I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

After many weeks of staying completely away from this "new" small scale RC
I accidentally bought one that was discounted on ebay.

Came in blue. The stock shocks were actual crap so I used an old set of
Mini T 2.0 TLR shocks. I had to use the ballends from the traxxas plastic shocks but with a little thread tape it all worked well enough.
I did have to limit the travel a lot with rubber bands because the rear
especially had way too much flex (keep that in mind if that's your goal - Mini-t rear shocks, cheap on ali-express).
I have plenty of wheels and tyres from SCX24 obsession so I chucked on the
57x22 newer Injora hyrax clones with small foams in them, super squishy.
Of course, I then got my old sticker folder down and stuck a few on.
https://i.ibb.co/CQtSBRd/20230417-213724-1.jpg

So, like any experienced money waster I had already ordered some crap off
Ali express and ebay - firstly got slightly better shocks (a circlip actually disintegrated in one of them, first time for everything I guess)
and managed to get out for quite a bit of trailing and "crawling"
although I had already decided to go more towards "scale" as the SCX24(s) I run are super capable and I didn't want to just build the same thing,
only bigger.

I did install the 40.3 to one low range gears though.
https://i.ibb.co/2hj7Hjn/20230422-160859.jpg

I also hacked up the interior from a Gelande II Black Rock I used to run and shoved that in.
https://i.ibb.co/RcD1JMM/interior.jpg

I took it to our "in progress" (long story) build and had a heap of fun running around in the sand and over other lumpy things.
https://i.ibb.co/s1CvKhX/20230424-103049.jpg


I then received a couple of extra bits and pieces and this is where it is at currently. New links, driveshafts, bumpers and a little treadplate.

I also shoved oversized foams in some wrangler mt/r and these puppies feel
like they have 40psi in them, kinda interested to run a non optimal tyre setup on the trails etc,
usually go for the squish >.>
https://i.ibb.co/0ZsmBt8/IMG-3059.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/K7XjcNn/IMG-3069.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/6JKcCKt/IMG-3070.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/XjQjb2x/IMG-3088.jpg

Next up will be mudflaps and other external accoutrement until I blow up the servo/motor etc.

Thanks for reading :D

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

Looks awesome

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

That's a good looking Defender for sure!! "thumbsup"

I like the interior you put in there. It looks really good. I was looking at that same front bumper for mine but went with one that looks just like the stock bumper. Looks pretty good up front. Happy trails.

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

It slightly impacts approach angle and it could do with modification to bring it in and up 1mm, I will get to that at some point but I am more interested in getting out to run it this weekend.

you can still buy the D90 interior and I think it should work the same:
https://store.rc4wd.com/Interior-for...90_p_6855.html

I need to find a dude to drive it but i have never looked at the scale side of things really.

Cheers

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

Great looking TRX4m, love that shade of blue! Both set of wheels and tires looks good, but the second set looks even better...nice 6x6 hauler too looks like CrossRC UC-6. Good find on the interior, thanks for the link, might work in my Bronco with a little trimming!

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

Looks good in blue with the white roof. About the mudflaps. They look great but will get stuck between tire and an obstacle as truck backs up. I removed mine, the only option as it seems is to screw them on the rear bumper. Front didn't work at all unfortunately.

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Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

Thanks Ynad, I am a tinkerer so I will reference IRL photos and work to match those setups for the mudflaps - I have the wheel well pieces coming too and I understand that it gets tricky to have all the things.
Running smaller tyres will help for sure... but I just got the Proline BPX and will be running those this weekend. I do need to decide which beadlocks to put them on though.
https://i.ibb.co/R0Btsfg/IMG-3094.jpg https://i.ibb.co/WVmy2x5/IMG-3098.jpg


I hate excessive torque twist, so I added a rear sway bar and it's great. Much less melodramatic. I do need to move the pivot point up to fix the balljoint angles but... To be honest, running it as is, creates slightly more limit on the rear articulation which covers for the fact I am using a bobby pin as a sway bar >.>

https://i.ibb.co/DpxD5qR/344547656-1...61193882-n.jpg

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

The 6x6 is just a WPL, with the two speed trans it can haul fine though.

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

Nice solution on a sway bar. Check out my thread on for sway bars, no articulation limit. With those links you've got it would be easy.

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Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

I really like the looks and the stance of this Defender!

Nice solution for the interior! Look like it fits well and it looks great!

Looking forward to seeing more!

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

As the best Karen once sung, we've only just begun :)


I do need to make a parcel tray for the back and repaint the interior before I am satisfied, doesn't "pop" with black and metallic blue. I think I will change all the glass out to thinner/clearer plastic so any effort I put into the interior is more visible. Realllllly want to put a soundkit in with the speaker in the back lol. I have the Orlandoo RxTx soundkit etc in the 1/32 defender and it's super satisfying.

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

Redrilling the hole and moving the pivot point up will address that, I have been looking around for a suitable sway bar kit but thinking I will just have to buy a few and experiment.

I have read your thread but will go back and find it for refresh.

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/top...ink_source=app


Ynad's TRX4M + mods. Updated 5/03 winch, lift, bumper, hitch, sway bsrs

Sway bars was my last post.

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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...ef2b75a241.jpg

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

Found a dusty bit of land and had a great crawl today, I think I might do a snow foam/pressure wash on the driveway tomorrow for a laugh.
https://i.ibb.co/XppBzb8/dirty-defender.jpg

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

Considering putting the window mesh on, added some other little bits as well. Have some brass to install but in no rush. (imgbb getting smashed, images not loading very fast.)

https://i.ibb.co/qxSnVRc/IMG-3152.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/fNG35C7/IMG-3148.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/MkkKw9X/IMG-3149.jpg

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

Installed the inner guards which gave me more space so I changed over to a 1080 and GT5 receiver.
Heaps quieter, no more whining.
Also added the brass diff covers and c-hubs then completed the bearing upgrade so no more mud :( (I hate stripping and cleaning after).
https://i.ibb.co/rcXHW2x/trx4m-front.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/WnS6NQk/trx4m-rear.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/WH2p8XD/trx4m-side.jpg

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

Great pictures! Can you post a pic of 1080 fitted? I've got one laying around ...

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Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

I haven't changed the plug on the traxxas battery yet, I did make an adapter but yesterday I just ran a 300mah.
I used a bit of styrene like material to create a flush surface for some doublesided tape for the ESC.
Most won't need to do this as you can just stand the ESC on it's side closer to the front wheel but the interior interferes with that in my case

I am not yet finished, likely will make a small platform between the frame rails that holds the esc centered and run two smaller batteries if I need run time (I hardly ever get more than an hour each day to go and crawl).

https://i.ibb.co/FJgknR9/20230521-101509.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/0h6f71n/20230521-101454.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/vPVj4Q6/20230521-101653.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/VHDSThQ/20230521-101635.jpg

Re: I caved and bought a TRX4M Defender
 

Thank you

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