Need guidance on micro rock crawler purchase

[Wolven]

Hey folks,
I'm fairly new to rock crawling (I began with a Losi mini crawler many years ago but ended up getting carried away by other hobbies) and wanted to get some advice on which rig to buy. My mate who started the hobby with me passed away recently and I'm hoping to pick up rock crawling again to keep the memories alive

These are my criteria:
1. It should be micro-scale: 1/24
2. For me performance is more important than looks or real world handling experience. The more steeper it can crawl, the more fun for me
3. I will NOT be competing with it, but I would like to upgrade the rig to near comp levels
4. Rear wheel steering is a must (It looks way too fun)
5. $ for purchase / upgrade isn't a big restriction but I don't want to go crazy since I won't be competing but I don't mind upgrading the stock setup at all.
6. It needs to be fun both indoors and outdoors
7. I don't have any base set up, so have to buy the whole kit and kaboodle

Looking at the market, my current options seem to be:
1. AX24 (Then upgrade with aftermarket parts)
2. SCX24 (Then upgrade with aftermarket parts)
3. Furitek Cayman 4x4 (Then don't really need to upgrade?)

What would you recommend and why? Am I missing any key criterias here?

 

[discgolferlee]

it's 1/18 scale so a tad bigger but the new hobby plus cr18 evo pro is a pretty good deal on a good performer. no 4ws but could be added.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RhJ7Rw7PI8

 

[Speedy-Triple]

if i was in the market for the micro I be interested in the CR18 plus evo as well. I also be interested in the UTB18 from axial ... I already have a couple of scx24s' and they are fun an all but they tumble too much and are bouncy... perhaps mine are not decked out and need some upgrades. I also have one of the FMS blazers and its a great chassis under neat it actually really good performer without the body, it might be up to par and very similar to the cr18 evo plus, as a matter of fact almost the same but with a low and slung lexan body on it making it better for performance ... the fms has a lot of know upgrades but the scale K5 is heavy and a bit big for the chassis.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

If you want an Axial with performance than go with the AX24. There are so many parts available for this truck. Same thing applies to the SCX24.

If you want something larger, checkout the immensely popular Traxxas TRX-4M.

 

[ferp420]

the rocksta has moa axles I've seen some cool builds based off of those
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3150673771...QdsP-LyQl6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

the hbx devistator has some interesting features too might be a good starting point

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2553402073...QdsP-LyQl6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

there's also some new Chinese brands in that scale that people are building with but I can't remember the names of them off hand

there's also more aftermarket parts and chassis and what ever you can imagine for the axials and fms and the trx4m that I can keep track of

that's it dashhex

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mro10H6

 

[Wolven]

it's 1/18 scale so a tad bigger but the new hobby plus cr18 evo pro is a pretty good deal on a good performer. no 4ws but could be added.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RhJ7Rw7PI8

if i was in the market for the micro I be interested in the CR18 plus evo as well. I also be interested in the UTB18 from axial ... I already have a couple of scx24s' and they are fun an all but they tumble too much and are bouncy... perhaps mine are not decked out and need some upgrades. I also have one of the FMS blazers and its a great chassis under neat it actually really good performer without the body, it might be up to par and very similar to the cr18 evo plus, as a matter of fact almost the same but with a low and slung lexan body on it making it better for performance ... the fms has a lot of know upgrades but the scale K5 is heavy and a bit big for the chassis.

Thank you discgolferlee and Speedy-Triple. I'm actually pretty set on 1/24 scale. I looked up the cr18 evo plus and it looks almost perfect but the scale is not what I'm after.

If you want an Axial with performance than go with the AX24. There are so many parts available for this truck. Same thing applies to the SCX24.

If you want something larger, checkout the immensely popular Traxxas TRX-4M.

The Traxxas is tempting with its good looks but the AX24 perhaps has better performance at crawling?

the rocksta has moa axles I've seen some cool builds based off of those
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3150673771...QdsP-LyQl6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

the hbx devistator has some interesting features too might be a good starting point

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2553402073...QdsP-LyQl6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

there's also some new Chinese brands in that scale that people are building with but I can't remember the names of them off hand

there's also more aftermarket parts and chassis and what ever you can imagine for the axials and fms and the trx4m that I can keep track of

that's it dashhex

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mro10H6

Thanks mate. I live in the land down under (Australia) and I wanted to get something that has an established brand rep and wanted to stick with the big brands so we can get parts for it easily

 

[Wolven]

the rocksta has moa axles I've seen some cool builds based off of those
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3150673771...QdsP-LyQl6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

the hbx devistator has some interesting features too might be a good starting point

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2553402073...QdsP-LyQl6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

there's also some new Chinese brands in that scale that people are building with but I can't remember the names of them off hand

there's also more aftermarket parts and chassis and what ever you can imagine for the axials and fms and the trx4m that I can keep track of

that's it dashhex

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mro10H6

The devastator does look impressive and I may have to take a second look at that!

 

[Wolven]

What are your thoughts on this upcoming model https://furitek.com/collections/fro...n-pro-szk-4x4-1-24-premium-rc-crawler-w-tx-rx ?

Looks like it ticks all my boxes and I may not have to upgrade too much in the future

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Thank you discgolferlee and Speedy-Triple. I'm actually pretty set on 1/24 scale. I looked up the cr18 evo plus and it looks almost perfect but the scale is not what I'm after.



The Traxxas is tempting with its good looks but the AX24 perhaps has better performance at crawling?



Thanks mate. I live in the land down under (Australia) and I wanted to get something that has an established brand rep and wanted to stick with the big brands so we can get parts for it easily

Depends on what you mean. The AX24 is smaller so it will be limited to smaller obstacles than the TRX-4M in stock form.

Both the TRX-4M and SCX24/AX24 can be modified extensively for better performance.

 

[Wolven]

Thank you Jato! That's what I've realised - a 1/18 body like TRX-4M will be better on bigger obstacles, but I'm fairly keen on the 1/24 scale, so looking to decide between the SCX or AX or even the upcoming Furitek Cayman PRO SZK 1/24 (But it doesn't seem to come with rear wheel steering)

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Thank you Jato! That's what I've realised - a 1/18 body like TRX-4M will be better on bigger obstacles, but I'm fairly keen on the 1/24 scale, so looking to decide between the SCX or AX or even the upcoming Furitek Cayman PRO SZK 1/24

You’re welcome. I have two SCX24’s and don’t even know where they’re at. I just couldn’t get into them. But watching Harley’s comp videos has me wanting to build one. I went and bought a TRX-4M High Trail Chevy today though.

I’d personally go with Axial over Furitek after seeing Harley’s video below. It looks like a blast albeit expensive. Axial wil always have more option parts than Furitek. Plus, for me at least, the building and modifying is the part I enjoy most.

https://youtu.be/UakVVSP3kqM?si=x1A6GR7iWm7hiuoG

 

[Wolven]

Thanks again Jato! I think Axial will be the right fit for me. Between the AX24 and SCX24, which one do you think would be more capable with upgrades, mate?

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Thanks again Jato! I think Axial will be the right fit for me. Between the AX24 and SCX24, which one do you think would be more capable with upgrades, mate?

You're welcome.

That depends on how much you modify each. The SCX24 has a scale frame and is meant to be a scale crawler whereas the AX24 is meant to be more performance oriented. But you can get the same aftermarket frames, chassis, axles, etc for both. Out of the box, the AX24 will have better performance. Here's a comparison video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V93hpgo1cHo


You can even make the SCX24 look like a micro Bomber RR10 or an AX24.

https://www.amazon.com/INJORA-Chassis-Crawler-Upgrade-Parts（Blue）/dp/B0BP9QPMJ8?th=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4epykcXRNM

 

[Wolven]

You're welcome.

That depends on how much you modify each. The SCX24 has a scale frame and is meant to be a scale crawler whereas the AX24 is meant to be more performance oriented. But you can get the same aftermarket frames, chassis, axles, etc for both. Out of the box, the AX24 will have better performance. Here's a comparison video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V93hpgo1cHo


You can even make the SCX24 look like a micro Bomber RR10 or an AX24.

https://www.amazon.com/INJORA-Chassis-Crawler-Upgrade-Parts（Blue）/dp/B0BP9QPMJ8?th=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4epykcXRNM

That video comparison does it for me. Looks like it will be the AX24! Thank you again!

 

[JatoTheRipper]

That video comparison does it for me. Looks like it will be the AX24! Thank you again!

Very cool! Please post up a thread when you get it and give us your thoughts and review. Then you can track the changes you make on it.

You can also get this $799 1/24th scale rig if you really want to waste money. :lmao:

https://hardparkrc.com/products/dementor-rtr?variant=41996897878073

 

[Wolven]

Hahaha - probably won't do $799 for now. Too rich for my blood

 

[discgolferlee]

ax24 probably ticks all your boxes or very close. i almost bought one but then decided to build something from ground up as I enjoy the building aspect.