Getting back into RC after 6 years

[strap624]

I'm trying to get back into RC after being away for a bit. I want to build the truck I could never afford when I was younger. My last rc was a Wraith in 2011. I sold it back in 2012.

I want to do a solid axle monster truck. I always wanted a Clod, but it seems a a lot of people are building trucks off the SMT10 now.

As a base truck, would a Clod or SMT10 be better to start with?

If I did a SMT10 i'd have to get 2.6 wheels and tires right away (jconcepts or the proline destroyer)

Initially I probably have $700 to start with. I don't really care about brushless systems, but it would be nice to pop wheelies.

Thoughts?

[Brake Weight]

Look at the part out stores on fleaBay if you want to do a SMT build. Especially if you'll toss half the RTR or kit parts anyway.

[strap624]

What should I look for? Wraith axles I assume? What about a frame? Do I need to get a axial frame or is there something else out there I don't know about?

[EeePee]

Miscellaneous - Mega/Monster Trucks at RCCrawler.com

[strap624]

Are these Axle sets any good? AXIAL WRAITH CNC ALUMINUM AXLE SET Front + Rear RC ROCK ASSEMBLED AXLE Gun Metal | eBay

I noticed there's alot of aluminum integy axles up there too.

[Brake Weight]

Go to the Axial website and download the .pdf instructions. That should have all the individual parts in an exploded type picture for reference. Tab over to fleaBay and cart the parts you want. I know there's complete chassis for sale as well as axles and the rest. As for an SMT.


But a monster truck is not a crawler. So be sure that's the route you wanna go and if so, go for it.

[strap624]

I guess I just don't know which way to go about this- I'm thinking it may be more cost effective to buy the smt10 rtr and throw on the bigger tires, Torquey servo, MIP driveshafts, metal trans gears, titanium steering links, and go from there.

If I buy components individually it looks like i'm going to be nickled and dimed to death on miscellaneous hardware. Buying 2 axles, a radio, and a bare chassis is going to set me back over $300 already

[Brake Weight]

Tower lists them at $329: TowerHobbies.com | Axial 1/10 SMT10 Grave Digger Monster Jam Truck 4WD RTR

It does look like it'll be cheaper for the RTR. The electronics are junk...or just highly underrated for the amount of RC that they're trying to use it on. The motor, ESC, and servo will die fairly fast if they haven't raised the QC. So there's a near initial cost there of new electronics plus all the nice stuff you listed.

fleaBay bare cage-$80 or complete cage with links-$125, axles-$100, body-$50.....hell. I guess it'd be cheaper in the end after all.


I'm liking on these after seeing one at my LHS: TowerHobbies.com | Traxxas 1/10 BIGFOOT #1 Original Monster Truck RTR

[Habanero]

That does look fun. And prolly dependable to boot. Good support and not a bad price!

[strap624]

Thanks. I actually had a Traxxas Stampede probably around 1997... it was my first real RC. That Traxxas bigfoot looks like it's actually using the same chassis. I always wanted one of those clodbusters with the clodzilla chassis kit that I saw in RCcaraction. Then I remember the TXT-1 came out and I was dying for it. But I never had the funds.

Anyway, I think I might pick up the smt10 and start upgrading. This Is what caught my eye and made me start looking into RC again: https://youtu.be/6pWDmSAc3sA