RCCrawler Forums

toys222 · 08-01-2019, 10:17 AM

Hi there, new member here! My wonderful wife just ordered me a TRX-4 chassis kit for my birthday! I'm stoked to finally get back into the RC game after a long break. I fell in love with RC back when the first T-maxx was released (~year 2001). I got hooked and played hard for many years (T-maxx/Supermaxx, Stampede, Revo, Losi buggy/truggy, etc.). Mostly nitro powered stuff. Then life got busy as I have many other interests and hobbies and I sold most of my collection. I've always missed it and said one day I'll be back.

I've wanted a trail rig/crawler for a while since I think it would scratch my itch for RC, but it still didn't feel like the right time. Well it's time now. At least I think it is! I'll be clearing my workbench space and making room for an organized build. I thought I wanted RTR, but realized it's going to be way more satisfying to have a little project time, and I'll appreciate the finished product that much more.

Anyhow, that's my story. Any tips/suggestions/comments about building a TRX-4 from kit or even just general comments about the TRX-4? I'm pretty sure I made a great choice and look forward to hanging out on these forums to share and learn!

Inspector86 · 08-01-2019, 07:53 PM

Welcome to RCC and the TRX4. You will love it. Have you given any thought to electronics or body yet?

toys222 · 08-01-2019, 09:48 PM

Thanks for the welcome!

As far as electronics I'm not sure yet. I know a better steering servo is a must so that will probably be first. It's hard for me to leave anything stock so I'll look into motor and ESC at some point. That's where I'll probably lean on you guys. Since I spent most of my time playing with nitro, I'm pretty much a newb when it comes to electric. Guess a 3S battery is recommended, but again this will be new territory for me. Lipo was just getting really big when I left the scene, so I still have much to learn here. Lighting kit is also on my mind - that might be fun!

As for body, I'm stoked to find Proline makes a Raptor body. For now that's the one!

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

MrAMath · 08-07-2019, 05:26 PM

The chassis kit I built came with inner fenders that made fitting any not-Traxxas body difficult. You might need to pick up the F/R shock towers at your local hobby store, then you’ll be good. I was waiting for the bronco body to come out as I totally hacked a proline XJ to get it to fit. Almost ended up looking like a square bodied Willy’s when it finally fit.
The VX-5 ESC is nothing to turn your nose at. Neither is the Titan 21t that comes with. Run the stock electronics for a bit to find the shortcomings. I haven’t broken the weak stock servo yet. TRX can be made to go fast but I don’t think that’s what it was designed for.
I love my chassis kit turned bronco. I’ve extended the stub shafts and added brass 12mm spacers and “brakes”. Stock tires ride on Chinese beadlocks. Lighting is next up as well as getting some of the telemetry stuff working. Ran into the rep at my LHS and he gave me some ideas. Could’be talked to him for an hour.

Exalted85 · 08-07-2019, 06:07 PM

If you go with the hobbywing 1080 esc, you might want a 4inch radio wire extension. I just built the sport kit. No issues. Make sure to power it on to set the servo before getting too deep. Pita adjusting later

toys222 · 08-07-2019, 09:19 PM

Thanks for the feedback! I like upgrading as things wear out or break. Sounds like the HW1080 ESC is a must when it comes upgrade time.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

toys222 · 08-07-2019, 11:18 PM

Been working hard to get my workshop cleaned up for this build. I dusted off the old RC toolbox tonight and got this work mat I found on Amazon put down. Not sure if I'll keep it yet, it's a bit smaller than I wanted especially since the work area is tidier now!

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

toys222 · 08-10-2019, 10:32 PM

It's time!

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

JC3 · 08-11-2019, 06:40 PM

Congrats and welcome to the X4 family! Depending on what your end use for the truck will be will determine the type of feedback you get on mods etc. It sounds like you're interested in trailing and while I do exclusively crawling, my first suggestion to try and resist putting anything on the truck that will raise the center of gravity. The lighter you can keep the body of the truck the better it will perform overall. Lower is better.

toys222 · 08-12-2019, 12:36 PM

Again thanks for the tips!

Not sure of the exact direction until the build gets closer to finished.

Here's the progress last night. Tranny is 95%.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

toys222 · 08-13-2019, 02:46 PM

More progress last night. Finished up the tranny and completed front/rear diffs.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

punkindrublik · 08-13-2019, 04:34 PM

Lookin good. You REALLY need to mess up that bench a little bit, lol. When I take pics I have to use the entire backside of my arm to clear a spot just to make it look half way not-messy.

Great job so far

toys222 · 08-13-2019, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by punkindrublik

Lookin good. You REALLY need to mess up that bench a little bit, lol. When I take pics I have to use the entire backside of my arm to clear a spot just to make it look half way not-messy.

Great job so far

Lol @punkindrublik I should post pics of my messy work bench before I cleaned it up for this project!

Cleanest it's been in a loooong time!

Thanks for the encouragement, I'm really enjoying being back in the RC world again!

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

JC3 · 08-14-2019, 05:18 AM

Build is looking good!

toys222 · 08-14-2019, 11:41 AM

Rear axle and portal assembly started last night...

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

toys222 · 08-15-2019, 11:08 AM

Front axle almost complete...

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

JatoTheRipper · 08-15-2019, 01:57 PM

Great choice for your first crawler kit! You will love it.

Great photos and very nice thread for your first build thread.

toys222 · 08-16-2019, 08:11 PM

Front axle finished and chassis started...

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

toys222 · 08-20-2019, 03:37 PM

Chassis, trans, motor, and electronics installed...

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

punkindrublik · 08-20-2019, 03:39 PM

Why isn't it muddy yet?!?

Looking great man!

08-01-2019, 10:17 AM	#1
toys222 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 101	Getting ready to build chassis kit Hi there, new member here! My wonderful wife just ordered me a TRX-4 chassis kit for my birthday! I'm stoked to finally get back into the RC game after a long break. I fell in love with RC back when the first T-maxx was released (~year 2001). I got hooked and played hard for many years (T-maxx/Supermaxx, Stampede, Revo, Losi buggy/truggy, etc.). Mostly nitro powered stuff. Then life got busy as I have many other interests and hobbies and I sold most of my collection. I've always missed it and said one day I'll be back. I've wanted a trail rig/crawler for a while since I think it would scratch my itch for RC, but it still didn't feel like the right time. Well it's time now. At least I think it is! I'll be clearing my workbench space and making room for an organized build. I thought I wanted RTR, but realized it's going to be way more satisfying to have a little project time, and I'll appreciate the finished product that much more. Anyhow, that's my story. Any tips/suggestions/comments about building a TRX-4 from kit or even just general comments about the TRX-4? I'm pretty sure I made a great choice and look forward to hanging out on these forums to share and learn!

08-01-2019, 07:53 PM	#2
Inspector86 RCC Addict Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Posts: 1,912	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit Welcome to RCC and the TRX4. You will love it. Have you given any thought to electronics or body yet?

08-01-2019, 09:48 PM	#3
toys222 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 101	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit Thanks for the welcome! As far as electronics I'm not sure yet. I know a better steering servo is a must so that will probably be first. It's hard for me to leave anything stock so I'll look into motor and ESC at some point. That's where I'll probably lean on you guys. Since I spent most of my time playing with nitro, I'm pretty much a newb when it comes to electric. Guess a 3S battery is recommended, but again this will be new territory for me. Lipo was just getting really big when I left the scene, so I still have much to learn here. Lighting kit is also on my mind - that might be fun! As for body, I'm stoked to find Proline makes a Raptor body. For now that's the one! Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

08-07-2019, 05:26 PM	#4
MrAMath Newbie Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Molalla Posts: 47	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit The chassis kit I built came with inner fenders that made fitting any not-Traxxas body difficult. You might need to pick up the F/R shock towers at your local hobby store, then you’ll be good. I was waiting for the bronco body to come out as I totally hacked a proline XJ to get it to fit. Almost ended up looking like a square bodied Willy’s when it finally fit. The VX-5 ESC is nothing to turn your nose at. Neither is the Titan 21t that comes with. Run the stock electronics for a bit to find the shortcomings. I haven’t broken the weak stock servo yet. TRX can be made to go fast but I don’t think that’s what it was designed for. I love my chassis kit turned bronco. I’ve extended the stub shafts and added brass 12mm spacers and “brakes”. Stock tires ride on Chinese beadlocks. Lighting is next up as well as getting some of the telemetry stuff working. Ran into the rep at my LHS and he gave me some ideas. Could’be talked to him for an hour. Last edited by MrAMath; 08-07-2019 at 05:26 PM. Reason: Spelling

08-07-2019, 06:07 PM	#5
Exalted85 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Cali Posts: 49	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit If you go with the hobbywing 1080 esc, you might want a 4inch radio wire extension. I just built the sport kit. No issues. Make sure to power it on to set the servo before getting too deep. Pita adjusting later

08-07-2019, 09:19 PM	#6
toys222 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 101	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit Thanks for the feedback! I like upgrading as things wear out or break. Sounds like the HW1080 ESC is a must when it comes upgrade time. Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

08-07-2019, 11:18 PM	#7
toys222 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 101	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit Been working hard to get my workshop cleaned up for this build. I dusted off the old RC toolbox tonight and got this work mat I found on Amazon put down. Not sure if I'll keep it yet, it's a bit smaller than I wanted especially since the work area is tidier now! Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

08-10-2019, 10:32 PM	#8
toys222 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 101	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit It's time! Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

08-11-2019, 06:40 PM	#9
JC3 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Low CG Posts: 266	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit Congrats and welcome to the X4 family! Depending on what your end use for the truck will be will determine the type of feedback you get on mods etc. It sounds like you're interested in trailing and while I do exclusively crawling, my first suggestion to try and resist putting anything on the truck that will raise the center of gravity. The lighter you can keep the body of the truck the better it will perform overall. Lower is better.

08-12-2019, 12:36 PM	#10
toys222 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 101	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit Again thanks for the tips! Not sure of the exact direction until the build gets closer to finished. Here's the progress last night. Tranny is 95%. Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

08-13-2019, 02:46 PM	#11
toys222 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 101	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit More progress last night. Finished up the tranny and completed front/rear diffs. Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

08-13-2019, 04:34 PM	#12
punkindrublik Quarry Creeper Join Date: May 2019 Location: North Highlands Posts: 483	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit Lookin good. You REALLY need to mess up that bench a little bit, lol. When I take pics I have to use the entire backside of my arm to clear a spot just to make it look half way not-messy. Great job so far

08-14-2019, 05:18 AM	#14
JC3 Quarry Creeper Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Low CG Posts: 266	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit Build is looking good!

08-14-2019, 11:41 AM	#15
toys222 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 101	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit Rear axle and portal assembly started last night... Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

08-15-2019, 11:08 AM	#16
toys222 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 101	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit Front axle almost complete... Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

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08-15-2019, 01:57 PM	#17
JatoTheRipper Moderator Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: PA Posts: 13,935	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit Great choice for your first crawler kit! You will love it. Great photos and very nice thread for your first build thread.

08-16-2019, 08:11 PM	#18
toys222 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 101	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit Front axle finished and chassis started... Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

08-20-2019, 03:37 PM	#19
toys222 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 101	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit Chassis, trans, motor, and electronics installed... Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

08-20-2019, 03:39 PM	#20
punkindrublik Quarry Creeper Join Date: May 2019 Location: North Highlands Posts: 483	Re: Getting ready to build chassis kit Why isn't it muddy yet?!? Looking great man!

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