Best online hobby shop for new rtr

[89Industries]

Did the Axial basecamp use the simpler trans for cost reduction mainly. I don't find the trans too complicated in the scx10iii and that's coming from a newbie. I do use the dig feature every time I'm out and still using the stock mini servo for this without any issues to mention. Second gear was a let down so that's not connected. I also have a vfd trans which I've found liking a lot since last year.

Agreed, rtr electronics are garbage but good enough to get you into the hobby for a short time. As for Traxxas, I do find their own branded stuff a bit higher in price point ... maybe that's just here in Canada.

Granted, my Axial shocks leaked straight out the box but after a full rebuild with new seals ... mine are still leak free and were built at the beginning of October last year, so I'm not hating on these. Had the GTS shocks on another rig since May last year and no leaks to speak off. I'm kinda thinking it's a hit or miss when it comes to leaky shocks from what I read online.

I do like the clipless body system that Traxxas offers for sure

You can get a DIG unit for the Basecamp transmission. I agree I use the dig most times out. Even if its just messing around and the stock mini servo on the RTR still works great for me. I also like the 2 speed but could do without it. Its just enough faster but without making it so fast that the suspension set up is totally useless.

As for the shocks, the Traxxas GTS shocks are my choice but they do have lots of friction which is why they hold fluid better than most. But friction is bad for performance and I can notice it, even with a lighter oil.

The Axial shocks are low friction but I have not had great luck holding oil for terribly long. Certainly smoother on the trail during low speed movements, etc.

I just don't like maintaining shocks so I deal with the friction.

Likely this is where expensive aftermarket shocks like Dravtech shocks come in. Low friction AND they hold oil.

 

[89Industries]

RPP has been great over years for crawler parts.

And yeah SCX10 iii has a lot of parts and needs to be built in a certain way for it to be decent. As far as transmissions go, i'm liking the Element XF. Easy to work on and puts the motor in a decent spot with options for OD.
A favorite has to be the MST CFX planetary trans... incredibly smooth and quiet and a joy to build.

I do agree that Element transmissions are smooth and quiet for me as well. I only have the X but the built in OD at the transmission option is really good. They are generally really simple. The only wish would be to add dig but that complicates things a lot.

I am building a TWS which is a MST derivative. Planetary trans is pretty cool so far but I haven't got it outside running. It is quiet as long as you get the pinion/spur clearance set correctly.

But I wouldn't suggest the MST or TWS when just getting into the hobby. Certainly more difficult to source parts, need more fiddling, etc.

I do like my two Element vehicles. One is my 6 year old sons and other than dunking it in a puddle and letting the magic smoke out of the rtr ESC it has been very reliable. Oh and he smashed it into a pole and broke a piece of the cage up front (Gatekeeper which is a nla truck now).

 

[svt923]

Did the Axial basecamp use the simpler trans for cost reduction mainly. I don't find the trans too complicated in the scx10iii and that's coming from a newbie. I do use the dig feature every time I'm out and still using the stock mini servo for this without any issues to mention. Second gear was a let down so that's not connected. I also have a vfd trans which I've found liking a lot since last year.

The SCX10III transmission has a ton of pin driven gears and once slop from all those compounds, you can get like a quarter turn of the spur before the output shafts move. Not great for precise throttle application. Replacing that transmission and associated servos with a basic 3 gear transmission shaves about half a pound off the truck as well.

I won't say I'm directly responsible for the Base Camp transmission but back in my RC business days, I was chatting with one of Horizon's product managers at an event. When I showed him the 3 gear transmission adapter for the 10.3 that I designed and told him how many we sold, he said they were going to work on getting a simpler transmission made for the 10.3. The Base Camp was later released.

 

[MAGNUMB]

As for the shocks, the Traxxas GTS shocks are my choice but they do have lots of friction which is why they hold fluid better than most. But friction is bad for performance and I can notice it, even with a lighter oil.

Yeah, i can get most shocks to hold oil if i shim the o-ring to squeeze more, but i just don't want to deal with that and just want shocks to work

 

[VoltSCX]

In what way(s) is the SCX10 III better than the SCX10 II? I would say the opposite if you are talking about the overly complicated transmission that was released with the SCX10 III. The Base Camp SCX10 III reverted to a simpler transmission.

RTR electronics fail. No shocker there. That's unfair to hold that against Traxxas, but not Axial. Axial electronics are just as likely to fail.

And how is the TRX-4 more expensive to fix? They both have massive aftermarket support and cheap replacement parts.

The Traxxas also comes with much better shocks that won't leak unlike Axial.

The Traxxas has the awesome clipless body mounting system.

Maybe I just had a lemon, idk. I had my TRX4 and 10.3 for the same amount of time and at the same time, both bone stock and on the same trails. I never had a single problem with my 10.3 for 2 years. My TRX4 went through 3 $100 transmitters (I had the 79 Bronco with the lockers and 6ch) and a front driveshaft. 10.3 never had any issues and the trans really wasn't that bad to work on.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

As for the shocks, the Traxxas GTS shocks are my choice but they do have lots of friction which is why they hold fluid better than most. But friction is bad for performance and I can notice it, even with a lighter oil.

The Axial shocks are low friction but I have not had great luck holding oil for terribly long. Certainly smoother on the trail during low speed movements, etc.

I just don't like maintaining shocks so I deal with the friction.

Likely this is where expensive aftermarket shocks like Dravtech shocks come in. Low friction AND they hold oil.

Ah the delicate balance. I'm with you. I'll deal with stiction in order to not have to deal with maintaining shocks.

I am building a TWS which is a MST derivative. Planetary trans is pretty cool so far but I haven't got it outside running. It is quiet as long as you get the pinion/spur clearance set correctly.

But I wouldn't suggest the MST or TWS when just getting into the hobby. Certainly more difficult to source parts, need more fiddling, etc.

I do like my two Element vehicles. One is my 6 year old sons and other than dunking it in a puddle and letting the magic smoke out of the rtr ESC it has been very reliable. Oh and he smashed it into a pole and broke a piece of the cage up front (Gatekeeper which is a nla truck now).

The MST crawlers are hard to get parts for, but my CMX is great and didn't need any fiddling. It's as high quality in materials and build as it gets. But I agree I wouldn't recommend MST as a first and only RC.

I always forget about Element and usually dismiss them because they aren't really innovative. And I hate the current state of their parent company, AE. Some of their "engineering" is comical such as the Element portals. Also, Element social media is run by a man child named Brad Geck. He blocked me from the Element page and banned me from the official group for voicing my negative feedback about the garbage and outdated portal axle design. There's a reason all of the designers left AE. Why? And now Harley said they are hiring outside engineering. I'd avoid Element until AE gets their shit together.

The SCX10III transmission has a ton of pin driven gears and once slop from all those compounds, you can get like a quarter turn of the spur before the output shafts move. Not great for precise throttle application. Replacing that transmission and associated servos with a basic 3 gear transmission shaves about half a pound off the truck as well.

I won't say I'm directly responsible for the Base Camp transmission but back in my RC business days, I was chatting with one of Horizon's product managers at an event. When I showed him the 3 gear transmission adapter for the 10.3 that I designed and told him how many we sold, he said they were going to work on getting a simpler transmission made for the 10.3. The Base Camp was later released.

That's funny and I honestly believe you and your parts played a part in developing that change.

Yeah, i can get most shocks to hold oil if i shim the o-ring to squeeze more, but i just don't want to deal with that and just want shocks to work

Depends on what you mean by "work".

Maybe I just had a lemon, idk. I had my TRX4 and 10.3 for the same amount of time and at the same time, both bone stock and on the same trails. I never had a single problem with my 10.3 for 2 years. My TRX4 went through 3 $100 transmitters (I had the 79 Bronco with the lockers and 6ch) and a front driveshaft. 10.3 never had any issues and the trans really wasn't that bad to work on.

Yeah that's definitely not the norm at all. How did you kill the transmiters? I have Traxxas transmitters from the 90's still and none have ever died on me. But again, that's the RTR electronics and not the truck itself. As far as the driveshafts, Traxxas ones are as strong as they get. They were the go-to upgrade for other crawlers until other brands start making durable driveshafts. That's right, people used to retrofit Traxxas shafts to non-Traxxas rigs.

 

[89Industries]

I always forget about Element and usually dismiss them because they aren't really innovative. And I hate the current state of their parent company, AE. Some of their "engineering" is comical such as the Element portals. Also, Element social media is run by a man child named Brad Geck. He blocked me from the Element page and banned me from the official group for voicing my negative feedback about the garbage and outdated portal axle design. There's a reason all of the designers left AE. Why? And now Harley said they are hiring outside engineering. I'd avoid Element until AE gets their shit together.

If you want to get into crappy company do a quick google search on "Traxxas lawsuit"

Nothing like being the big company and just suing anybody that might have a competing product.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

If you want to get into crappy company do a quick google search on "Traxxas lawsuit"

Nothing like being the big company and just suing anybody that might have a competing product.

Patent lawsuits don't bother me one bit. Patents and the right to defend them exist for good reason. I don't think protecting intellectual property makes a company crappy.

 

[hnoroian]

Those lawsuits have been going on for years…

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Those lawsuits have been going on for years…

Exactly. And people are still whining about them because it's Traxxas.

The fact of the matter is you are obligated to defend your patents or you risk losing them.

I'd argue that what Horizon has done is much worse for the hobby. They are buying up all these brands trying to become a monopoly. In the process they haven't been able to correctly manage any of the companies. As a result, so much is out of stock with long lead times, shipping delays, and a major decrease in the quality of their customer service.

 

[VoltSCX]

Yeah that's definitely not the norm at all. How did you kill the transmiters? I have Traxxas transmitters from the 90's still and none have ever died on me. But again, that's the RTR electronics and not the truck itself. As far as the driveshafts, Traxxas ones are as strong as they get. They were the go-to upgrade for other crawlers until other brands start making durable driveshafts. That's right, people used to retrofit Traxxas shafts to non-Traxxas rigs.

I don't remember if the driveshaft broke, but I do remember that it began to grind into the gearbox housing at one point and would not stop. Again, bone stock. As for the transmitters, your guess is as good as mine. Every year or so they would just randomly stop working. Tried new batteries, took it apart and looked at with a multimeter, still didn't work. I never figured out why they stopped working, I still have all 3 of them. Never dropped, smashed, etc. One more complaint I have is that the stock links seemed to be a lot more prone to rust. Mine were completely coated in rust by the time I let the truck go. To be entirely fair to the truck, I was a newbie at the time and it had been my first crawler since my Max Stone 10 from like 2014-15. I definitely didn't bash it though, I'll say that much. Was a learning experience. I will say that the trans on the TRX4 was easier to work on than the 10.3 though, I'll give it that.

 

[89Industries]

Traxxas was doing copyright suits that just said you can't say your product works with our product by using our name even if you put in the all the info saying you don't own the copyright or have affiliation with Traxxas.

Patents can be good but many times patents are stupid and the patent office grants stupid patents because they are not experts in all areas nor have the resources to do proper investigation. I have my name on at least a half dozen patents. Some are quite stupid but the company lawyer tried to patent anything and everything even if its not appropriate.

As far as buying up companies, there is a chance that the companies Horizon bought would have just gone out of business and no longer existed if they did not buy them. In the 1990s and 2000s Trek was buying a lot of other bike and accessory companies. Everybody was pissed and some of those companies later got killed off. But I talked to a few of the previous owners and they said if Trek didn't buy them they would have just closed up shop.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Traxxas was doing copyright suits that just said you can't say your product works with our product by using our name even if you put in the all the info saying you don't own the copyright or have affiliation with Traxxas.

Patents can be good but many times patents are stupid and the patent office grants stupid patents because they are not experts in all areas nor have the resources to do proper investigation. I have my name on at least a half dozen patents. Some are quite stupid but the company lawyer tried to patent anything and everything even if its not appropriate.

As far as buying up companies, there is a chance that the companies Horizon bought would have just gone out of business and no longer existed if they did not buy them. In the 1990s and 2000s Trek was buying a lot of other bike and accessory companies. Everybody was pissed and some of those companies later got killed off. But I talked to a few of the previous owners and they said if Trek didn't buy them they would have just closed up shop.

Was it 100% that simple? Some sites never lost the privilege to list Traxxas items/combability.

Agreed. Patents can be good or they can be stupid. Stupid patents are easily designed around and companies have zero excuse for infringing on them. Or patents can be too broad. In that case, the patent can be fought.

That isn't true with all companies. Take Proline as an example.

 

[MAGNUMB]

Exactly. And people are still whining about them because it's Traxxas.

The fact of the matter is you are obligated to defend your patents or you risk losing them.

I'd argue that what Horizon has done is much worse for the hobby. They are buying up all these brands trying to become a monopoly. In the process they haven't been able to correctly manage any of the companies. As a result, so much is out of stock with long lead times, shipping delays, and a major decrease in the quality of their customer service.

Purchased 5 sets of pro-line tires when they were on sale and it indicated they were in stock. That was back on 9/18 and got one set sent to me about a month ago...going to need to file a dispute with my CC company as i find that easier than trying to deal with their customer service

 

[cul8tr]

TRX4 Sport I have 2. If you need speed throw in a 3800kv Castle Slate. 1 has wore out chubs I have the parts to fix but it's my beater. I broke the front spool dang pot metal but replaced it with a Locked up rc FI Spool for the trx4. $20 well spent thinking about getting 3 moremfor the rest of the axles.

Locked up RC - FI Spool TRX-4

 

[JatoTheRipper]

Purchased 5 sets of pro-line tires when they were on sale and it indicated they were in stock. That was back on 9/18 and got one set sent to me about a month ago...going to need to file a dispute with my CC company as i find that easier than trying to deal with their customer service

Perfect example of what I was talking about.

 

[BamaRuckus]

So I have read through this entire thing.

1 thing is certain ether the sport TRX4 or baseline will be purchased, I guess it really comes down to what I want.

There is also a lot of lingo being spoken and I really don’t know what some it. It it’s fine and I’ll learn.

I do like reading all of this as it gives good food for thought. The best part is both have large aftermarket parts.

Unfortunately, I do not have a local hobby shop within an hour of me as RC isn’t something big around here.

 

[minreg]

Amain and RPP have been my go-to RC shops for years. I don't really feel comfortable with Horizon or Tower these days.

Funny, I said the same thing just couple days ago.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

So I have read through this entire thing.

1 thing is certain ether the sport TRX4 or baseline will be purchased, I guess it really comes down to what I want.

There is also a lot of lingo being spoken and I really don’t know what some it. It it’s fine and I’ll learn.

I do like reading all of this as it gives good food for thought. The best part is both have large aftermarket parts.

Unfortunately, I do not have a local hobby shop within an hour of me as RC isn’t something big around here.

What lingo are you not understanding?

 

[high plains drifter]

So I have read through this entire thing.

1 thing is certain ether the sport TRX4 or baseline will be purchased, I guess it really comes down to what I want.

There is also a lot of lingo being spoken and I really don’t know what some it. It it’s fine and I’ll learn.

I do like reading all of this as it gives good food for thought. The best part is both have large aftermarket parts.

Unfortunately, I do not have a local hobby shop within an hour of me as RC isn’t something big around here.

I honestly don't think that you'd be at all disappointed with either. Both are proven in performance and quality. Both have strong manufacturer support as well as aftermarket... the TRX4 more-so but it's been around longer too. I don't have any experience with the Baseline but I've read a lot from owners and again... it's another good choice. Once you narrow down 2-3 rigs, then start looking more closely at the details and specs. Figure out if a certain feature is something that you think you'll need/ want.

One thing to add here regarding the expense to replace TRX4 parts... I agree that Traxxas replacement parts are expensive when talking electronics... actually quite overpriced considering what you get... batteries, chargers, ESCs, servos, etc. But I think as noted already, electronic components are often a cost-cutting measure by many RC companies. Don't let that deter you from any RC.

You can have a great rig performance-wise but doesn't mean that every part or component is going to be high-quality. You can replace parts as they fail ( if they fail) and when you do, you can expect to often pay quite a bit less for the same or even better aftermarket parts. Example: Traxxas 5000mAh 25C 3S = $70. Turnigy 5000mAh 30C 3S = $25. And the Turnigy comes with an XT60 so you're not stuck using Traxxas proprietary connectors.

If you smoke a factory RC part you don't need to spend a premium price to replace it with the same part that's likely just going to fail again.

It's a bit overwhelming at first but that's any hobby really. Don't hesitate to ask questions when you feel the need. That's what a discussion forum is all about. RCC isn't going to steer you wrong and they'll be honest in their advice/ experience.