BUILT FOR THE TRAIL
The CC02 chassis is a ladder frame design with a centralized tub that acts as the structural core for the truck. Combined with the centrally mounted gearbox, the whole foundation of the truck feels nice and solid. I was thoroughly impressed by this, as it gives some real confidence with the build quality of this kit.
Tamiya used strong glass fiber-reinforced plastic materials throughout the kit along with the stamped aluminum frame couplers so I had no concerns about part design or durability in case of a small tumble or spill that may eventually happen while crawling over obstacles. Tamiya also designed in some smart additions such as the enclosed receiver box to limit dust hitting sensitive receivers. They also designed the battery tray to be easily accessible, both from the front with the quick-release battery
tie-down, and the rear with the removable bumper. The tray accommodates a 7.4V 4200mah Lipo battery with room to spare.
Though the links in the front and rear are made from plastic, the glass fiber-reinforced material and the reinforced design of the lower links in particular make for a stout combination when the truck is assembled. Even the ball links are made from the same glass fiber-reinforced plastic, yet they produce little to no slop or excess movement, and they don’t deflect or crush when tightened into place. This was great to see and instilled even further confidence on the build quality of the CC02.
The axles front and rear are a clamshell design with a top and bottom part to both axle housings. Front and rear fluidfilled gear diffs are supplied. These diffs are a unique design in the fact that the main bevel gear is integrated as part of the housing, rather than as a cap or a separately installed gear. The diffs are completely made of metal, with glass fiber-reinforced spider gears on the inside.
Tamiya also includes glass fiberreinforced locker components that can be installed inside the diff housing to lock the internal gears, allowing you to custom tailor your axle setup to your liking. This means you can choose to lock either the front, the rear, or both diffs if you so choose. The diff housings are sealed and accept the diff fluid of your choice, for even further tuning capability. The axle shafts are machined from steel, the fronts designed with dogbone style ends that fit into the front stub axles, and rear shafts threaded at the ends for the wheel nuts. The machining and material quality are top-notch, which is yet another part of this kit that impressed me.
The CC02 comes with an adjustable transmission with two different gearing ratios using one set of gears. This is achieved simply by swapping the position of a couple gears in
the transmission during assembly. I opted to follow the “standard” ratio for this review, allowing the truck to achieve modest speeds while still being useful for general off-road exploration.
If you are looking for slower, more technical uses with your CC02 I highly suggest assembling the transmission in its low-speed orientation. This will supply good torque and lower more precise speeds needed for technical crawling. Bushings are supplied with the CC02 kit, so for the sake of longevity with regular use I highly recommend installing a good set of ball bearings. This will ensure that key components and parts of the
truck will perform better and need less maintenance during the lifetime of the truck
OUT FOR ADVENTURE
Simply put, driving the CC02 is a fun experience. Like a lot of Tamiya kits, you get this sense of joy from the pure simplicity of the vehicle’s design and functionality. Turning on the radio and ESC, and just driving the truck to wherever, and over whatever catches your eye.
Now, the CC02 is meant as a general cross-country style vehicle, hence the “CC” in the chassis name. What this means is that it has plenty of clearance to drive over rougher
terrain, something like a hiking trail, or the dirt paths at your local park, basically somewhere outdoors where your imagination can be free. That sense of adventure and opportunity that comes with outdoor terrain is what makes driving the CC02 so much fun. See that small hill over there? Why not climb it. See that big rock? It’d be really fun to try and scale it. Did your buddy just flip their truck over? The CC02 is on its way to the rescue with a friendly nudge. It’s just downright enjoyable to drive.
As for the performance, the chassis holds up nicely to rough roads and takes on dirt like a champ. The shocks absorb the bumps decently well, though I might suggest a softer set of springs all around if you are inclined to take on the more technical lines and paths. Additionally, the 4-link suspension packs in plenty of articulation to handle the ruts, bumps, and rocks that you will inevitably encounter on your travels.
There were no power issues from the supplied silver-can brushed motor, it did its job nicely and propelled the truck with ease. These supplied brushed motors are great since they’re easy to maintain and are inexpensive to replace if needed in the future. The block tread tires hook up well to dirt and gravel and keep the truck on course and provide great realistic look while doing it. They’re accurate to scale size, so they may not be winning any extreme crawling competitions in the near future, but they certainly do an excellent job for all-around cross-country needs.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Adventure awaits those who seek it, and every adventure is made better with a fun RC vehicle to drive along the way. Tamiya’s CC02 Unimog certainly inspires that sense of adventure within me and manages to captivate my interest like its full-scale counterpart. Whether it’s on the shelf or on the trail, this excellent little truck will have a place in my heart, and my crawling lineup for years to come. If you’re in the market for a fun trail truck, consider the Tamiya Unimog CC02. As always, I hope you enjoyed the review and until next time may your paths be clear and no obstacles too big to overcome. Cheers, and I’ll catch you on the trail.