Took a nice long trail run with Greybeard. I've come to the conclusion that this is my favorite RC truck of all time.
That's a bold statement, and one that doesn't get made lightly after 35 years of RC ....but every time I got out for a trail run, I'm reminded that this is what it's all about - I freaking love driving this truck. And it has to be driven. No drag brake, mediocre tires, and motor and gearing combo means I'm constantly working the 2 speed and diff servos. Just an awesome trail truck.
I installed the ESS-one system and it's set to a V8 sound. Maybe not exactly 1:1, but I love it. I'm at the bottom of the test rock and the Defender wants no part of it today. It's a bit wet and grip is at a premium. I'm just spinning the wheels - dirt flying, V8 roaring - it's such a trip.
Doing a dirt hill climb, alternating between first and second as needed. Diffs locked all the way up.
Flexing out on some wet rocks...
Going down the trail. In second gear, diffs open, engine kind of burbling along. Second gear is about 1.5x walking pace so not too fast - just fast enough.
Here's there's a log across the trail, and I suspect some other RC nerds added some bark ramps to make a trail over because they were exactly 1/10 size.

This truck rocks a first gen Holmes outrunner run by a cheapo china ESC that I don't have a programming card for. It does not have the best low end resolution, and I can't set the drag brake so I have to rely on low gear for drag braking, and actual brakes if it's really steep. Very 1:1 like. I also need low gear - which is creeper speed - for crawling over this kind of stuff since the motor resolution isn't great. (It does make a ton of power on 3S, which fits this pig of a truck perfectly) All in all, working the transmission keeps me quite busy.
Been a while since I've been out to the bent tree. My usual spot to stop, drink some coffee and swap batteries.
And heading back to the truck after a 2 hour trek. I'm trying to remember if I've ever broken anything on this truck over the years, and I don't think I have. Tough as nails. Still rocking the stock radio and mini servos and it's all working trouble free.