Bought my first crawler. Build thread?
 

Well I've been prowling the forums for quite a while. I finally decided to purchase a RS10XT.

Figured I'd go cheaper and do some upgrades to see if this will be something I want to pursue. That way I don't break the bank.

Something cool me and my boys can do and spend some quality time together

- RS10XT Crawler
- CPE Steel Drive Pins for front and rear
- Redcat steel gear sets for front and rear
- 996R all steel gear servos for front and rear
- Aluminum servo horns
- (2) Zippy 2s5000mah lipos
- Low voltage lipo alarm
- XT60 connectors for conversion
- XT60 splitter for dual charging
- Turnigy mega 400w v2 charger
- Turnigy 500w dual power supply
- Traxxas 5347 end links
- 8/32 threaded rod for link construction
- LED kit from RC Lighthouse

- Should be enough to keep me busy for now. Still need some 1/4 .035 aluminum rod for my custom links, tires/foams, and some other odd & ends.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/27/8u2ysa3u.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/27/utuvumy4.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/27/y3e9ejun.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/27/gutehu9e.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/27/tu8ape5a.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/27/2a4evapu.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/27/7aquja7y.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/27/y6y3asem.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/27/7ypa6uje.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/27/3y7y4aqe.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/27/yzeqynu3.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/27/u3amunas.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/02/27/5uguju7u.jpg

- Matt

Re: Bought my first crawler. Build thread?
 

Good choice, I have the rs 10 xt and love it. I added a steel tube frame to the stock chassis and it's a beast. Just because something is a little cheaper doesn't mean it won't do just as good as a $1000 rig. The redcat is 90% metal where a lot of other name brand high dollar outfits are 90% plastic throughout. Rs 10s rock, with a few upgrades it will stomp most others, that's why they want us to lock the rear steer out to "even the odds"... why don't they add rear steer and do things only 4 wheel steer can accomplish... I just get tired of seeing that everyone has the same brand rig and setup, I'm glad you chose the redcat you won't be disappointed. It's much more exciting watching a 4 wheel steer rig go up impossible obstacles rather than watch hopping over objects and constant reversing and flipping over. Just my .02

Re: Bought my first crawler. Build thread?
 

Looks like you definitely did your homework on this rig before you bought it. With the pile of goodies you have it should prove to be a reliable and fun rig. Have fun "thumbsup"

Thanks guys. Yeah I wondered why people were locking out the rear steer, I thought that was a cool feature.

- Matt

Re: Bought my first crawler. Build thread?
 

Seems you've got it all covered.

There are only two or three things I'd do differently:
1. Batteries. I'd stick with smaller and lighter ones. 5Ah is way overkill and makes the rig even more top heavy.
2. XT60 splitter. Since you ordered 10 pairs of separate connectors you could easily make your own splitter instead of buying one.
3. Power supply. Here I'd go cheap and rebuild an old PC-supply lying around.

(And with smaller batteries the charger doesn't need to be that powerful, so a cheaper option would suffice.)

Cool thanks for the tips. I went with the bigger battery supply/charger because I'm anticipating getting more involved in the rc world in the future. I miss my old brushless emaxx and it liked to suck the juice right out of the batteries. I won't be sticking with just crawlers but considering another basher, maybe a boat, plane, etc... just have to see how it pans out. At least for now I know I have a good charger and supply that should last me a while.

- Matt

Re: Bought my first crawler. Build thread?
 

Looks like a good list to get you rolling. I locked out the rear steer because the novelty value of it wore off. I was obsessed with it at first and thought it was super cool, but then when I was trying to crawl obstacles with just front steer enabled, the back end would want to turn when I didn't want it to...just due to the obstacle pushing the wheels around. After that I locked it out and didn't miss it.

Re: Bought my first crawler. Build thread?
 

I like rear steer on this rig, I don't find my wheels wonder in the back but mayb that depends on the servo you choose,

and most people lock it out due to not being comp legal. But without A Dig, 4ws is kinda needed

I don't think my rear wheels will drift with the metal 996 servos. They're pretty tight

- Matt

Re: Bought my first crawler. Build thread?
 

I think it is more personal preference. sense I have not kept mine the full on crawler route, I find it very usefull. ofcourse I can still crawl, but not obstacles that some of your are doing.

Re: Bought my first crawler. Build thread?
 

Yep, it's definitely personal preference. I certainly have no problem with rear steer, it just wasn't for me. Another big reason I locked mine out was I didn't want to have to buy 2 nicer servos...I just bought one. I used a dig switch box for a while on mine and enjoyed that, but eventually just ran it without dig and without rear steer. It was a capable enough rig to keep me happy. It's really cool for me to see how far people are taking these rigs these days.

Worked on my truck a little bit last night. I didn't like how the electronics were sitting higher than the frame rails which put all of the force on the esc during a rollover. So I took everything apart and re-drilled the plates so that the electronics tray was inside the chassis instead. Also repositioned my shocks on the links and chassis to squat the truck. Really helped with the rollovers. Lost a little articulation but it still has plenty. Trimmed the body accordingly to accompany this. I also removed the foams from the stock tires and now they flex and conform to stuff a whole lot better. Anyway, on to the pictures...

Electronics before

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/5u9a3ybu.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/betysyvy.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/jy6eda3u.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/ypa4e6e9.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/5a8uguve.jpg

After

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/uby7ebeb.jpg

Removed foams

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/yruny7e9.jpg

Ride height before

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/pynehara.jpg

After

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/a2y6evej.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/vu5u3e3u.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/huqehave.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/atu6ypym.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/marejuvy.jpg

- Matt

Re: Bought my first crawler. Build thread?
 

Looks waaay better drooped than with the ridiculous stock height.
If you find yourself missing the clearance you lost, try bending your links and moving them to the outer most holes to compensate.

Happy crawling.

Re: Bought my first crawler. Build thread?
 

I run the exact same lipos as you, definatley a worthwhile upgrade aren't they.
Are you running a BEC with your new servos? if not, do yourself a favour and fit one asap, bigger servos are power hungry.
Your rig is coming along nicely.
Give us some action shots mate, it looks too clean and unscratched.

Yeah I'm going to get some 1/4 0.035 wall tubing and build my own :)



- Matt

Yeah I'm going to get some 1/4 0.035 wall tubing and build my own :)

Got my xt60 connectors all soldered up last night, ran it a little with my 2s lipos, and installed my 996 metal gear servos front a rear. Man what a difference in power that made.


http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/ytuhese8.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/ameme3es.jpg

Before

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/azahure5.jpg

After

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/02/ynuvaqud.jpg


- Matt

This is my first crawler and I'm learning along the way. BEC?

- Matt

Re: Bought my first crawler. Build thread?
 

what c rating are those batterys?

2s 5000 mah 20C

- Matt

Re: Bought my first crawler. Build thread?
 

Here's a link to explain it better but it will allow you to power your servos separately from the esc.

Battery eliminator circuit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Are the tires vented or are they air tight? If you can squeeze the air out of them be careful leaving it without foams. When you put it away either store it upside down on its roof or find a stand to sit the chassis on. If it gets left sitting to long on the tires without any foams the tires will get flat spots. If it sits long enough the flat spots wont even go back round again. Also its easier to bend the stock links then making new ones on this truck. If you make new links you will need to relocate the shocks to the front axle. This is a great thing to do but it requires some custom work or longer shocks.

Good thoughts on the tire flat spots. Didn't even think about that. They are not air tight and the wheels each have 2 air holes. I was wondering about the links as the stockers are a hexagonal shape whereas the links I was planning to were going to be round tubing. I'm not even sure if the lower shock mounts would even mount to the round tubing

- Matt