Another noob here... well not a total noob but new to crawlers and today's advanced electronics, to explain I've had many RC cars in the past (20+ years ago) and am now just getting back into it so things have changed a lot! I currently have a Slash 4x4 Ultimate and have just finished building a Wraith Kit, but now need the electronics, I have the radio and receiver (Spektrum DX4S) and the servo (Hitec HS-7955TG). I want to avoid a week long of searching for a setup so I would like your suggestions on a total set up of the motor, ESC, and anything else I would need to build a reliable Wraith with very good crawling ability but better than stock speed ( I have my Slash if I want to go fast), I know there are many different opinions on whats the best set up so I will begin with what I am leaning towards and what I will need to go with it and or suggestions on better combos. Below is what I'm leaning towards. And thanks for your input in advance! (P.S. I'm not too concerned with cost within reason) Motor: Tekin ROC412 3100kv ESC: MMP (any programming needed? Suggestions on them) BEC: CC (Do I need one? Amps?) Battery: 3s and 2s (Size mAh?) (I currently have 2 2s 4200mAh and 1 3s 5000mAh Traxxas Batteries) Gearing: Suggestions? (everything currently stock, I'll upgrade to all metal once I have some ratios to try) Anything else?
Not sure if this is too late, but here goes for what it's worth. I'm in a very similar boat with a very similar setup to what you're using and hope you can benefit from my trials and tribulations. Back in the hobby after 20+ years! started with a TT01 and then SC10 4x4 before building a Wraith. I started with a ROC 412 3100 waterproofed, MMP waterproofed, 3s, Castle BEC, Hitec 7950 waterproofed, 15-17t pinion and 88t RRP slipper (also RRP tranny gears), MIPs, VP links all the way around, and VP CMS/panhard. I was on Pit Bull Rock Beast XORs from the start. I then built an SCX10 using the same setup but with a Viper VTX8 instead of the MMP/BEC combo, using 13-15t pinion with the same 88t spur, Flat Iron 2.2s, and Blue Monkey CMS/Panhard. BECs on both were programmed to 6v output for the servos. I initially left the MMP programming (throttle curve, drag brake, etc) stock.
Initially, I liked the way both rigs performed. Excellent low speed resolution, a ton of punch, and steering torque was plenty strong. I then switched both rigs to an exponential throttle curve, which further enhanced low speed resolution. But then over the course of the first few runs, I had a few problems that led to some changes. First, I stripped a ton of pinions on both rigs. The first couple were due to mesh being too tight. After that, I still couldn't get a pinion to last more than 2 or 3 long (3-hour) trail runs before stripping. I concluded that the ROC 412 on 3s puts too much strain on a 48t setup. So I switched to the RRP 56t 32p slipper (I think it's the one for the Slash) and initially went with a 12t pinion. That's proven to be much more durable.
Second, the stock lockers started giving out quickly (lost the first one on the G6 after a couple of long runs). I replaced those with Hot Racing lockers and took the opportunity to switch out the ring and pinions for hardened ones at the same time. I initially went OD gearing in the front axle and UD in the rear on the Wraith. I have since switched the front to the hardened set with stock gear ratios and left the UD in the rear after I had some heat issues (see below).
Third, I found that the waterproofing that had been done by the shop where i purchased wasn't holding up to my water (mis-)adventures. The MMP was the first victim, followed by the Hitecs. I ended up liking the VTX8 on internal BEC (also set to 6v for the servo) enough on the G6 that I got another to replace the fried MMP on the Wraith. The VTX8 comes waterproof out of the box, and I haven't had any water-related issues with them on either rig. It's also super easy to program in the field using their credit card-sized interface. For servos, I switched to the Savox 1210 servo on the G6 and Holmes servo on the Wraith (both come waterproof out of the box also) and toned down the water adventures a bit. The Savox is fine in the G6 (narrower axle, lighter rig) but probably would be a little light on torque at 277 oz-inch for the Wraith (wider axles, heavier rig) in heavy rocks. The Holmes servo has tons of torque and has been great so far on the Wraith.
Then I tried out a set of to Rock Beast 2.2s on the Wraith for some variety, and ended up with serious heat problems with the 12t pinion that I had been running with the XORs because of the added tire height of the 2.2s vs the XORs. I dropped down to 9t, and it's been great since then.
At this point, reliability/durability on both rigs has been very good. I've made it through the last 3 long runs without any electronics, pinion, or tranny issues. At this point, the Wraith setup (ROC 412 3100, VTX8, 3s, 9t/56t, Rock Beast 2.2) is extremely versatile. Much better low speed crawling than stock, more top end than you can use on the trails, no problems with responsible dips in the water. The only problems I haven't yet sorted out on the Wraith are some intermittent binding when I turn the wheels to the right (I have already changed CMS mounts and have a few other things to try) and a bit too much slop in the front axles (I plan to try some shims to tighten that up a bit).
I hope this helps save you some trial and error, but don't get discouraged if you have to go through some of your own. Crawling is very tough on rigs, and I've learned that it takes some time to work through the weak points in any setup. If you stay with it, though, you can get to a stable place and have tons of fun. Good luck!
