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Advice Needed: First Crawler Build – TRX-4 or Axial Base Camp?

Pheonix body sucks. Like Jato said the cab is ginormous and heavy. Yes I actually weighed it. I'm about to throw away 3 Pheonix cabs.
Pheonix portal has a draw back; the 8mm wheel wrench heavens sake don't lose it. Some wheels you have to have it and some you don't.
I have 1 wrench in the backpack and 1 zip tied to the truck. We have 1 guy that can't keep up with his. Always losing it.

I still say starting out Traxxas TRX4 Sport would be the best suggestion. Motor swaps are super easy in the TRX4 Sport, 3 screws. Plenty of aftermarket support and the dang thing just works and takes a beating.
I do like the VS410. I have 3 or 4.
The Axial Coyote looks promising. If I were going with Axial that would be the 1 not the base camp.
 
cul8tr said:
Pheonix body sucks. Like Jato said the cab is ginormous and heavy. Yes I actually weighed it. I'm about to throw away 3 Pheonix cabs.
Pheonix portal has a draw back; the 8mm wheel wrench heavens sake don't lose it. Some wheels you have to have it and some you don't.
I have 1 wrench in the backpack and 1 zip tied to the truck. We have 1 guy that can't keep up with his. Always losing it.

I still say starting out Traxxas TRX4 Sport would be the best suggestion. Motor swaps are super easy in the TRX4 Sport, 3 screws. Plenty of aftermarket support and the dang thing just works and takes a beating.
I do like the VS410. I have 3 or 4.
The Axial Coyote looks promising. If I were going with Axial that would be the 1 not the base camp.
Click to expand...
If you lived closer I'd take those Phoenix cabs off your hands. Shipping would kill the deal though.

The 8mm wheel nut is annoying for sure. I didn't know they were doing that on the Phoenix, but makes sense since I assume it is all of their portal axles.
 
Really the Phoenix body is heavier than the TRX sport with the roll bar and scale accessories in the bed? Thats interesting. I dont have a sport body to compare to...

I agree. I think the TRX platform is a great place for someone new to start if they want a "jack of all trades" type vehicle. Especially if you have a local hobby shop for spare/replacement parts. I dont think you would need many, Ive seen some guys put their TRX4 through some abuse, its what sold me on getting one.

Id also say the sport is maybe a better start as well. The lockers and 2 speed are fun if you know what you are doing and how to properly engage them. But ultimately it kinda wears off after awhile and you just find yourself in full locked mode low gear most if not all the time anyway. So less money up front and less stuff to go wrong and break...
 
Curious what you chose?

I know this thread is a few months old but I literally have both trucks sitting under our Christmas tree and its killing me!
 
Picked up the basecamp on a whim....i happen to love the tacoma look and it was on sale for 250.

Got a TRX4 kit to build with my son as Ive heards its a near indestructible truck and he likes the idea of all the gadgets gears and lockers.
 
space_truckin said:
Picked up the basecamp on a whim....i happen to love the tacoma look and it was on sale for 250.

Got a TRX4 kit to build with my son as Ive heards its a near indestructible truck and he likes the idea of all the gadgets gears and lockers.
Click to expand...
Welcome to the site!

Axial for performance, but Traxxas for quality and durability.
 
I have recently got a trx4m high trail and plan on using it more for trail-type of crawling and in the mud, and at the beach.
I am wondering if there are any upgrades that I should add to it. (I'm 15 and am just starting with the hobby. I have other RC cars)
 
I wouldn't "beach" an rc the saltwater is a real no no for the bearings and such metallic parts.
 
Kingduck said:
When I sat beach i mean in the sand, I would not drive it in the water
Click to expand...
I drove my Kyosho Scorpion on the beach just at the edge of the water. It was rusty before I made it back home by the end of the week. Salt water is super corrosive. So if you do drive it on the beach that's fine, but I was suggest rinsing it off with fresh water and oiling it as soon as you can afterwards.
 
Not much different, really, the moisture in the air/sand, unless you're "sand dragging" on the dry part, and even then, my slash turnbuckles caught rust, from driving in socal Well, where do you live?

*Mud, cover the motor with a sock( or like item), so none enters the commutator holes. Unless brushless already.
 
JatoTheRipper said:
If you lived closer I'd take those Phoenix cabs off your hands. Shipping would kill the deal though.

The 8mm wheel nut is annoying for sure. I didn't know they were doing that on the Phoenix, but makes sense since I assume it is all of their portal axles.
Click to expand...
I know this is a few month old but yes all their portals use the m5 nuts. I've had some compatibility issues with some hubs and its annoying. But good ol lockeduprc has something that might be of interest to you.


I need to buy some myself. Having to carry 2 different wrenches for one truck (my mullet) is silly.
 
JatoTheRipper said:
I drove my Kyosho Scorpion on the beach just at the edge of the water. It was rusty before I made it back home by the end of the week. Salt water is super corrosive. So if you do drive it on the beach that's fine, but I was suggest rinsing it off with fresh water and oiling it as soon as you can afterwards.
Click to expand...
Pictures, or you know what.......it didn't...happen. We want to see this Kyosho scropion!
 
Col_Sanders said:
I know this is a few month old but yes all their portals use the m5 nuts. I've had some compatibility issues with some hubs and its annoying. But good ol lockeduprc has something that might be of interest to you.


I need to buy some myself. Having to carry 2 different wrenches for one truck (my mullet) is silly.
Click to expand...
Very cool find! I wish LURC would offer a cheaper shipping option like AMain or something. If they did, I'd order from them more often.
 
Last edited:
Gula said:
Pictures, or you know what.......it didn't...happen. We want to see this Kyosho scropion!
Click to expand...
I have no idea what happened to the pics and videos from the beach, but I still have the freshly-built pics. Beautiful car, OK to drive on the beach, but not good for much else so it is one of the few RC cars I've sold over the years.
0425151235b by imtoomuch1, on Flickr
0425151234a by imtoomuch1, on Flickr
 
Kingduck said:
I have recently got a trx4m high trail and plan on using it more for trail-type of crawling and in the mud, and at the beach.
I am wondering if there are any upgrades that I should add to it. (I'm 15 and am just starting with the hobby. I have other RC cars)
Click to expand...
Play to your hearts content until it doesn’t run anymore and you have to clean out the sand, rust and basic maintenance. Get an extra motor and bearings while you are at it. The fusion mini16 might be a good upgrade if the stock motor goes out.

After a weekend I usually replace a bearing or two from rusting out even with sealed bearings. They usually need a good cleaning after too which isn’t all that bad.
 
The TRX4 and Axial are both great and I own a couple TRX4's and several SCX based rigs. The TRX4 is virtually indestructible, but the SCX can take a lik'n too. There's a ton of aftermarket support / parts for both so you can truly personalize either rig to your specifications. You really can't go wrong with either. I will say I'm not a fan at all of the RTR Traxxas electronics. You'll likely end up changing them out on either rig though so, it might be down to what you can get a deal on.
 
JatoTheRipper said:
Kyosho Scorpion. It's a re-release of an 80's design so not going to survive bashing.
Click to expand...
Killer Scorpion Tim! I've been so close to pulling the trigger on the re-release of the Tomahawk! As a kid, I absolutely lusted after it and would spend hours staring at it in the Tower Hobbies mailer.

​

 
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