We have tried the flipper without weight, the first couple of times we managed to rip out the rams from the frame, after a few modifications we are now solid. As for flipping over we only jump the front by about 4 to 6 inches, we have kept most of the weight in the front 12 inches of the flipper, the whole flipper weighs in at 25lb, while on the back of the bot we have a scuba tank that weighs in at 21 lb, so the bot is well balanced.The self right test gave us a perfect self right and the only time we bent the frame was when i drove it into and through a 4 ft high brick wall..at full speed, left a nice gap in the wall....ooops
Now that we have built the new frame, (pics will be posted in the next day or so, I will post the link here) we have decided to keep the old frame and move it upto a super heavyweight, with some hardex plating, and the same flipper setup.

Mart