Will this new Chinese clone make a good crawler?

[BlackSeaRC]

This is the brand new HengGuan HG-P417 "Middle East 4x4 Pickup" and clone of the Tamiya Toyota Hilux High Lift. Will it be a good starting point for a crawler? Of course, even the Tamiya original can't compete with modern offerings but at least the clone has good scale details and costs significantly less so it can be upgraded as and when you desire. Let's check the details on the video and find out:

https://youtu.be/FsdJEtLqN4E

 

[tuxstang]

It's the exact copy of the original ... can't expect it to do different than the overpriced original ...
Lots of scale details on this HG-P417 with the body but otherwise, it bears the biggest belly anchor ever produced ... not sure you can even trail without hanging on the first root or gravel.

 

[themountain]

As a crawler its useless...with some TLC it can be a nice trail rig though.

 

[JatoTheRipper]

No, it won't. It's a poor copy of a very old Tamiya. That design dates back to the 80's. The performance will be suited for flat walking trails and not much else. And instead of getting Tamiya quality, you will get whatever this junk is.

 

[Gula]

Why do you keep advertising "your" truck? You posted a while back that you already bought it! You keep telling us to check it out.

 

[BlackSeaRC]

No, it won't. It's a poor copy of a very old Tamiya. That design dates back to the 80's. The performance will be suited for flat walking trails and not much else. And instead of getting Tamiya quality, you will get whatever this junk is.

I'm not sure I agree with you. Sure, it is a clone of the High Lift that Tamiya introduced in 2006 so it is not going to compete with the latest crawlers but that doesn't mean that it can't crawl. Essentially the quality isn't much different to the Tamiya product and as it is a copy you get all the good features plus all the bad ones as well. Yes, there are quite a few things that are not so good but this doesn't make it a bad truck overall, especially when you think it is significantly cheaper than the Tamiya product.

The video below shows the special features of this truck such as the multi-mode 4WS system and also shows the truck in action. Terrain is rocky mountain tracks with some steep sections. You will see the wheels spinning quite a bit but this is to be expected when the differentials are unlocked. Ground clearance under the differential housings and belly are not great but the truck is very manoeuvrable. If rock climbing is what you like doing most of the time then lock the differentials for better performance but for most off-road conditions it performs fine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0AiPOEh4ak

 

[BlackSeaRC]

Why do you keep advertising "your" truck? You posted a while back that you already bought it! You keep telling us to check it out.

Well it is a good truck and because it is new, not many people know about them yet so why not? I bet you think your own truck is great too. Anyway, back to the original question, will this new Chinese clone make a good crawler? If you have a limited budget, want something you can upgrade over time and like the look of a scale Toyota Hilux body then it would make a reasonable crawler. If you want to compete with the best products on the market in extreme terrain then this is probably not for you. But everyone likes different things and there are many choices available for all budgets, that's what makes this hobby so great!

 

[tuxstang]

If you're on a budget, the HG-P407 is a better starting point IMHO. Or you can save a bit and get a Gen8 PACK with a cheap radio system, a generic brushed combo and a lexan body (or even one of those chinese Cherokee ABS bodies, they don't cost much more) ... you'll have a truck that'll perform miles away without any upgrade.

HG-P417 is just a cool looking scale truck at a more decent price than the original, designed by Tamiya for use on dirt and loose gravel at best ... 4WD and 4WS doesn't make a crawler, it has so many low hanging points that if you want it to perform away from lowest roots and gravels of the trails, the only part left will be the body, and maybe the frame ...

 

[BlackSeaRC]

If you're on a budget, the HG-P407 is a better starting point IMHO. Or you can save a bit and get a Gen8 PACK with a cheap radio system, a generic brushed combo and a lexan body (or even one of those chinese Cherokee ABS bodies, they don't cost much more) ... you'll have a truck that'll perform miles away without any upgrade.

HG-P417 is just a cool looking scale truck at a more decent price than the original, designed by Tamiya for use on dirt and loose gravel at best ... 4WD and 4WS doesn't make a crawler, it has so many low hanging points that if you want it to perform away from lowest roots and gravels of the trails, the only part left will be the body, and maybe the frame ...

You are right, the P407 is probably overall a better package but the P417 now offers RC enthusiasts a second option. Yes, ground clearance under the differential housings and belly are not great but with low range you can still do some decent crawling. See some photos here:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/BlackSeaRC/photos/?tab=album&album_id=112186163872999