bilinvic's Wraith Rock Crawler

[bilinvic]

Hey all,

Although this is my first post, I have been keeping tabs on this great forum for over a year now. I retired from the Canadian Navy after 21 years at the age of 42 and thought I would purchase an Axial Wraith as a gift to myself. Modifying anything that I own runs through my blood! While I'm relatively new to RC rock crawling, I have plenty of experience rock crawling with my Polaris RZR that had so many modifications, it was insane. That was a huge money pit of a toy...I sold it a couple years ago.

While the Wraith is still a money pit, it's not as bad as a full size crawler!

I'm extremely happy that I decided on a Wraith, as there is plenty of other options. Over the past year and a bit, I have modified the Wraith to my personal taste to perform some fairly extreme rock crawling. The performance and maneuvers of this crawler stills blows me away when I compare the crawling I did with the RZR.

Last month, I also purchased an Axial Deadbolt for my 6 year old son so we can crawl together. For now, it won't get the mods that my RC has, but quite likely will in due time.

Anyhow, here is the list of mods I have done so far, followed by some pics and a quick vid.

HiTEC HS-7955TG Digital Servo
Dynamite Machined Aluminum Servo Arm
Axial 27T Motor
Team EnrichPower LIPO 2S 6000 50C Battery
STRC Machined Aluminum C-Hubs (Anodized Green)
Integy Machined HD Steering Blocks (Anodized Green)
GH Racing Aluminum Steering Linkage Kit
Axial Aluminum Upper Suspension Links
Integy Machined Lower Suspension Links (Anodized Green)
Castle BEC
Pitbull Rock Beast II Komp Kompound 2.2 Tires
Pitbull Dos Piezas Kompilation 2.2 Foams
Axial 2.2 Rockster Beadlock Wheels
Traxxas Battery Hold Down Kit (Hood Pins)
G Made 103 Piggyback Shocks
Battery Relocated to Front
ESC Relocated to Rear
Rear Shock Mounts Flipped
Axle Shock/Suspension Link Mounts Flipped
Advanced Metal Fab Aluminum Differential Skid Plates
Fabricated Rear Aluminum Body Panel

I'm using the stock gearing and so far, don't see the need to change. The next mod I'm looking at are the Beef Tubes or maybe an aluminum pair of axles cases. Any suggestions would be appreciated.






















A few more pics....











My Son's Deadbolt:





....and by the way, I'm in Victoria, BC, Canada. That one photo is looking over Haro Straight to the State of Washington.

[Sevastra]

I didn't realize how aggressive those Pitbull Rockbeast tires looked till I saw yours up close. How do you like them?

[bilinvic]

I just put the Pitbulls on. To the touch, they are super sticky. I was on RC4WD Interco IROK 2.2 Super Swamper tires on Proline Beadlocks (they went to my son's Deadbolt). I have put quite a number of miles on the Interco tires and have been highly impressed with them since day one, so much in fact that I was nervous about losing performance going with another tire. So far, I am quite impressed with the Pitbull tires, but I still think the Interco tires are slightly better. I had 1:1 Pitbull tires on my RZR and they were absolutely incredible in the real world. I can still climb 65 to 70 degree rock faces with the Pitbulls, so they can't be that bad!!!!

Anyone know who has the Vanquish axle trusses in stock...USA or Canada, doesn't matter?

[Crawler++]

Tcscrawlers maybe?

[Shizanester]

Nice, I'm glad I'm not the only one who uses velcro to hold the hood closed!

[iacdmac]

I don't know what you did but your pictures look really good haha nice wraith!

[RMack]

Man, I envy you guys on the Island. Every time I'm over there, everywhere I look I'm like "I wanna crawl that...I wanna crawl that....I wanna crawl that"
Wraith is looking great btw. I'm thinking about investing in some diff skids, how are they holding up?

[bilinvic]

I did have the hood hinged, but removed them after I went with the hood pins. I'm gonna get two more for the forward portion of the hood so I can peel off that Velcro. The nice thing about the hood pins is that I don't need to strap the battery in anymore, the hood keeps it very secure underneath.

Thanxs, taking good photos starts off with a "GOOD" camera.

I stopped by the LHS today to return some items, and like usual, I can't leave that place empty handed....end up with a pair of the Axial AR60 OCP Universal Axles (AX30780). Just finished installing them and virtually all the OEM front axle slop in gone none. They also seem to be quite a bit beefier than the stock axles shafts.

I bit the bullet and ordered an bunch of Vanquish products:

AXIAL AR60 OCP MACHINED MACHINED LINK MOUNTS GREY (front and rear)

AXIAL WRAITH AXLE CNC MACHINED ALUMINUM GREY (front and rear)

AXIAL WRAITH DIFFERENTIAL COVER SILVER (front and rear)

AXIAL WRAITH HD ALUMINUM TRUSS SILVER (front and rear)

AXIAL WRAITH KNUCKLES CHUBS LOCKOUTS STAGE 1 KIT SILVER

AXIAL WRAITH TIE ROD TITANIUM

AXIAL WRAITH TITANIUM 3/16 DRAG LINK

Of course, I'm looking forward to getting these all in hand and bolted up.

Yes, lot's of places to crawl around my next of the woods....in fact, my own backyard has plenty of exposed bedrock.

So far, the skids are definitely doing their job and getting all scuffed up. Sounds very realistic when they are scraping rock. Yes, they do cause more friction when going over rock, but with that being said, it's not a big deal. When I get all the new Vanquish axles and parts, I won't use the skids; they will remain as spares for my son's Deadbolt. I would definitely recommend them.

[new2rocks]

I definitely recommend the MIP driveshafts. I've abused them a lot in a short time, and they have taken everything I can throw at them.

[bilinvic]

Thank you new2rocks....I will be taking your advice.

[rmsmiranda]

Nice rig, where have you bought the skids from?

Enviado do meu GT-I9505

[bilinvic]

Thanxs.

Here's where I bought the skids:

Aluminum Axial Deadbolt Differential Protector Wraps Around Pinion | eBay

I decided I wanted to change up the look of my Wraith today and decided I would perform a "fastback" mod of my own design.

I used the the stock Axial upper links and some various sizes of aluminum tube. It was important to me that the roof section was still able to fit, so the notches in the "B" pillar cross bar were extended back the width of the link end so the upper link end would pass over the crossbar notch to maintain the stock width. An aluminum rear shock tower brace was fabricated and aluminum spacer tubes placed over the cross bar to keep the modified axle links from moving side to side.

A rear frame section was fabricated from aluminum tube and Axial link ends to run all four link ends to one central location, again using aluminum spacers to keep the ends from moving side to side.

The whole rear end fastback mod is very sturdy and I'm positive it will last the torture tests of any potential rollovers.

Whatcha think?

[islrcr1]

Nice looking rig, billnvic, just picked up the Poison Spider. Did the lhs have the universals in stock?

I also live in Vic....

[bilinvic]

Thank you....If you are referring to the Shaver Shop, yes, they had a couple of pairs on hand.

I just joined the Victoria Scale 4x4 Facebook page and am hoping to meet up with some folks for a crawling day. It's fun with my young son, but would like to get out and really test the limits of this Wraith.....and maybe break some parts so I can get better ones!!! lol

[islrcr1]

Thanks, will check out Shavers tomorrow. I am not on FaceBook, where do you guys run your rigs?

[bilinvic]

Usually Playfair Park or Mt. Doug.

[islrcr1]

I know both places, My. Tolmie would be cool too...

[bilinvic]

Major modifications update. This freakin' Wraith is a money pit! (but I love it).

As mentioned above, I ordered the following:

Vanquish AR60 OCP Machined Link Mounts Grey (front and rear)
Vanquish Wraith Axle CNC Machined Aluminum Grey (front and rear)
Vanquish Wraith Differential Cover Silver (front and rear)
Vanquish Wraith HD Aluminum Truss Silver (front and rear)
Vanquish Wraith Knuckled, C-Hubs & Lockouts Stage 1 Kit Silver/Grey
Vanquish Wraith Tie Rod Titanium
Vanquish Wraith Titanium 3/16 Drag Link

Plus, I purchased from my LHS:

RC Screwz Wraith Stainless Steel Screw Kit
MIP Drive-shafts
Robinson Racing 15t Pinion (nickel plated)
Axial 14T Pinion
Axial 87T Spur
Replacement Axle and Hub Bearings
Traxxas Battery Hold Down Kit (Hood Pins) For a total of four hood pins now.

At the same time, while everything was torn down, I did a full maintenance routine and reworked the rear "fastback" mod to improve it's appearance and strength. I used the rear section of the roof panel that was cut off to fab up a floor board for the rear frame section, which allowed me to mount the ESC with a screw and get rid of the tacky zip-ties.

The Vanquish products are absolutely metal ART. It will be a shame to get them all scratched up, but it's inevitable.

I weighed the stock front axle with the old mods on it (minus the servo) and it came to 10.05oz (285g) and the full Vanquish axle all built up (minus the servo) came in at 11.4oz (324g).

My whole Wraith, including LIPO battery hits the scales at 7.69lbs (3.49kg).

Now, gotta get this thing dirty and test out the new gearing. With the 27t motor, I went from stock 20t / 80t to 15t / 87t.

Here's the pics.....










More pics:

[Sevastra]

Looking good!

[IPT]

your truck looks great and it sounds like it's performing awesome too.