Advice for a multi disciplined non competitive crawler.

[Skynet5]

I'm based in the UK and was tempted by a vanquish crawler.

However there is only one place that sell them in the UK, and they stock no spare parts. Based on the number of posts here and elsewhere of problems with kits missing parts I'm thinking of looking at another brand.


Ive got £1000-£1100 to spend.

Any suggestions on a solid platform along with some upgrades (drive shaft, vitavon axles etc.)

I've already settled on an axe system (I have HW in my 8th and 10th race buggies and personally not let me down yet) and a homes hobby servo.

Ideally the truck will be suitable for crawling (rocks , rope bridges), local track is creating a crawling area, but also for taking on walks around the local forest.

Money no real object, and very much prefer to build than by RTR. I have sanwa radio gear and spare receivers....

Oh and hi everyone!

 

[twade984]

Sounds like a fun project in the works regardless of which platform you start with.

I’ve built a vs410 pro, ultra, and Phoenix, plus now own a Phoenix built by another member here, none of which had any issues with parts. If it fits within the budget, I would recommend a pro all day every day. It may not be the most capable out of the box, but quality wise, it’s a step above every other platform available.

Although I do understand being in the UK, support can be a tricky situation.

The vs410’s all have a good balance of looks, quality, performance, and value out of the box.

The scx10.2 can be a good base to build from, but suffers from being an older platform and having inferior components stock (sintered and plastic gears, plastic links/pivot balls, terrible shocks, and Weak plastics). Although there are plenty of upgrade parts available.

The scx10.3 has great scale detail, pretty good proportions across the board, and seems to be built a higher level of quality than the 10.2. Downsides for me are cost, portals on everything but the bronco, and the trans isn’t my favorite due to the weight, position of the motor and use of micro servos for dig/od.

The element line has good performance out of the box, light weight, smooth/quiet. Really good shocks, a good trans with o/d, and is available in two different kits. The bodies (besides the knightrunner) aren’t the best looking, and I’m not the biggest fan of the axles (mostly for looks).

The Trx4 is probably the most durable platform after the vp line. They have good looking bodies, and there are plenty of upgrades available as well. They tend to be a heavier chassis, and suffer from higher cog at time. Partially due to the portal axles, which imo are a bit bulkier than necessary.

You may have more viable options available to you, but those are the top brands here, and what I have personally owned myself. It’s hard to make a wrong decision with what’s currently on the market


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[TheLetterJ]

SSD Trail King is worth a look... I'm pretty sure they're also UK based.

 

[Timmahh]

You wont go wrong with Vanquish VS410s. Not heard of any missing parts in their kits as a problem. Maybe once in a blue moon, but nothing that isn't quickly rectified by Vanquish.

I have heard some people have some issues with the Tranny gears in the VFD Twin Tranny in the Pheonix, but even there its only been a couple and I can't nail down what the actual issue is, ie stripping or breaking gears etc. Just that it needs a better set of non sintered gears... Thinking this is more of a wish than an issue so far...

 

[Timmahh]

And I will 2nd the SSD Trail King. Built 2 kits and 2 more sets of SSD Pro 44 and Diamond axles.

Kits were stellar builds as I suspect the Vanquish would be.

 

[ScaleLifeNewbie]

I’ve had 2 TRX4s, a SCX10.2, an Enduro, and some other trucks. Twade is pretty much spot on on all of those trucks. I can’t comment on VP or 10.3 as I haven’t had either of them yet.

Although, if you do get the SCX10ii RBK, you get all metal gears (sintered, which suck btw) & metal links. Still have crappy shocks, plastic pivoting balls and very bendable plastic, but with some upgrades it can be a great truck. Still one of my favorites even having to do the changes I did; both diff gears due to stripping, shocks, shock tower thread remedy, etc. a lot of smaller things.


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[Skynet5]

Thanks all for your thoughts so far.

I was tempted by the trx bronco 2021. Although it's RTR I could live with that, I enjoy building, but I would immediately rip out the stock electrics and put in an axe and homes servo.

I think the vitavon axles look nice


£500 bronco 2021. https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/traxxas-trx-4-2021-ford-bronco-110-crawler-orange-1337332
Axe £180 https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/hobbywing-xerun-axe540l-r2-2100kv-1334726
Holmes servo £120 https://www.red-winches.com/product/holmes-hobbies-shv650-servo/
Vitavon £200 https://www.applianceelectronics.co...ousinsetbrassl-axle-housing-set-brass-silver-
£60 Plate https://www.applianceelectronics.co...r-gear-cover-skidplate-upgrade-for-trx8238v2-
£50 https://www.applianceelectronics.co...r-for-traxxas-110-trx-4-upgrade-for-trx8291ts

Reuse the diff lock and 2spd servos.

I think that is roughly £1.1k.

It's not a vanquish....but I think the trx gears are all pretty solid and I do like the body! And so does my lad after driving it in Forza

 

[ScaleLifeNewbie]

IMO, I wouldn’t worry about a metal tranny case & metal skidplate. They really aren’t needed and I would put that $120 towards wheels/tires and micro servos to ditch the Traxxas ones. Those are definitely needed over a metal tranny case


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[twade984]

IMO, I wouldn’t worry about a metal tranny case & metal skidplate. They really aren’t needed and I would put that $120 towards wheels/tires and micro servos to ditch the Traxxas ones. Those are definitely needed over a metal tranny case


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I would agree here, but at the same time, if that will bring you more enjoyment, go for it.

Trx4 bronco is a great choice, they are well built, and look fantastic [emoji1303]


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[Skynet5]

I would agree here, but at the same time, if that will bring you more enjoyment, go for it.

Trx4 bronco is a great choice, they are well built, and look fantastic [emoji1303]


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Spent most of my evening looking at all the options.

I'm not a fan of the old bronco, but the new one looks awesome. I'm English and 42. Perhaps that's to be expected.

I think I'll accept buying an RTR, as the kit of either the sport or premium version seems a little pointless for me. I don't like the sport body.

Also spare parts are everywhere in the UK for the trx-4

 

[twade984]

I think I'll accept buying an RTR

There’s no reason you can’t buy some stainless hardware (team knk has a good kit if it’s available there) and do a complete tear down and rebuild.

Look forward to seeing what you come up with


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[Skynet5]

I've bought a phoenix. Tranny and portals built.

 

[TITANIUM94010]

I'll put in my vote for the TRX4, great capable, and near indestructible machine. I've got an axe system in mine and a overkill servo, never broke a single part other than the plastic steering horn. It's cog is relatively high compared to other chassis, but it's easily fixable with some parts weights. The main advantage in my option is the two speed and unlocking diffs, it makes it really nice to drive on trails without having your motor constantly trying to keep on first gear. I've noticed that on the TRX4, the gear ratios between first and second gear are quite distinct, second gear is a lot faster than first, which is quite uncommon in 2 speed RCs from what I've seen.

It is bulky and you might be sacrificing a tiny bit of performance, but you'll never really be breaking any parts. But if you're planning to do a lot more crawling than trailing, something like a 10.2, enduro, or vanquish would be better. The new Pheonix looks to be a really capable chassis, and being from Vanquish, is also going to be very very reliable.

 

[dCowler]

SSD Trail King is worth a look... I'm pretty sure they're also UK based.

This is really worth checking!

 

[AK KRAWLER]

I've bought a phoenix. Tranny and portals built.

Right on, let's see this bad chicken!!! :twisted:

 

[Njeffs8]

Can’t go wrong with the 10.2 kit!