>>1041639>>1041644>>1041667>>1041716We can solve this with science fiction.
Simple answer is the sand crawler probably has anti-gravity units in it that lessen its weight by providing constant up-thrust just like the various other hovering cars.
However they're on a budget and its jury-rigged and the parts are never the same between sand crawlers, so its inefficient and doesn't provide the kind of lift that would be necessary to turn it into a ship.
So with crap money, scrounged parts, and shit for brains this is what they come up with in an age of star destroyers.
> specially prepared surfacesIt may also be possible that the sand crawlers go on a regular route and any sand that gets swept onto their track just covers up the fact there's a hardened or packed surface there that is constantly getting re-packed every time another sand crawler comes across it.
Thus people know where its gonna be and can track it down easily. Also helps with buying and selling because hey - you know where they stop off, like a railroad almost. You go up there at an expected time and you can barter.
> of course the storm troopers also knew, which was why it was so easy for them to just go find it and look for the droids - they are droid sellers and they'd capture lone droids out in the desert so it makes perfect sense thats the first place to look 