Proline TRX4 Rubicon 12.8" Body on a 12.3 Bronco?

[Uncoiler]

Hey everybody, new guy here. I had recently been considering picking up my first crawler, and with the release of the new TRX4 Bronco I pulled the trigger thinking it's a good one to start with, and I'm glad I did as it's a beauty! I picked up the Sunset version as I remember them as a kid, and it just screams 1979. LOL

Anyway I love this Bronco body but do want to get a second body for it too. I really like the Proline 3502 Jeep Rubicon I'm seeing in pics and vids but it's made for the 12.8" wheel base. I like my 12.3" wheel base and don't really want to change it. Has anybody put the Rubicon body on the Bronco chassis? Did it look goofy? Is the 1/4" on each wheel is enough to make a person pass on it? Also the other concern is if the body will rub on the tires which I would not want. Thanks.

[Schs2013]

Originally Posted by Uncoiler

Hey everybody, new guy here. I had recently been considering picking up my first crawler, and with the release of the new TRX4 Bronco I pulled the trigger thinking it's a good one to start with, and I'm glad I did as it's a beauty! I picked up the Sunset version as I remember them as a kid, and it just screams 1979. LOL

Anyway I love this Bronco body but do want to get a second body for it too. I really like the Proline 3502 Jeep Rubicon I'm seeing in pics and vids but it's made for the 12.8" wheel base. I like my 12.3" wheel base and don't really want to change it. Has anybody put the Rubicon body on the Bronco chassis? Did it look goofy? Is the 1/4" on each wheel is enough to make a person pass on it? Also the other concern is if the body will rub on the tires which I would not want. Thanks.

There is a rubi body with 12.3 wb

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[Schs2013]

Hears the link https://www.prolineracing.com/bodies...on-clear-body/

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[Inspector86]

There are a couple of Axial SCX10.II Jeep JK bodies that are 12.3" wb that you could use.

[Schs2013]

Originally Posted by Inspector86

There are a couple of Axial SCX10.II Jeep JK bodies that are 12.3" wb that you could use.

Since proline was mentioned. thought I would keep it with proline for simplicity. Yes axial is another good option to add to the list.

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[Uncoiler]

Great thanks guys that's good to know. I kind of feel like an idiot. Although I might have overlooked it because it's listed for an Axial SCX10 and a very dull primer grey color, and the other one is a nice blue and listed for a TRX4. They probably could update their website "fits" info as we obviously now have two different TRX4 wheelbases. I'll chalk it up to a newbie mistake. LOL

I'll check out the other Axial Jeep bodies too so good info.

[Topher Builds]

The 12.8” trx4 specific rubicon body is wider than their 12.3” offering. Not sure how well the 12.3 body will work with the fenders from the kit, but at the very least i’d expect quite a bit of trimming.

[carpetfuzz17]

These are just my opinions so please take them with a grain of salt. Axial JK 12.3 bodies will fit with some work to get them to fit. you will most likely have to replace the front fenders as with them on the chassis they are wider than the front of the Jeep body. The rear fenders will need to be trimmed down to fit under the body. Then once the body is lined up over the wheels the rear chassis rails stick out past the body. I have the Axial 2012 body and have tried to make it work but haven't had the time to make it fit correctly.
I also have the above Proline JK 12.3 body still new and clear and having the same problems as the Axial JK body. I really wanted these bodies to work but just haven't got around to it yet.
My next choice was the Axial XJ body. It required slight trimming of the inner fenders which I wanted to keep in place but was unable to do with the JK bodies. I have a build thread on here for the XJ body on the TRX4 kit. It was really simple to do the trimming of the fenders and everything has been going smoothly with it.
You could probably get the Proline TRX4 Jeep to fit the 12.3 wheelbase but will still most likely replace the front fenders with the option shock towers. I have played around with Proline body and Bronco chassis at LHS and it could work but was hard to tell without hurting the body as it was still new and clear. We took it out of the bag to test and try out.
Again just my 2 cents on the above bodies.

[Schs2013]

Most the bodies come clear and unpainted. Just a quick FYI. They show painted ones so you can see it easier.

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[carpetfuzz17]

Originally Posted by Schs2013

Most the bodies come clear and unpainted. Just a quick FYI. They show painted ones so you can see it easier.

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yes I know most are clear and unpainted just stressing the fact that I can what is hanging up on test fitting

[Uncoiler]

Good info everybody, but it appears none of these options appeal to me. I'm looking for something that is more or less designed to fit this chassis (such as the Proline 3502), and not something I have to mod the hec out of, or worse yet modify the stock chassis to make work. I will likely hang tight and see what future bodies come out, or get a second Bronco body which is an easy swap. Also, I'm old school and love the chrome so I can retain the bumpers, plus I like the way the Bronco sides fit nice in the running boards/chassis so to speak.

[Levi]

Originally Posted by Uncoiler

Great thanks guys that's good to know. I kind of feel like an idiot. Although I might have overlooked it because it's listed for an Axial SCX10 and a very dull primer grey color, and the other one is a nice blue and listed for a TRX4. They probably could update their website "fits" info as we obviously now have two different TRX4 wheelbases. I'll chalk it up to a newbie mistake. LOL

I'll check out the other Axial Jeep bodies too so good info.

Don't worry about it, looks like everyone's doing good to help you. Besides we all do stupid question from time to time, so no big deal. And sometimes you have to take things like a grain of salt.

[Capt J-rod]

I know this probably doesn't help, but the vaterra blazer body is a pretty close fit. We played around with them at the LHS. The TRX4 owner was wanting the power wagon, but it was pretty intensive to make it fit.

[rm25x]

It's easy to make the 12.3 WB into the 12.8 WB. Just have to replace the rear upper and lower links and one piece of the rear drive shaft and move the shock mounting to a hole farther back in the inner fender well.

Just need the following Traxxas part numbers:
- #8245 x2 (Traxxas 5x121mm TRX-4 Rear Upper/Lower Suspension Links)
- #8250 x1 (Traxxas TRX-4 Plastic Center Half Shaft Set)

[binaryterror]

Originally Posted by rm25x

- #8250 x1 (Traxxas TRX-4 Plastic Center Half Shaft Set)

The 12.3 and 12.8 wheelbases both list the same driveshaft part numbers. Unless the geometry is different I'm not sure how, but it's weird.

[rm25x]

Originally Posted by binaryterror

The 12.3 and 12.8 wheelbases both list the same driveshaft part numbers. Unless the geometry is different I'm not sure how, but it's weird.

The way they do it is there’s short and a long center shaft sections included in the package. The Bronco & kit versions use one of each in the rear shaft for a 12.3 WB. The Defender & Tactical use 2 longs in the rear for a 12.8” WB. All use 2 shorts to make up the front shaft. Hope that made sense.

[Uncoiler]

Originally Posted by rm25x

The way they do it is there’s short and a long center shaft sections included in the package. The Bronco & kit versions use one of each in the rear shaft for a 12.3 WB. The Defender & Tactical use 2 longs in the rear for a 12.8” WB. All use 2 shorts to make up the front shaft. Hope that made sense.

Great info and explanation for e new guy like me. The main reason I didn't want to switch to the 12.8 WB was in case it affected other items and then I'm opening a can of worms. Looks like it's pretty straight forward and inexpensive to install those parts.

As for function, I'm not sure if the 1/2" longer wheelbase makes a big difference. Would I gain a slight amount of stability, and lose a little clearance on longer obstacles? Or am I splitting hairs here?

[Code54]

Did you ever get the Wrangler body to fit the Bronco correctly?