is this stuff good enough to start off?

[muddeprived]

I'm switching over to HG now. Got my eyes set on a clod buster and wondered if i'm on the right track? Here's what i got listed so far:

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXGMR9
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJA83
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...1p?&I=LXXB01**
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXANT5
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJC34


This comes to a total of $281 shipped with the discount code.

I was wondering if i should purchase these bearings too:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...d132&search=Go
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...=++&search3=Go

Is there anything else i should aim for or switch for something better?

[Thorsteenster]

i wouldnt get that radio, get a TQ3 from the crawler store, its set up for rear steer, also get a couple of servos from him or who evers selling the super chicken servos, run2jeepn i think. i think they will be cheaper than the tower servos and way better i'm sure. the battery charger i'd recomend getting somthing better, somthing that can handle nimh's also for when you want to get better batteries, a cheap peak charger or somthing. the bearings, look through the vendors, i'm sure one of em sell a bearing kit for the clod axles, much cheaper than those duratrax bearings.

[mrmaxxman]

it all sounds great for a budget build but i agree with thorsteenster (that name is fun to type)upgrade the charger,servos, and get a tq3 from the crawler store if ya can....

[Robb]

Are you looking for build scale or comp?

If comp, and all you really need are the Clod axles, there are cheaper means of getting them.

[Thorsteenster]

i figured he was going comp/basher theme since clod arnt exactly the axle of choice for scale builds.

[muddeprived]

Lookin to build a trail rig. I'm just getting started here. My plans are to gear it down to crawl and build my own chassis/4-link setup.

I was thinking of using a 8t pinion but i hear the stock motors have a tendency to stall? If so, i will have to upgrade the motors.

[Thorsteenster]

8t pinions your going to need adjustable motor mounts, if your just going to use it as a trail rig i'd get some mild to medium'ish stock motors and run the stock pinion, or even a couple of the new hand wound v10 integy's and run an extra cell. im no clodologist but for a trail rig and maybe occasional bashing your gonna want some speed and that aint really happening with 8t pinions.

[davway]

dont buy a complete clod, you dont need it.
Thundertechracing have complete axle sets for $140 (you may find cheaper somewhere else)
Run2jeepn has 24 piece bearing kits for $24 (enough for both axles).
TTR have a cheap pair of diff lockers, or theres JB weld.
Chassis you can build yourself or take your pick from the many that are on the market.
servos - go with whats proven....hitec.
esc....up to you.
radio - Traxxas TQ3 can be had on ebay for $10-15. a 3 way switch will cost you less than a dollar and you can fit it yourself (if i can fit one...you can fit one).
the rest of the pieces you will find along the way.

[andrewmp6]

your best bet is to get servo mounts that let you mount them standing up on the side of gear box. the stock steering system and speed controler are useless they should be on the top of the list of things to replace/change.
if you want a cheap chassis look at the link in my sig

[run2jeepn]

Snag some Clod Axle either from E-Bay or from thundertech racing. Only around $140....For just starting off get a TQ3 and a 4WS Switch...Go to cheapbatterypacks.com for Batteries. Servo the MG995 or MG945 are both cheap and good servo's....Below are links to everything you listed.

Clod Axles... www.ebay.com or www.thundertechracing.com $140
TQ3 also www.ebay.com Should be found for $30
4WS Switch www.jpcustomrcs.com $8.99
Battery packs www.cheapbatterypacks.com
Servo's www.jpcustomrcs.com $22.00
Charger http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXCLD5&P=ML $50

Total....$251 $30 bucks cheaper and better

[muddeprived]

Originally Posted by run2jeepn

Snag some Clod Axle either from E-Bay or from thundertech racing. Only around $140....For just starting off get a TQ3 and a 4WS Switch...Go to cheapbatterypacks.com for Batteries. Servo the MG995 or MG945 are both cheap and good servo's....Below are links to everything you listed.

Clod Axles... www.ebay.com or www.thundertechracing.com $140
TQ3 also www.ebay.com Should be found for $30
4WS Switch www.jpcustomrcs.com $8.99
Battery packs www.cheapbatterypacks.com
Servo's www.jpcustomrcs.com $22.00
Charger http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXCLD5&P=ML $50

Total....$251 $30 bucks cheaper and better

Ok this is great. i gotta say thanks to all of ya for taking your time to help me here.

I still have a few questions before i start thinning my wallet

1: what's a good battery type for long run times? Can you run dual batteries?

2: Servos: i will need two of these if i do 4WS correct?

3: Misc accessories: Since i'm piecing this together, do i need any other small parts, say wires and stuff like that to complete it?

[muddeprived]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

your best bet is to get servo mounts that let you mount them standing up on the side of gear box. the stock steering system and speed controler are useless they should be on the top of the list of things to replace/change.
if you want a cheap chassis look at the link in my sig

Where do the servo's normally mount to? What's the benifit of standing them up on the axle?


I'm diggin this build. I dunno why but the idea of learning to build a truck from scratch is kinda exciting Reminds me of back when i first bought my first 4x4 and Jeep and learned how to use/maintain/build/upgrade. Only difference is that im learning EVERYTHING i can about the clod in one day, compared to the many years of learning with the jeep.

[muddeprived]

http://thecrawlerstore.com/images/ju...e1_520x390.jpg

I like the look of that since i'm doing a 4-link setup. I'm concerned the tires will hit the arms when turning. Is this gonna be a problem?

[davway]

Originally Posted by muddeprived

http://thecrawlerstore.com/images/ju...e1_520x390.jpg

I like the look of that since i'm doing a 4-link setup. I'm concerned the tires will hit the arms when turning. Is this gonna be a problem?

i think the junfac and clod are just a little bit different.

[Thorsteenster]

1 - NIMH, yes
2 - yes
3 - probably, all depends on what and how you do it.

[Thorsteenster]

Originally Posted by davway

i think the junfac and clod are just a little bit different.

nevermind the junfac, those are for tlt axles, not clod.

[muddeprived]

Originally Posted by thorsteenster

nevermind the junfac, those are for tlt axles, not clod.

Oh sorry, i didn't realize that. I get confused a little when they mix different rig parts on the same page. Anyways, how are you guys mounting your links?

I'm still unsure on the esc to use. Again, i don't want super-expensive high-tech stuff, just good-enough. There are just too many to choose from.....

[Thorsteenster]

dude, how long have you ben here? your up to 344, what have you been doing? do a search, everything your asking has been covered. are you gonna ask one of us to come build it for you too?

[muddeprived]

Originally Posted by thorsteenster

dude, how long have you ben here? your up to 344, what have you been doing? do a search, everything your asking has been covered. are you gonna ask one of us to come build it for you too?

95% of my posts are from the nylint forum. I'm venturing from there to clod rigs, which i have absolutely no experience with. I've been using the search for the past 6 hours today, plus 4 hours last night. I get some information im looking for but a majority of it is stuff i do not understand due to my lack of experience, but i am learning as i go. I hope you can have a little patience with me here. I know how it is when newb's ask alot of questions and it can get old but sometimes the search doesn't bring up exactly what we're looking for. One of the main problems with newbies like me is that we search for the information and get a ton of answers, but we don't understand the stuff we are reading since we are new to this stuff. I could go ahead and read every newbie forum post but then i'll be blind by the time i'm done and never get my rig built. If you don't have the patience to help me, that's perfectly fine with me. i won't flame you or hate you cuz i understand how it is in the forums.

sorry if i'm driving you nuts (if i am).

[muddeprived]

I've been searching around and found a used stick clod with electronics missing. It has locked axles with bearings, maxx shocks, both steering links, servo mounts, links and shock mounts. I gotta come up with the esc, servo, battery, and motors. I guess this is a good start.