RC Basics: 3 Trail Truck And Crawler Maintenance Tips
In this trail truck maintenance blog I talk about what's going to help keep your all-weather condition rig running all year round.
I have driven my Axial Wraith over thousands of kilometers across southern Alberta, Canada,. I've found that nothing destroys a trail day more than having to carry your rig out of the trail. You want to limit breakdowns of this fashion in the shop at home, the garage or kitchen counter. A lot can happen or build up in your rig from running it in and out of water, snow, and mud. The fact of the matter is that the parts that you have purchased can last a lot longer with some simple care and attention.
1. Tires:
Starting off with tires, Just like a full-sized rig, you're going to want to clean them once in awhile, but more importantly, you should condition them with a silicone oil-based lubricant after you have cleaned them. This is going to keep your tires soft as well as prevent small cracks in the rubber.
2. Electronics:
Next would be electronics. After waterproofing your rig, a look here and there once in a while is good to make sure those seals or sprays are holding up. Re-dipping or re-spraying may be in order to keep those vital parts free of any moisture.
With motors, I find just keeping them clean and free of debris is best. Make sure to replace old brushes in brushed motors and give it a quick clean water-only wash for both brushed & brushless motors. The key with both set-ups is to keep oil and dirt out using a nylon sock or leg sock sort of item to strap around the motor with a zip-tie. This is going to keep that unwanted dirt out.
3. Axles:
Moving onto axles, I tend to take mine apart every few months or so. I remove the old grease and replace it with new grease. This is a good tip as grease tends to catch all that sand and dirt out there which is just going to slowly eat away at your differential gears. I use a marine grease, which is water resistant. This works well for the amount of moisture my truck sees. I find that the key to applying grease to the axles is to fill them, this allows for nothing else to enter and attack your parts.
These tips can be done throughout the year. The post-run advice is much easier to follow. From checking loose screws, leaky shocks, and any unseen damage due to excessive trailing fun, a quick look at the tires and around the rig can be done in no time at all. Before my rig hits the shelf for the night I ensure it's as dry as possible and place it on it's side or roof. This way my tires won't go flat from sitting before my next trail run.
Trailing year round is a real blast and working on your truck is just part of it all. With these types of tips you can run all seasons of the year with ease so why not make your maintenance easy with a set of tools from the store? Click the Shop Now button below to pick up some awesome tools to keep your rig maintained and strong.
Also please check out my YouTube and Instagram to see all the adventures I have with my Wraith! Thank you for reading and until next time...
