Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Nate, I love the pics! Your rig is an inspiration for all ascender owners for certain. I love the KLR's as well. They are a wide tire and I run Locked up wheels with their widener ring. The wheel and ring is made for the tire. Looks and fits spot on. I also run single stage TSL XL CI foams and vent the tires with 4 2mm leather punch holes in the front and 3 in the back. I have all 3 compounds and like the blues best for Wv terrain.

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Thanks, KLRs a great looking tire too, I may have to try a set! Great info on the foams/wheel setup you're using, thanks! LockedUpRC makes nice wheels too, I'll have to look at your pics again. :)

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

I've scanned through your thread. I haven't had a time to read it all. Lots of great info.

Do you still think the HR Wraith swaybar set is the best way to go to control torque twist?

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Thanks, I do still think the Axial (not HR) Front Swaybar kit is the best way to tame TT with the Ascender. :) HR will work too, but the quality is not as good.
The Soft bar works great.

AX30781
Wraith Front Sway Bar Set (Soft, Medium, Firm)
http://www.axialracing.com/products/ax30781

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Sensei, please make a photo of the shocks with all this features. Your kung-fu is stronger than my kung-fu. I don't get everything you describe. Please!

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Thanks! I'll have to try them!

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

You're welcome! :)

I picked up some supplies at LHS the other day and started fabbing some scale accessories with a dual purpose.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psmu9dk0bj.jpg


Pictures for guidance, since I don't have my old 60" Hi-Lift anymore.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psautv3ee7.jpg


First step of the first part to build.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psgzis0oie.jpg

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

I just had to approve post #410

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

I'll get some pics of the shocks for you. "thumbsup"

@Eepee, thanks! I was like where'd that post come from lol. :)

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

I'm curious if the ascender has different bodies for it? Also, who makes them? Thanks

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Yes Nates Va'Blazer definately has some Kung-Fu, rock crawling Kung-Fu!!!

Moon rocks was a blast!! It had been a while, and definately brought back memories of old Parker courses.

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Pretty much any body with proper wheelbase can fit, like any crawler. Find the body you like and adjust your wheelbase to fit or shop for body with wheelbase that you want and then check the width and height dimensions too. "thumbsup"

Va'Blazer....I like it and thanks Kung-Fu grip!!!

Yes, it was!!! "thumbsup"

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Nice photos of Moon Rocks Nate. I have personally seen the Kung Fu Grip ( KFG) Blazer in action and it does work well. Oh and the driver he does a pretty good job himself"thumbsup"

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Hey Nate, have you given any thought to your rock sliders. I'm in between orders right now, and getting ready to start a Twin Hammer build, so I'm ready when you are."thumbsup"
Ernie,

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

THanks Bill! 8)

Hey Ernie,
I have not given it enough thought, kinda got writer's block or something lol. I need to look around at some more pics. :)

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

OK, I know how that works. I have my Hammer spread out in my scale
garage hoping it will tell me what it wants to look like.:lmao:

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

What size battery are you runnin? I'm going to be getting one in a couple weeks. Not sure about kit or rtr though. I like building the kit. What do you recommend for electronics if not going rtr?

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Yes and thanks! "thumbsup"

Orion Shorty pack 2S, 4500mah and SMC Shorty pack 2s 4400mah. "thumbsup"

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Im running 2200 3s in the ascender and I love the power. How do the 2s 4500mah compare with them. By the way thanks for all the info you have provided.

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

I've run that same battery and it's great power! I'll probably do 2-speed and stay with 2s. You're welcome and glad I could help! :)

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Great thread/build/info"thumbsup"
I'm tripping on the mileage you got off the original tires and the fact that they work great. What does this Mixture (quote above)do for these tires? I've yet to learn about this trick. Does it make them stickier? And did you do this with the original tires from the RTR?

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Thanks, the RTR and kit tires are the same, I love the size, good traction, looks! The water with Simple Green mix helps clean the mould release off the tires and makes them stickier. I did this with NIP kit tires I bought from RCC member and mounted on the RC4WD white spokes. Did it to my kit tires too. "thumbsup" :)

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Hello Friend.

You have a very good car and I liked the torsion bar.

Anyway, I liked that the stabilizer bar but no reference has that piece, is not no where to buy and what is worse not know how to put it.

See if you can help me.

Thank you.

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Why did you choose the CI foams for the Rock Beasts instead of those labeled as "DEUCE'S WILD SINGLE STAGE FOR 1.9 TIRES; 4.60”-4.40” TALL"?

I'm considering DW foams, but I'm afraid they'll be too stiff for my stock Ascender that will have very little weight added to it.

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

PM'ed you. :)

Hmmmm, didn't see that option when I bought foams before, not sure it it was available then. Where did the part number listings go on CI's site? Here's a comparison of the CI DW Pitbull Rockbeast, Pro-Line TSL XL, and the ones that you mentioned...strange that it lists from larger od to smaller od, usually specs are given the opposite way. I have several other CI DW foams with part numbers written on the foams themselves, but no header cards saying what they are for. Part numbers listed on CI site would help. I chose the Pitbull Rockbeast foams to allow some squish in the tire tread, yet wide enough to support the sidewall. They work great, but ideally I think about 1/16" - 3/32" wider and about 1/8" taller would be perfect. I've used his dual stage foams before and they work great, but are not waterprooof and soften with use much more than his closed cell DWs.

Product Comparison: Deuce's Wild Single Stage 1.9 Pitbull Rock Beast Foam Pair VS Deuce's Wild Single Stage 1.9 Proline TSL SX *XL* Foam Pair (2) VS Deuce's Wild Single Stage for 1.9 Tires; 4.60

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

in Colorado we have hobby store that mainly does rock crawling vehicles. The owner is very knowledgable about all things crawler.
When I went in and told him I needed foams for my stock Ascender tires he immediately grabbed a set of CI DW Rock Beast foams. So far I really like them.
A cool thing about CI is that you can email them with what your truck is, what it weighs, and what your intended use is and they will tell you what set of foams will work best for you.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

P/N: CWR-3008
Here's the linK: Deuce's Wild Single Stage for 1.9 Tires; 4.60

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Sammy J., glad to hear more LHS are stocking CI foams, mine does too. Glad that you're liking the foams so far. :)

JatoTheRipper, Thanks I overlooked the part number, have to click on each tire for details and then read lol. :oops::mrgreen: I'll re-measure the stock Ascender tires and might need to buy a set of those foams, thanks!

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Thank you! I wish CI listed dimensions of their foams. It's an annoying omission.

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Little scale styrene fab update:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psmm0si0mg.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pshhxzctyb.jpg


Life always seems so busy...
Red and I were kinda tired last night after painting the first batch of what seems like miles of baseboard, but we had to make time to check out the sweet new rock sliders that Codyboy built for me. Sliders are mix of tube and solid steel, with baked on high temp gloss black paint and look awesome! Hopefully bolt them on tonight after more baseboard painting.

Thanks again Codyboy! 8) :) "thumbsup"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps7rmyieim.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psnnegl01q.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psef2ixzpz.jpg

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Here's the pictures of the shocks and spring preload adjusters that you requested. "thumbsup"

Fronts:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps0cx4h0fz.jpg


Rears:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pswt53y6tz.jpg

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

[QUOTE=Natedog;5466903]Here's the pictures of the shocks and spring preload adjusters that you requested. "thumbsup"

Sensei, it looks you have not yet installed any TA down stoppers. Am I right?

How do new lower links help to improve Ascender?

And you promised to tell us about aluminium upper link mounts. Are they worth $13 (strc)? And what do they effort?

Thanks for your knowledge and experience!

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Those two pictures are with 9mm (3/8") down travel stoppers (internal limiters) installed inside the shock absorbers.

New lower links add a little weight down low, are much stronger than stock (I have not bent the stock aluminum lower links yet) and are very nicely machined (looks great).

STRC aluminum upper link mounts are not necessary, I have not broken the stock plastic pieces and if you are rough with your Ascender, plastic parts help prevent breaking something else. STRC aluminum are a nice option, look good, and come in a couple different colors if you want to dress it up. For $13 they are a great deal, here's all the parts they currently offer for the Vaterra Ascender:
Vaterra Blazer Ascender/Ford Bronco

You're welcome! :)

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

I have bent one of the metal links. Bad 10' fall. passenger front wheel hit first and bent the link. bent it back strait and still running it today. To be honest its the first time I have ever bent a metal link.

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

I tried a set of the tsl xl's in my rock beast they really filled the tires too much. they do have them labeled for the rock beasts. I have a set. much better fit then the others.

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Yes, I've bent some titanium links too, good field fix, no cracks in it when you bent it back? My Axial SCX10 front lower links bent into "high-clearance" links pretty quickly. :)

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

I bent a link on my Ascender on my first time out. That is also my first time ever bending a link.

I PMed CI about the size of the Rock Beast Deuce's Wild versus the 4.60"-4.40" foams. He hasn't gotten back to me. So I ordered the Rock Beast size foams because that's all RPP had in stock. I'll see how I like them. If worse comes to worse I'll order the 4.60"-4.40" foams as well.

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

I wish CI listed the diameter and widths of foams, would make it much easier to buy (and trim if needed) the best foams to fit our Ascender (and other) tires. I have the CI DW Rockbeast foams and TSL XL foams, would love to know what the dimensions of the CWR-3008 foams are...they look promising for the Vaterra TSLs, but since site doesn't give any sizes it's hard to know. I stopped by LHS yesterday to check them and purchase (they stock a lot of CI products), but unfortunately they didn't have the CWR-3008 foams in stock. They said they are waiting on a large order, but couldn't tell me if those were in the order or if they ordered them.

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

SLiders installed, fit and finish is awesome, thanks Ernie! 8)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psvozerflw.jpg


Little hard to see in this pic due to lighting and black color. Just need to get out and scratch them up a little on the trails. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...pstxmbbgzs.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psx0cpfh4t.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psxs1h5mey.jpg

Re: Natedog's Vaterra ASCENDER
 

Great thread! Very informative. I just recently purchased and Ascender and installed the Wraith front sway bar last night. Just curious how you took up the play/slop where the sway bar goes through the ball links. The side to side is not an issue with spacers it's the diameter of the ball links being slightly larger than the diameter of the bar.

Thx