Are Foams Overhyped?
 

I went out crawling today and ran into another crawler. His truck had some generic foam that was so soft it almost felt like his tires had no foam at all. He had Wore out Traxxas Canyon Trail Tires on hisTRX Sport. I could not believe the places he took his truck, and short of Overdrive front gears it was a beat up completely stock truck. I had Proline Krawlers (Predator) with Proline Dual Stage foams, and a set of R35 Maxxas Trepadors with C.I. Lil Nova Foams and couldn’t follow him waay to often. I didn’t expect much from the Trep’s as I use them a couple times a year when just trail running.

My gear was a New SCX10ii Cherokee with the Trep’s and a OG SCX10 fully upgraded with top of the line equipment running the Krawlers.

I accepted the guy was completely out driving me, but I was baffled that he was doing it with tires and foams I’d have thrown away!

What are this forums opinions on this type thing? I’m talking real crawling rigs, not shelf Queens! In real world crawling is this the norm....or did I just run across a BMF that’s the exception to the rule?

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

The Canyon Trails are actually not a bad tire once they get a little broken in and imo with a little softer foam than stock. Did you see if he had cut/ siped them? That could've added a bit more capability. And foams aren't over-rated imo... there's a lot of different density foams out there and depending on conditions and terrain, sometimes a cheapo/ stock/ firmer/ single stage foam will do better than an ultra-tuned 3-stage aftermarket foam. It really just depends on all factors combined. Plus the fact that if this guy knew the area, had run the same trails/ lines already and you hadn't, then that could give him some advantage too... not to mention how well someone knows their rig. Often times, you can't really see very subtle driving differences between you and someone else, but those little unapparent nuances can really add to successful execution. JMO.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

Canyon trails are typically regarded as rather good tires. "Wore out" tires can actually work really well in some conditions, sometimes better than brand new. TRX4 Sport is a great performing truck out of the box, arguably the best at its price point. Really soft foams can work really well for climbing, but can lack the stability for side-hilling, and other scenarios where the tire wants to fold over on itself.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

Agreed. Canyon trails aren’t a bad tire. But the truck matters a lot too. For example, here’s a clip of my trx4 with cut Canyon trails and upgrades basically everywhere else

Are your Krawlers vented?

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Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

The guy had been going there regularly so I suppose that may have been a factor as I’ve been there three times total. The other two times I took my 11 and 13 year old daughters basically following the trails and crawling obvious rock and terrain along the path.

He showed me some areas I’d seen but hadn’t crawled before today, and truthfully wasn’t sure if they were crawlable. After seeing him head up into a steep mixture of moist sandy dirt and rock with relative ease, I figured I could do the same or very similar. Honestly looking back, I’m sure the fact he was very familiar with the terrain and lines played a bigger part than I initially thought. Though in all honesty...he told me and showed me where to go and I still struggled to keep up! I’m going back tomorrow morning and gonna try some of those lines again.

Normally I try to crawl with a little finesse and the lines he took I’m not sure if you can. It appeared that you needed to be fairly aggressive to make those lines work!

The Krawlers weren’t vented, a major oversight on my part! I just bought them and a set of Mud Terrain in Predator and did not vent the Krawlers, I thought I did but only vented the Mud Terrains.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

I think the Pro Line foams are too firm and fill the tires too much.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

I think the difference between a first gen scx10 and a trx4 was also on display.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

I think I’d have to agree! I recently bought both my daughters SCX10 ii’s as I already was invested in Axial. If I had it to do again I think I’d have gone with Traxxas!

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

Agreed, nice outline drifter.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

innertire suport system

the best foamless option

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

Stiffness of chosen tires, Conditions, driving ability, familiarity with lines and terrain all dictate what foams might be appropriate in a moment. Experience through experimenting has taught me that all the different style of foams can potentially work. If tires and foams weren’t so bloody expensive I would stuff my favourite 4-5 tire sets each with 2-3 different foam styles. "thumbsup":ror:

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

I dont own a Traxxas at all but the original scx10 has big diffs that hang low especially in comparison to a next generation of crawler

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

I just got home after heading back out to the state park I crawled yesterday. I spent most the day out there running the same two rigs with the exception that I vented the Krawlers and Swapped my Hyrax back on my Cherokee. What a difference a day makes!

I had the place to myself in regards to crawling and was able to get some productive work done. I’m not going to say I have the spot mastered, but I learned a lot...and I’m very happy with the progress I made. I was able to figure out how to navigate most the lines the way I like to drive, and I’m still working on a few lines I couldn’t make work the way I wanted them to. Yesterday was pretty much what I’d consider bashing or rock bouncing, not my preferred method of crawling. My rig took a beating yesterday and his was already beat to death. Today was a completely different story.

I was pretty aggravated and frustrated when I got home yesterday, not rationally thinking about it!
I think our differing driving styles played a part as well. He forced his truck to go where he took it or it went for a tumble.(Which was quite often). I tried the same thing and believe that made my day worse as I was tearing my trucks up, and having little success.

The properly vented Krawlers and Hyrax both worked great today, and I’m looking forward to getting back out there again, hoping to build on the knowledge and experience I gained today. The foam thing was probably more pure frustration than anything else.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

I wouldn't discount the fact that the TRX has portals whereas your 10 and 10ii do not (I assume).

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

That Traxxas impressed me....a lot.

My rigs do not have portals...wish they did though,lol.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

Why ??:roll:

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

For the added Clearance.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

I do think aftermarket foams are way over hyped. They provide much better lateral support that is most noticeable when side hilling. As long as your foams aren't much too stiff or much too soft I don't think it's a huge deal. The wrong aftermarket foams can hurt performance more than they help.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

What size foams are you running? I think Eddie (CI) over-sizes his foams a bit. For a 4.75" tire I prefer running his 4.5" foams for a good combination of grip / sidehill performance. For most rigs (even heavy ones) I feel like the 4.75" inners are too tall. That said I still 100% believe that CI foams are a way better starting point than just about anything out there.

But yeah, as others have mentioned, setup, driving style, ect. all play a role in how we'll you'll do on the rocks.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

Learn to drive , brother ...nobody needs training wheels :ror:

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

Fakebook type comments like this add nothing to the discussion. Clearly, a number of manufacturers feel portals are a coming thing so you best get used to them brother. :flipoff:

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

I have quite a few sets of the popular tires with both Crawler Innovations and Proline Foams.

Hyrax - Super Swampers - Krawler G8/Krawler Predator All have Proline Dual Stage
Proline BFG Mud Terrain Predator - Proline Dual Stage/Single Stage Combo

Pit Bull Rock Beast C.I. Rock Beast Foams
RC4WD IROK C.I. Lil Nova/Deuces Wild Combo
Axial R35 Nitto Trail Grappler C.I. Lil Nova 4.25 Soft/Med
Axial R35 Maxxas Trepador C.I. Lil Nova 4.25 Soft/Med
Axial BFG All Terrain C.I. Lil Nova 4.25 Soft/Soft
Ottsix KLR Silver C.I. Lil Nova 4.25 Soft Med

Waiting on Ottsix KLR Gold to show Up, have C.I. Lil Nova 4.25 Soft/Soft Ready to Go When they arrive.
On a Waiting List for Duratrax Deepwoods, have to figure that one out yet.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

Well...its still kinda cheating for me , brother . :flipoff:

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

That is what my cat says to me when he watches me eating with a fork...

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

:lmao::lmao:"thumbsup"

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

That was the best thing you could have done. Dont just instantly blast the truck/tires/foams as being bad. You took the initiative to actually go and practice and try different things. Kudos to that. "thumbsup"


Portals help but honestly if their not dragging pumpkins portals mean nothing in the equation.

Now that was funny :lmao:

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

This

I used to be all about fighting the dual stage foams into my tires and they always seemed overstuffed to me and I would fight the wheels and get frustrated the throw shit while mounting. Anymore, I buy slightly smaller, and more often than not, just ribbed single stage. Vent and that nice air gap allows for my tires to conform like a 1:1 tire on a beadlock would and the single stage keeps things nice and solid for side hilling and steep descents and ascents. Works for me, although I don't claim to know whats best for everyone.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:"thumbsup"

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

So is softer foams better for climbing and the dual stage foams for all around use?

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

What about these for the wet ??
They are pricey but worth it!"thumbsup"https://www.rc-hp.de/media/image/pro...t-2-stueck.jpg

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

I had watched a video recently with Jared Tebo and he talked about glueing tires and tire foam prep for off road tires..yes I know way different but I think there was good pointers on where and how to cut foams to allow the tire to sit on the surface. V cuts, down the center vs on the outsides, sipping the foams, grooves in the foams, ect... the different cuts allowed the tires to grip the surface better. If someone is curious lmk I can find the link or you can try and find it on YouTube

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

Softer foams are like having lower air pressure in your 1:1....

It increases the contact patch and conforms better to the terrain. Up to a certain point, a super soft tire is going to give you the most traction possible. The downside is rc tires do not have any built in sidewall support, thus the foams. Without sidewall support, you have issues with the tire tread folding over when turning, and "wrapping it self around the wheel....

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

:lmao: Welcome to the 90ths :ror:

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

I just added CI dual stage to my SCX10.3 and I am very pleased with the improved sidehilling.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

I have seen competition drivers drive like that all the time, non-scale bashing and forcing the rig to some difficult lines.
TRX-4 Sport is perfect for that, the body is so ugly that it doesn't matter how much you beat it.

My first crawler was a TRX-4 Sport.
Then I got a nice scale looking SCX10 II and my driving style changed, I don't want to beat it.
Driving a scale crawler is not a competition.
It's relaxing, fun, and good looking. There's always an easier line to drive, zero need for bashing or competing.

I have bought this year $700 worth of tyres, foams, and wheels.
They are the best upgrade I can think of.
A.L.T. dual stage supersoft foams and RC4WD Wrangler MT/R 4.7" are my favourite.
Try 4.19" Wrangler with just stock foams, the lowered center of gravity makes you drive some crazy lines.


https://i.imgur.com/w6FXHOl.jpg

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

All I gotta say is if someone has indeed worn out a set of trail canyons they must have hundreds of miles on them. The owner of said tires is probably well accustomed to how his truck behaves after all that time.

IMO, the foams make almost as big a traction difference as the tires do. Not that everything needs fancy oversized dual stage foams to work, just that super soft foams typically dont work well unless supported by a stiffer inner foam.

My neighbor is running CI 4.5" dual stage foams with medium outers inside the Trail Canyons on his mostly stock trx4 and has no issues keeping up on the stone walls and river beds we frequent.

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

I feel like good foams are worth the money

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

I personally have stopped running foams. Way over hyped. I also have stopped running tires. They are way over hyped as well. Now I just run tires made out of silly putty. You have to reshape them often, but man do they grip.:lmao:

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

Lmao[emoji1787][emoji1787] that’s the greatest thing I’ve heard today.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Re: Are Foams Overhyped?
 

Haha, glad to bring some laughter to others. :mrgreen: