Top Truck Challenge Type Of Rig

[Twitchy]

I'm new to both this sport of r/c and with electrics, so please forgive some of the newbie questions, but I did search out a lot of questions I had and found most but wish to ask a little more detail on the ones that I didn't find definitive answers to.

I have an AX10 RTR Scorp and have added the CKRC stage 2 (i believe) suspension kit on it, aluminum upper links, slight weight added to the front tires, and the derilin skid that puts the lower links inside the vertical plates instead of the outside, and the stock Axial electrics which even before the mods really didn't like turning the front wheels. So I imagine the stock servo is rather under powered.

I originally was planning for a straight comp rock crawler, but changed my mind to make it a Top Truck Challenge type of truck. Maybe some of you have seen the program and know what I'm talking about. But it's basically a bit of everything, a truck that's capable of tackling rocks (not necessarily in a strict course), mud pit racing, desert racing, hill climbs and the sort. Basically speed and brute force with some technical areas.

My areas of questions are for the electrics. Finding semi-strong (i figure around 200-250oz of torque should work cause i have a feeling i'm going to be taking the weights out of the front wheels) waterproof servos for the front and rear steer. I did a forum search and found nothing definitive other then taking normal ones apart and sealing them and hoping for the best. I'm pretty sure I'm going to run the Axial 35t brushed motor for the most part but have an outerwears filter on it to keep chunks of mud and such out of it. And have been thinking about Traxxas XL-5 esc and am wondering if that would have trouble running the axial motor? And final thing I am wondering since I've never dealt with anything besides a 2 channel is how would the mixing work. I have a slayer took a bad landing on the rear and shattered the rear skid plate and cracked the diff wide open. But Traxxas offers a power up program where I could send in the slayers am radio and receiver and get a 4 channel 2.4ghz for 72 bucks. I'm wondering what features I need to look for for the truck to be able to 4 wheel steer and to crab walk.

Basically I want to be able to not worry about hitting the mud and when done running for the day being able to just hit it with the garden hose to clean it up and then hit the metal parts and bearings with some wd40.

Any help or pointers to get me looking in the right directions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your time and information.

Paul

[oldhippie]

I would recommend the Holmes torquemaster esc (waterproof/programmable/6s lipo!) if ya are not going brushless.
http://holmeshobbies.com/product.php...4&cat=2&page=1
For a servo the hobbieco cs150 is pretty good.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXNRT1&P=7
As far as rear steer mixing ya need more than a traxxas radio. Ya can use a three position switch on the 3rd channel for right/straight/left but if ya want to have easy mixed dual/crab steering ya need to look at the rc4wd offroader
http://rc4wdstore.com/2/product_info...00829972c3f668
or futaba 3pmx.
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...rce=google_ext

[Twitchy]

Thank you for the radio/ receiver selection, definately what I was looking for.

The esc while water proof seems like it may be excessive for me since I plan to stay NiMh and that a lot of the features wouldn't be necessary.

I begin to wonder if I should look into the electrics from a Traxxas Summit as they say it's completely water proof. And it's got some big tires to turn so I wonder if those servos would have the torque needed. (looked this up, 125oz for the TRA2075, but it doesn't say if its BB or if its metal gear, and the esc isn't an option)

Also found out the stock AX-1 servo that comes on the RTR only puts out about 50oz of torque, no wonder it's not happy trying to turn the wheels.

But definately keep the info coming. The help is greatly appreciated.

[axeten]

Originally Posted by Twitchy

Thank you for the radio/ receiver selection, definately what I was looking for.

The esc while water proof seems like it may be excessive for me since I plan to stay NiMh and that a lot of the features wouldn't be necessary.

I begin to wonder if I should look into the electrics from a Traxxas Summit as they say it's completely water proof. And it's got some big tires to turn so I wonder if those servos would have the torque needed. (looked this up, 125oz for the TRA2075, but it doesn't say if its BB or if its metal gear, and the esc isn't an option)

Also found out the stock AX-1 servo that comes on the RTR only puts out about 50oz of torque, no wonder it's not happy trying to turn the wheels.

But definately keep the info coming. The help is greatly appreciated.

For the price of lipos now i wouldn't be using nimh. go to hobbyking.com and get some 1000mah 2 cell or 3 cell lipos for about $10 each. Get a cheap balance charger and your set. The weight savings will make a huge difference to you centre of gravity making your crawler less prone to rolling over when climbing

[oldhippie]

Originally Posted by Twitchy

Thank you for the radio/ receiver selection, definately what I was looking for.

Kool!

The esc while water proof seems like it may be excessive for me since I plan to stay NiMh and that a lot of the features wouldn't be necessary.

What ya really want with the kind of rig ya are going for is control and wheelspeed. Voltage is how ya get it! I wouldn't even think about less than 3s lipo (11.1 volt). What is NiMh? Going with the torquemaster gives the ability to really step up the power and control.

I begin to wonder if I should look into the electrics from a Traxxas Summit as they say it's completely water proof. And it's got some big tires to turn so I wonder if those servos would have the torque needed. (looked this up, 125oz for the TRA2075, but it doesn't say if its BB or if its metal gear, and the esc isn't an option)

The traxxas servos have plastic gears that strip easy. And 125ox isn't much. A 645 hitec is a much better option but still only 133oz.
http://www.rcsuperstore.com/ProductD...32645S&click=2
Any servo is pretty easy to waterproof with alittle rtv/grease.

Also found out the stock AX-1 servo that comes on the RTR only puts out about 50oz of torque, no wonder it's not happy trying to turn the wheels.

Suprize, Suprize! RTR electronics are cheap to keep the price down meaning they will need to be replaced, upping the price and producing more garbage.

But definately keep the info coming. The help is greatly appreciated.

It ain't cheap to make Kool stuff.

[92LILREDYJ]

If your looking for any type of speed, then you really need a 3s lipo! The 1350mah from hobbyking are small enough to go on the front axle where you need the weight, and then you can take some out of the tires.

For the servo, I would suggest the cs170. I have broke 3 150s and sent them back, then upgraded to a cs170 and it has been great! The gears in the cs150 seem to be subpar, the servo would turn the wheels great, but I would strip out gears. Maybe the cs150 for the back or the trx servo for the rear steer would work good.

[Twitchy]

ok ok ok, you guys have convinced me that a 3s lipo is the way to go, but you bring new newbie questions with it. :P

I've settled on the cs170 servos, tho I will have to find a how to video on how to water proof them cause I don't quite get how to do it, mainly around the part where the servo horn attaches too. (hint hint)

Also settled on the Torquemaster esc and rc4wd offroader radio and receiver.

Now for the newb doom you brought on yourselves with convincing me to go lipo's. You guys recommend 1000-1350mah 3s lipo's, but am i looking for stick or saddle packs for mounting on the front axle? I'm a complete newb when it comes to lipos so I don't know how much smaller they are then NiMh's. And also what connecter is common for the balancing port? And the final newb question is can you recommend a cheapish charger/balancer that runs on A/C current instead of needing a car battery or power supply and manufacturers that I should stay away from?

You guys have been a great help and is really appreciated!

[oldhippie]

Originally Posted by Twitchy

ok ok ok, you guys have convinced me that a 3s lipo is the way to go, but you bring new newbie questions with it. :P

I've settled on the cs170 servos, tho I will have to find a how to video on how to water proof them cause I don't quite get how to do it, mainly around the part where the servo horn attaches too. (hint hint)

Take the top and bottom off and put a little rtv on the edges then pack some waterproof grease around the shaft and put it back together. Done!

Also settled on the Torquemaster esc and rc4wd offroader radio and receiver.

Now for the newb doom you brought on yourselves with convincing me to go lipo's. You guys recommend 1000-1350mah 3s lipo's, but am i looking for stick or saddle packs for mounting on the front axle? I'm a complete newb when it comes to lipos so I don't know how much smaller they are then NiMh's.

Something under 70mm long will fit on the front axle next to the servo, when ya flip the servo over to the side. I'm a big fan of hyperion
http://www.allerc.com/product_info.p...oducts_id=5446
And Thunder power
http://www.allerc.com/product_info.p...oducts_id=4919
but lots of guys get by with the cheap rhino/turnigy/zippy Chinese lipos.

And also what connecter is common for the balancing port?

The align connector is pretty common but the hyperion and thunder power use their own connectors.

And the final newb question is can you recommend a cheapish charger/balancer that runs on A/C current instead of needing a car battery or power supply and manufacturers that I should stay away from?

Again I'm a hyperion fan, lipo chargers are not a place to cheap
out. imho
http://www.allerc.com/product_info.p...oducts_id=3367

You guys have been a great help and is really appreciated!

All this stuff is all over the site. Good luck.

[indiana mudcat]

The two batteries Oldhippie linked above are the exact two I was gonna suggest, I run the TP 850's cause with Super 300's 60mm batts fit the extra steering better. The Hyperions will give a little more runtime and maybe more punch depending if your motor can draw the amps or not, I would run them if they fit in my app.. The Rhino 1050's 40C are the only Hong Kong batts I would personally run and the TP's or Hyperions will give better punch. The G-force 1300 30C I've also ran and I'm happier with the TP's. But punch and power trumps price in my book, esp. since we're dealing with batts in the $30-$40 range vs $10-$20, I might feel different if bigger batts were used.

[sourdojack]

The programability of the Futaba 3pm or 3pm-x are really cool for doing 4 wheel steering! You can switch between 2 wheel steering, 4 wheel steering, and crab walk, all on the fly. Even adjust the ratio of turning on the rear axle.

And the steering wheel on the controller does all the movement of the wheels, not a toggle switch.

[92LILREDYJ]

The Lipo's are small, I have had good luck with the turnigys... There cheap but there are better batterys out there. But at 10$ or less for a battery and 18$ shipping(overseas, hobbyking) I order 3-4 at a time... Last time I ordered it worked out to 12$ a battery.

You will need to move your servo over to the driver side to fit your battery on the front axle. I would suggest a BTA kit. The LD 17.99 kit is good. But the axial kit is much more complete. I did the LD kit on the cheap without highsteer knuckles and it was hard to get everything to work right.

[Twitchy]

Interesting and informative stuff guys I appreciate your time and effort in helping me get started on this.