid.