TRX-4 Chassis Kit Build

[CTYankee]

About a week ago I decided to get a crawler so my son and I could enjoy the outdoors in a new way. My RC10 is just too fast for him, and with acres of woods and park lands right our our back door it seems like a great RC option.

There are so many options in crawlers and it can be difficult to decide what to do. I started with a $200 budget using my own electronics. However I soon realized that spending more was worth it and that 2WD buggy electronics are not suited for crawlers.

My purchase decision went back and forth from the Redcat 7, 7 Pro, 8, TRX-4, back to a Redcat, then finally landed on the TRX-4.

Then it was another round of decision making: RTR? Kit? New? Used?

I knew I wanted to build my own. So the Sport kit or the Chassis Kit? I initially figured I would get the Chassis kit and sell the radio, Rx, ESC, Servo, Diffs, and two speed gearbox. I didn't need that. I could get a Sport kit for about $150 less if I did that. But...those extra features would work for me. I would like do some crawling, but also like to do faster backyard bashing type driving. The locking diffs would make it more versatile.

Without a set budget, the Chassis Kit seemed to offer the most value and potential. So I landed on that and so it begins!

Oh, you can see it took all of 2 days for the upgrades to begin. The ESC noise, weak BEC, and so-so low speed control made the HW 1080 an easy upgrade. The servo is another upgrade and I rolled the dice on the DS218(?) 20Kg.



While I waited for the kit and build that, I also need to decide on a paint scheme. My son likes orange and red trucks these days. Its also a bit of a joke how all my outdoor gear, MTB, and other random stuff follows an orange and gray color scheme. So it seems fitting to do that for this.

I considered a few bodies. I don't really have a favorite truck or brand. I did like the Jeep Rubicon, but like most (all?) non-Traxxas bodies you have to make compromises, buy more parts to get the longer wheelbase, trim the chassis/fenders, or a combination of those. So I opted for the Sport body which I actually like.

My approach to paint designs is to keep it fairly basic so I can use tape and rattle cans. What I do is download photos from the internet, then use an image program like Photoshop or Pixelmator (Mac) to adjust the colors. Using basic selections and adjustment layers give you a natural looking way to "paint" your design mock-up.



I hope to start the build tonight and when it gets close to done I'll see what help my 3yo son can offer...yeah, that will be interesting.

[Topher Builds]

Congrats and nice choices! Looks to be a cool build. I dig the rendering, fancy!

[dr frankenstyle]

Nice color choices. I went with the kit too. I like the 2 speed and the remote lockers. Building it lets you get good grease in all the gears and make sure everything is tight during assembly. I think you'll need the narrow fenders with that body. I just pulled them off for my '73 Bronco. Keep us posted on your build. ;)


jim

[CTYankee]

Originally Posted by dr frankenstyle

I think you'll need the narrow fenders with that body. I just pulled them off for my '73 Bronco.

Ah, bummer. You are right. It doesn't seem to fit the Sport body. They are out of stock most places too. I may just have to do some trimming to make it work. I'll call Traxxas tomorrow to see what they suggest.

[Topher Builds]

Originally Posted by CTYankee

Ah, bummer. You are right. It doesn't seem to fit the Sport body. They are out of stock most places too. I may just have to do some trimming to make it work. I'll call Traxxas tomorrow to see what they suggest.

You can just trim them up. I used them on my sport kit build. Surprisingly didn’t need all that much trimming.

[CTYankee]

Originally Posted by Pant Danza

You can just trim them up. I used them on my sport kit build. Surprisingly didn’t need all that much trimming.

Do you happen to have any photos? I checked your YT/IG but didn't see anything there or the forums here.

[Topher Builds]

Originally Posted by CTYankee

Do you happen to have any photos? I checked your YT/IG but didn't see anything there or the forums here.

I don’t have them saved on my phone any longer but here’s a post with the rear trimmed. I’d take a pic of the front ones as they are now but I’ve trimmed them up more to fit a raptor body, they didn’t need much for the sport iirc.

Danza builds a submudder

[CTYankee]

Originally Posted by Pant Danza

I don’t have them saved on my phone any longer but here’s a post with the rear trimmed. I’d take a pic of the front ones as they are now but I’ve trimmed them up more to fit a raptor body, they didn’t need much for the sport iirc.

Danza builds a submudder

Thank you. Also looks like I need to move the body mount.