From the Toysit archive
Nylint Rock Crawlers
Explore the orange Jeep pictured in Toysit’s Nylint Rock Crawlers coverage and draw a route-choice atlas for an imaginary crawling expedition.
The play at a glance
An orange Jeep and the pleasure of choosing a route
The orange Jeep in Toysit’s photograph has a bright blue cage above its open cabin and big, deeply patterned tires below. Space around the wheels makes the suspension easy to notice. Beside it sits a black controller with a steering wheel. Imagine stopping at the mouth of a rocky valley, looking ahead and deciding which route best suits the day’s expedition.
A story built around the next few inches
The appeal of a crawler scene is looking closely. Which wheel would reach a bend first? Where might a guide pause to check the map? The pictured Jeep’s open body and visible wheel spacing make it easy to imagine a journey made from many small decisions.
The original launch coverage describes a Nylint family with Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and Scorpion bodies, each offered in 1:6 and 1:18 scales. It also preserves Funrise and Walmart quotations and the maker’s account of the suspension and controls. The orange Jeep photograph gives that larger product story a concrete focal point.
Try it: a crawler route-choice atlas
Build this original Toysit expedition entirely on paper. You need a map, a small drawn crawler and a pencil.
- Draw a valley with two routes. One line winds around a boulder field; another passes a lookout. Join them at a campsite. Keep the rocks and slopes as pictures on the page.
- Set the day’s purpose. Perhaps the crew wants to sketch the valley, deliver a message or reach the lookout before the imaginary sunset.
- Look one wheel-length ahead. Move the paper crawler a small step at a time. Before each move, point out the next bend or landmark and say why you chose it.
- Add an atlas note. At the campsite, draw the route you took in a second color and write one sentence a future traveler could use: “The winding route passes the best view of the orange cliffs.”
Let another player choose a different purpose and take the other route. Compare the stories afterward. A longer journey might suit a sightseeing crew, while the lookout route could suit someone making a panorama.
Let the map supply the landscape
The flat atlas can sit beside a displayed crawler, giving it a different expedition each day. For an operating example, follow the instructions for its exact scale and equipment. Funrise’s archived troubleshooting sheet cautions against wet surfaces, puddles, rain and snow. Keep the imagined cliffs and water on the map, and choose the actual play surface from the matching guide.
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The complete earlier product account and commentary are preserved below as historical coverage.
Durable extreme sport radio control vehicles handle vertical challenges that cross their paths
In 2004, Funrise developed extreme off-road action competition with the introduction of Nylint Rock Crawlers - a line of skilled radio control vehicles that out-crawled any other.
Rock Crawling, a family-based motor-sport, is the latest 4-wheel drive activity to gain mass appeal in the US. The custom built competition vehicles are designed specifically to crawl over extremely rough terrain at very slow speeds - sometimes less than 3 mph.
The idea of rock crawling is to go as slow as possible and take the hardest path on the trail to show off one's skill. The excitement is not the tortoise-level pace, but the vehicles' amazing ability to drive over giant boulders, climb nearly vertical grades, traverse rocky slopes sideways and generally appear to violate the laws of gravity in slow motion.
"We are very excited about the popularity surrounding the Rock Crawling community; it has become quite a phenomenon," states Arnie Rubin, president of Funrise. "Our Nylint Rock Crawlers are unique and most certainly ignite the challenge of competition for both men and boys alike."
"At Wal-mart, we look for products that are innovative and create a fun play experience for our customers," comments Jim Fife, Buyer-Vehicles, Models, Radio Control for Wal-mart. "The Nylint Rock Crawler is one of the most exciting radio control vehicles I have seen in a long time," continues Fife.
For serious rock crawling enthusiasts who want the highest level of function from their rigs, Nylint Rock Crawlers are "Built by Rock Crawlers for Rock Crawlers". The Nylint Rock Crawler assortment is available in two body styles - Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and Scorpion. Both body styles are available in 1:6th and 1:18th scale and are replicas of the real machines; they are built to be durable and to handle any vertical challenge that crosses its path.
Both vehicles, equipped with battery and charger (1:18th with 7V and 1:6th with 12V), are fully articulated with super flexible suspension ensuring ultimate control as they tackle the trail with precision. Specialized aired down tires offer maximum traction to grip the rocky terrain. The 1:6th scale also comes equipped with digital proportional steering and has the ability to shift on the fly. So hone your Rock Crawling skills and compete with your friends. Four-band radio control enables you to compete with other Rock Crawlers without signal interference.
Sources and editorial notes
The August 15, 2005 Toysit account covers Jeep and Scorpion bodies in two scales. A collector-hosted copy of Funrise’s FAQ and manufacturer service sheets supplies historical family context; its owner’s driving impressions are not Toysit testing. The pictured unit’s exact scale was not independently established. The earlier 1:18 battery figure, climbing superlatives and interference promise remain historical claims, not present operating advice. No physical testing was performed.
- Original Toysit image — Existing same-site image reviewed and retained unchanged.
- Archived Funrise Nylint FAQ on 4x4 Icon — Use the section labeled NYLINT FAQ for manufacturer family context. The host’s separate owner review is not independent Toysit testing.
- Nylint manufacturer troubleshooting sheet — One-page historical sheet, printed page 13; extracted text reviewed, including wet-surface restrictions. Not a complete manual or a match to every scale.
- Original Toysit coverage — Complete historical account retained, including its original claims and wording.
Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.
Created for Toysit by Tabbloza — the artwork in our header.