Just because the weather is bad or it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t drive your crawler. If you’re an RC enthusiast like me, then you won’t let anything (even the weather) stop you from driving your crawler. So what do you do when the weather doesn’t cooperate? You build an indoor RC crawler course! In this blog post, we will provide 12 RC crawler indoor course ideas that will keep you entertained all year long – rain or shine!
If you want a crawler that is great for the indoors, check out our post about the best RC crawlers for under 300 dollars.
1. Use Cardboard Boxes, Sticks, And Rocks
The main idea for an indoor crawling course is to create obstacles that resemble the trails you normally drive on. I think the biggest challenge when building an indoor crawler course is finding materials that are heavy enough and will stay in place.
So, the fastest and easiest way to set up an indoor crawler course is to get a large cardboard Amazon box, some hot glue, a few sticks, some rocks from the backyard, and glue them down to the cardboard. You could also use popsicle sticks, wooden shims, or paint stirring sticks.
Take your time to position the sticks on the cardboard and then hot glue them down. You can create easy, medium, and hard crawling lanes if your cardboard box is big enough.
If you find your crawler getting stuck in certain areas, glue a flat rock down to help stop your car from bottoming out or getting hung up.
You can get creative with the cardboard too. If you are careful when cutting out different shapes from cardboard, you can make some interesting features to crawl over.
If you don’t want to build a course out of cardboard, Amazon has a bunch of 1/24 scale RC crawler obstacles.
I think this crawler teeter-totter is pretty neat and could fit into your course nicely.
2. Get creative with household items
In addition to furniture, there are a number of other household items that can be used to create an indoor RC crawler course. For example, you can use blankets and towels to create bumps and obstacles to crawl on top of. You can also use boxes, buckets, and laundry baskets as obstacles.
3. Use painter’s tape to create a course
Painter’s tape is a great way to create a temporary indoor RC crawler course. You can use it to mark off areas of your home, and then create obstacles within those areas. When you’re done, simply peel up the tape and you’re good to go!
4. Invest in some crawling accessories
There are a number of accessories that you can buy to help you create the perfect indoor RC crawler course. For example, you can purchase crawling rocks, logs, and other obstacles. You can also buy ramps, ledge kits, and other items to help you create a more challenging and exciting course.
5. Use Rocks and Boulders
Rocks and boulders are a great way to add realism to your indoor RC crawler course. You can purchase these items at most hobby stores, or you can even collect them yourself from the outdoors. Old bricks, and other small chunks of debris can also be used. Simply place the rocks and boulders around your course to create a more challenging and realistic experience. Make sure you wash them off before bringing them inside so you don’t get in trouble with your parents (or spouse!)
However, the problem with using heavy items on your course is, it might become super difficult and heavy to move the course around. So if you want to use rocks and boulders, we recommend building the course in one spot and leaving it there, like a corner in your garage.
6. Make an enclosure
If you want to keep your indoor RC crawling course contained, then consider making an enclosure. To do this, you can use painter’s tape, PVC pipe, or even sheets of cardboard. Simply create a perimeter around your course, and then attach the material of your choice to the edges.
7. Reuse Recyclable Materials
Who says you can’t have fun with old bottles or other recyclable items? In fact, we think recyclable items can be a great way to add variety to your indoor RC crawler course. You can use old newspapers, plastic bottles, and even Styrofoam to create obstacles. You may want to use a hot glue fun to secure the Styrofoam to a large piece of cardboard so it doesn’t move around.
Amazon boxes are my favorite way to create obstacles. All you need to do is cut them up and arrange them in whatever way you want. Use old artificial flowers to create a more natural look, or even string lights around the course for a bit of extra flair.
8. Use a Hot Glue Gun
A hot glue gun is a great way to create temporary obstacles on your indoor RC crawler course. You can use it to attach rocks, logs, and other objects to surfaces. You can create a platform by placing boxes of different sizes, upside down, and gluing them together.
To create a terrain, use a hot glue gun to attach small objects like pebbles, leaves, and sticks to a piece of cardboard. Once the glue has dried, you can then place the cardboard on your course.
9. Plaster Sheets
Plaster sheets are a great way to cover your cardboard platforms and create a more realistic look. So, once you have made your platform, wet these sheets and place them over the cardboard obstacles to make your course more natural.
You can also use plaster sheets to create tunnels and other small spaces for your RC crawler to crawl through. Simply wet the sheets, place them over a cardboard tube, and let them dry. Once they are dry, you can then cut out a hole for your RC crawler to fit through.
Once these sheets dry, you can glue some sand or gravel on top to make it look more realistic. This will help you add traction and make your course more challenging.
10. Rocky Terrain and Sandy Terrain
Typically, natural trails have rocks at the base and slopes and sandy terrain on top. Emulate this with your indoor RC crawler course by using different materials to create obstacles. For example, use cardboard for the base and then cover it with sand or gravel. Rocky surfaces should be smoother so that the slopes are challenging.
11. Use Logs and Branches
Logs and branches are a great way to add realism to your indoor RC crawler course. You can find these items at most hobby stores, or you can even collect them yourself from the outdoors. Simply place the logs and branches around your
12. Use Spraygun paints to create different colors
Spray Gun paints are a great way to add color and realism to your course. You can find these items at most hardware stores. Use different colors to create a realistic looking environment. For example, use green for the grass, brown for the dirt, and blue for the sky.
Build An RC Crawler Course in Your Garage
One of the great things about RC rock crawling is that you can do it indoors. You don’t have to worry about the weather, and you can set up a course in your garage or living room. Here are a few ideas for making an indoor RC crawler course.
Materials:
- A piece of plywood or MDF at least four feet by eight feet
- PVC pipe or other tubing for obstacles
- Tape or hot glue
- Rocks, sand, dirt, or other materials for filling in the course
- Plaster sheets to build mounds
- Paint
RC crawler Garage course Instructions:
Draw out a design for your course on the piece of plywood or MDF. You can make it as simple or complex as you want. Just make sure that the obstacles are spaced far enough apart that your crawler can get through them.
Cut out the sections of the course with a saw. If you’re using a PVC pipe, you can cut it to length with a hacksaw.
Assemble the course by screwing, taping, or hot gluing the sections together. Make sure that everything is secure before you start crawling.
Fill in the course with rocks, sand, dirt, or other materials. You can use whatever you have on hand. Just make sure that the surface is level and that there aren’t any sharp edges that could damage your crawler.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed some of these RC crawler indoor course ideas. The best way to create an indoor RC crawler course is to be creative and have fun! Once you find some materials that work well for your vehicle, keep adding to your course. Just like RC crawlers, building your track slow and steady will ensure you have a fun and challenging course to crawl over all year long.