Review: 41999 4X4 Crawler Exclusive Edition

[Masked Builder]

Well here I am with another exclusive review! I had no idea what to really expect with this set, so I was quite excited to see it arrive on my doorstep last week. (Though a package from Denmark is always great!) It's been a few years since my last large Technic set, but I knew a little bit about the original model released last year. When I found out I was getting this set, I did some digging and discovered that it was probably going to be pretty cool. Shall it live up to my expectations? Read on!

Set Information:

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Name: 4X4 Crawler

Set Number: 41999

Pieces: 1585

Price: $199.99

Ages: 11-16

Minifigs: N/A

Theme: Technic

Year of Release: 2013, Only 20,000 Made

Brickset

Flickr Set with all of the pictures in full size.

Box:

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Well here's the box! This is the first set that I know of that doesn't have the completed model on the front of the box. However, it is also one of my favorite boxes, just for that reason. The stripes and dark blue, along with the LEGO and Technic logos make for a great box front.

However, on the back of the box there is the usual collage of images. Most showing off the features, as well as some words, in several languages, proclaiming what features are what. Also of note, is the huge brand proclaiming this a Limited Edition set.

The top of the box shows all of the Power Function elements included in the box. The 1:1 image is that of one of the new rims for the tires.

Some shots of the other three sides of the box. Most giving warnings, or proclaiming in different languages that the set is Limited Edition.

After slitting the tape that kept the box closed, the top of the box slides off. I do not remember a set like this one either. Most have some sort of flap that opens.

I noticed on the inside of the box lid, there are signatures from what I can assume are members of the Technic design team. Do note that these are reprints and not actual signatures.

And to the left as well as the right of the signatures, there's the LEGO logo and the Technic logo.

Here's how the inside looked when I popped it open. This box is full to the brim!

Contents:

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I could only fit all of the bags with pieces in my studio. There are 11 bags in total. And quite a few of them are full.

The items I wasn't able to fit in the last picture are here. All of the Power Functions elements, the manuals, and all four tires. Which came out of the box that way. I believe they were packed so that the white print on the rims doesn't rub off, and it's done by hand too. That's a lot of tires!

Inside the sealed manual holder that are the four manuals, the stickers, and the string. Everything was nicely flat.

Quite a few stickers in this set! They really add to the set if you ask me. So I'm going to apply them all! Do note all of the rather funny designs on the stickers here before I spread them all out.

The string is interesting. It's very, very thick. I had trouble threading it through the hook...

New/interesting parts from the bags with a 1 on them. The large spring is cool, as well as the new joints for the drive chain.

Parts that I found new/interesting from the bags with a 2 on them. Several large dark blue panels, chrome elements, and some redesigned elements.

The extra parts from the bags labeled 1. Almost all of them are Technic connectors, but there's a 2x4 tile too. In case one would like to put that as their license plate instead of the specially printed one.

Lastly the extra parts from all of the bags with a 2 on them. Just a few items, again mostly Technic connectors, but a few brick pieces too.

Manual:

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The front of the manual has what I imagine the front of the box would look like if it had the truck on the front. It still has the nice dark blue with the white stripes.

The first inside page tells you how to put the batteries in the multiple PF elements that need them.

The next page is taken up with warnings, and then a nice image telling us only to drive it inside. Yeah I think mine will be going outside at some point.

After you get through all of the warnings, the usual don't pour it out on the ground images come up and the first steps. The nice blue background is fitting for the Technic theme.

The 'Smart Motor,' used in the steering column. I really think it's quite cool that it goes back to perfectly straight.

Two of the manuals have build related material on them, but these two have ads for other sets.

I really find these images that feature the functions from the set quite fun.

There are two pages of them for this set!

The first page of the part listing.

And the second image of the part listing

The Build:

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Very quickly, the steering chain is built, and the steering columns are added.

The drive motors are added, and the truck starts getting taller.

After the bags with a 1 on them have been emptied, the truck looks like this. You've pretty much finished the frame of the truck.

Moving through the first few steps the truck gets the structural support that is needed to hold on the body panels.

You quickly add the dark blue panels, and the body starts taking shape.

She's all done! Boy she looks good.

Completed Model:

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I made a few pictures of the truck before I put the stickers on it. I had no problem putting them on but I know some of you don't put stickers on at all, these pictures are for you.

I really could have gone either way with the stickers. It looks great without them, but I think the stickers add just enough to make it look a TON better.

This one has stickers on it. I immediately notice the stripes on the doors when I look at this picture. Though you can see quite a few of the stickers that have been put on the truck from this picture. The rally/muscle car design is great. I really prefer it over the SUV design of the original model. And the dark blue.

Here's a front on shot. You can see the four headlights, the winch and the slight slope up of the engine cover.

From the side shot, one notices most of the stickers that are put on the set. I also noticed how much room there is between the tires and the bottom of the car body.

And a back shot. One can see the nice tail lights, the license plate, and some of the stickers on the back are visible.

A close up of the front of the truck. The first thing I notice is the lovely chrome elements that make up the bumper. They really look great.

Cockpit shot. Do note that the chairs don't go all of the way down, and you can also see the lever that operates the winch.

And the back 'trunk' area of the truck. And yes, all of those are individual stickers. But they really make it look nicely like a rally car.

The white print on the rims is nice. I think LEGO was trying for a white walled tires look, and it looks pretty good.

As I said, LEGO only made 20,000 of this set. Each set came with an exclusively printed license plate with the number your set is. I got set 01366 of 20,000 which is a pretty low number.

Opening the doors allows one to pull up the top so you can access the electrical components. With eight PF components there are quite a few wires in there.

The winch mechanism. That small motor is jammed in there, and there's also a clutch gear to keep you from killing your motor trying to pull something.

The red Technic bar slides into the two 2x1 rubber pieces to keep the door closed. Very interesting and works well too.

One can see some of the large number of wires that are jammed into the body of this guy. LEGO has done a good job keeping them contained though.

Drive chain close up. Not much to see on the outside but, this shot does allow you to see that the whole drive chain moves up and down.

Here's the steering motor. It's encased in quite a few Technic parts.

To try to give you a sense of scale, here's a shot of my sigfig standing next to the truck. It is HUGE!

I rebuilt my Technic Bulldozer to get some comparison shots. It really is just about the same size.

And a profile shot of the two vehicles.

Functions:

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Just watch this video. It features all of the functions as well as some nice driving. Please try to ignore the television noises in the background.

Conclusion:

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Well, she's complete! The design on this truck/muscle car really does a lot more for me than the SUV style original model. The build was thoroughly interesting, and the functions are quite fun. I can see myself using this quite often. Nice job Rm8, I really like your new cover design! And a big thank you to Eurobricks and LEGO for letting me review this set!

Ratings:

Playability: 10/10 I can't think of much else this should be able to do. And what it can do makes quite an extensive list.

Design: 9/10 The design is very nice, like I've said it looks much more like a muscle car.

Price: 8/10 Price wise, I think it is decent. If the price was $150 or so, I think it'd be a little bit better.

Parts: 9/10 There is quite an array of parts in new colors here.

Total: 36/40

This box is so cool, here's another shot of it.

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[Rishab N]

Great review! Everything i hear about this set makes me want it more

Edited July 3, 2013 by Rishab N

[rm8]

Thank you for first independent review. Glad you like it!

[efferman]

seeing all of the great reviews makes me want to get my hands on it. TLG, at which time do you are delivering mine? got all of the reviewers it earlier to make the reviews, or is the postal guy only extremely slow?

[Bonaparte]

Thanks Masked Builder for this superb review!

About the set: I full agree with the conclusion on the review. It's as good as a Technic set can get

[Bubble]

This review answers every question about this set I could ever ask

[mostlytechnic]

Love so much here... already have the normal model and wasn't planning to get this, but now I'm rethinking that. The box is fantastic, the chrome parts are gorgeous, and the wheels are way cooler than I thought they'd be... now to decide if it's $200 cool or not :) Maybe I should sell my other offroader. Or keep both for racing. Dilemmas...

[LEGO Guy Bri]

Great review! It so cool to see that this became a set. I'm not much into Technic, but this one really stood out to me. I'd like to see it next to the 9398 4x4 Crawler

[into the blue]

Fantastic kit and a great review.

You're going to ruin those books btw.

[MakutaNocturn]

Thanks for your great review. I don't know which version is better. It's hard to decide but I know one thing, the box of that is totally splendid.

[eurotrash]

Thanks for the review Masked Builder.

What a great looking set!

[Masked Builder]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

Thank you for first independent review. Glad you like it!

Glad to see you read this!

You're going to ruin those books btw.

Heh, yeah. They were the first things I saw though.

[Darth Dino]

Hi

nice review. But you made one major misstake:

How can THAT CAR be a "she"? ;)

If THIS is no male i do not know what else should be!

EDIT: Best Numberplate will be # 1337 ;)

Dino

Edited July 3, 2013 by Darth Dino

[N-4K0]

In Norway, we call cars "he", if we use such a word. At least I do, I've always heard cars called "he". But I've heard some other countries use "she", so I guess it depends where you're from.

@ Darth Dino - there's 5 digits, so it'll have to be 01337 or 13370, but it would be a great number to have.

Edited July 4, 2013 by Error404

[Kim Thomsen]

Don't think - know that the wheels were put on the rims manually to prevent scratching of the white print when boxed.

Edited July 3, 2013 by Kim Thomsen

[davidmull]

Can this only be bought online lego shop? Also when's it available?

[SheepEater]

How did you get one so soon? It still doesn't show up anywhere on lego.com

[jtr]

this set looks awesome - the blue is much nicer than the orange 4x4 crawler, makes me want to get into technic again. hopefully the set will be readily avaliable - even in aus? fantastic review.

[Gene]

In Norway, we call cars "he", if we use such a word. But I've heard some other countries use "she", so I guess it depends where you're from.

Some refer our car as "2nd wife". I felt a little odd when I read "she" but it doesn't matter because this review ignite the awesomenomity!

[TimH]

Excellent review! Hope I can get my hands on this set.

[pluto7443]

I cringed when I saw the book being bent. Awesome review! Am I right in thinking this is the first video of it fully built?

[rm8]

I cringed when I saw the book being bent. Awesome review! Am I right in thinking this is the first video of it fully built?

Hi, here is the first:)

http://brickgarage.blogspot.ru/2013/06/exclusive-review-of-41999-4x4-crawler.html

[Harvey1990]

Good review. Will this be available in uk and if so when???

[legolijntje]

Good review. Will this be available in uk and if so when???

You can order it directly at Shop@Home from 1 august or buy it in the official LEGO stores (also from 1 august).

[Dutchy]

How fast is it going?