pic: drivetrain idea (comments please)

[=Martin=Taylor=]

Originally Posted by sdcantrell56

I would say it is a very safe blanket statement. I was waiting for someone to chime in with team 25 as an example. Yes they do not drop the center wheel and they do have 6 traction wheels but as far as I know, they and maybe 103 who share a similar drivetrain are the only teams that don't drop the center wheel and have had success. I would say unless you are team 25, which no one is and very few are at there level, then I would recommend dropping the center wheel. You are not sacrificing any performance and in fact are improving your ability to turn and not trip the breakers.

World Finalist 348 also used a team 25esque drivetrain. Having experienced their defense, I can attest to the speed and pushing power of this design. However, it did have a tendency to buck back and forth violently.