| Rock crawling is a highly technical category of off | | | | rock crawling. Suspension-wise, rock crawling |
| roading. Vehicles are typically modified with larger | | | | vehicles often have after-market lift-kits installed, |
| than stock tires, suspension components that | | | | raising the chassis and increasing suspension flex, |
| allow greater axle articulation, and changes in the | | | | making it easier to drive over larger obstacles |
| differential (mechanics) gear ratio in order to | | | | without risk of damage to the vehicle. Most |
| provide the ideal high torque/low speed operation | | | | suspensions are made to be highly flexible, allowing |
| for rock crawling to traverse obstacles. It is quite | | | | for the maximum amount of tire area to contact |
| common for a rock crawler to have a spotter - | | | | the ground in any adverse situation found. Due to |
| an assistant who will go on foot alongside or in | | | | the conflicting nature of the dynamics and needs |
| front of the vehicle to provide information to the | | | | of rock-crawling and highway-driving vehicles, it is |
| driver on obstacles or areas of terrain that the | | | | not unusual to modify a vehicle solely for offroad |
| driver may be unable to see. | | | | recreational usage. |
| The goal of rock crawling is to overcome the | | | | Once a vehicle is deemed "offroad only" ie. not |
| largest, most difficult obstacles using any four | | | | driven on the street and trailered to trails or OHV |
| wheeled vehicle. These obstacles can be anything | | | | parks (Off-Highway Vehicle), then the limits are |
| from a collection of boulders to steep cliff faces. | | | | sky high. |
| Vehicles can range from stock trucks right off | | | | On the extreme side, those with more financial |
| the assembly line to custom hand made machines | | | | resources can build their own rock crawler to suit |
| made specifically for off road terrain. | | | | their needs. There are many benefits to this |
| The vehicles | | | | method. The biggest is that the owner has |
| In order to successfully rock crawl, a capable | | | | complete control over what their vehicle is |
| vehicle is required. Most commonly a brand name | | | | capable of. Each part of the vehicle can be |
| truck or four wheeled vehicle will be outfitted with | | | | custom designed to specifically suit their needs. In |
| custom parts to make it as powerful and | | | | this way a vehicle can be optimized to only have |
| maneuverable as possible. These custom parts | | | | the parts that are required. Also, they do not |
| can include: | | | | have to be limited by the vehicles exterior and |
| locking differentials | | | | can design anything they want with no |
| taller off road tires | | | | restrictions. The downside is that doing this is a |
| upgraded suspension | | | | much larger investment of both finances and time. |
| four wheel steering | | | | Acquiring sponsors can help to cover some of |
| roll cage for driver protection | | | | these costs. |
| engine modifications for increased performance, | | | | The terrain |
| mostly torque | | | | The terrain used for rock crawling can vary just |
| lowered gearing in either or all of the transmission, | | | | as much as the vehicles. Most commonly, rock |
| transfercase, or axle differentials | | | | crawling will occur where there are plenty of |
| winches | | | | rocks, but any other steep or abnormal surface |
| body armour (rocker panels, fenders, etc.) | | | | will do. Other obstacles may include mud, sand, |
| These additions can turn any vehicle into a | | | | water, brush, large hills, and even trees. Preferably |
| respectable rock crawling machine. | | | | one should have enough good terrain to make a |
| Generally speaking, these vehicles always have | | | | path with plenty of variation among the obstacles. |
| 4x4 transmissions in order to gain the most | | | | The more difficult the path the better, but one |
| traction in difficult conditions. Oversized, | | | | must also take into account safety and the |
| low-pressure, knobby mud-terrain tyres are | | | | likelihood that they might not be able to make it. |
| frequently used for this reason also. Likewise, | | | | While a challenge is good, it is not good to blindly |
| most vehicles have a low-geared transfer case to | | | | take on any challenge even if it means impending |
| make the most power in the low speeds used for | | | | damage. |