Is the Redcat Ground Pounder Really That Bad?

[ski_rush]

I wanted to get back into RC monster trucks.

I found the Ground Pounder and thought it looked really cool. I also found that you can easily put clod buster wheels/tires on it, which made it even more appealing to me. I've read many reviews and they seem mixed. The video reviews all seem great, but I've read online that some people say parts break easy. Is this true? Can it really be that bad? I don't plan on jumping off 6 foot ramps. I just wanted to buzz around in dirt and fields.

I also found the Wheely King. I've seen that many people mod it quite a bit, but I don't like that it's 1/12 scale to start with and it requires a lot of modding just go get it to look fine with a 1/10 scale body. I also hate the "wheely" aspect. Not my thing. I've searched online and the "crawler kits" to extend the wheelbase are all long discontinued and there really isn't an easy way to extend it. It requires hunting for parts that I'm likely not going to find at my local hardware store in small town Nebraska.

Then, there's the tried and true stampede. I actually hate the way the stock body looks. First thing I would do is swap the body. I also don't love the smallish tire and wheel size. But, parts availability for this truck are unmatched.

Is the Redcat Ground Pounder really that bad? If so, then I guess I'm leaning toward the Stampede (2wd). I don't "love" the stampede because it seems so "blah". I want to stay well under $300.

 

[johnnyh66]

Get a used Traxxas Slash 4x4 and put bigger tires on it.

I've never owned a Redcat but I would tend to believe the horrible reviews knowing the beating MT's take.

Here's my Slash 4x4 with RPM Wide Crawler Wheels (to clear the C-Hubs) and 2.2 Pitbull XOR's

 

[ROWDY RACING]

Much like an Axial truck after key upgrades they are decent, lots of people do well racing them.

Good source for solid axle MT info.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/solidaxleshaftmonstertruck/

 

[Bmxreeves]

Traxxas stampede is the way to go, IMO very good car


__________________________
1.9 ibex tuber
Slash that got run over by reindeer

Cheers Jacob

 

[SteveC6R]

Take a look at the Proline MT, it's a kit but everything I've read about it says it's awesome.

 

[ski_rush]

Thanks for the suggestions guy. The only thing is that I wanted to go with a more true monster truck look (for my young son). I would pull the trigger on a stampede, but it doesn't really look like a monster truck.That's why I found the ground pounder; it looks like a real monster truck. I'm guessing too that I'm making this decision way harder than it need to be.

 

[chuckatruck]

I had a ground pounder the tranny setup is terrible, but if you put a steal geared axial tranny in it and good driveshaft it'll handle brushless motors and is a blast to drive .also the shocks needed rebuilt from the factory they would stick. The truck was a monster in the snow

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[chuckatruck]

Here's a pic of mine

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[ski_rush]

Here's a pic of mine

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Thanks for the pic. That's the look I'm going for. Where did you get your steel-geared tranny?

 

[chuckatruck]

I had an axial tranny laying around I threw in it blew gears out immediately then I ordered all steal gears for it

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[Natedog]

Get a used Traxxas Slash 4x4 and put bigger tires on it.

I've never owned a Redcat but I would tend to believe the horrible reviews knowing the beating MT's take.

Good idea.

Much like an Axial truck after key upgrades they are decent, lots of people do well racing them.

Good source for solid axle MT info.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/solidaxleshaftmonstertruck/

Asks me to login....no dice here.

Traxxas stampede is the way to go, IMO very good car

Stampede is good...I prefer 4x4 over 2 wheel drive for basher, much easier to line up and hit jumps with speed! "thumbsup" I had old school Stampeded 2WD and it was pretty fun and almost bullet-proof lol...always wished it was 4x4 though to line up and hit jumps with some real speed in the loose dirt.

Take a look at the Proline MT, it's a kit but everything I've read about it says it's awesome.

Nice, but only 2WD.

I had a ground pounder the tranny setup is terrible, but if you put a steal geared axial tranny in it and good driveshaft it'll handle brushless motors and is a blast to drive .also the shocks needed rebuilt from the factory they would stick. The truck was a monster in the snow

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

Interesting, quick cheap fix with parts everywhere. Yours looks great wtih the Kyosho tires/wheels on it? "thumbsup" Any video, action shots, or more of the axles themselves? Redcat's site doesn't have any good clear, larger size pics of the mechanics of this thing. EDIT: Pics are a bit better and bigger on picasaweb. Kinda looks like crappy HPI WheelyKing tranny in there lol...no wonder it blew up! :lmao:

I had an HPI Wheely King, sold it due to poor design, crappy wimpy plastic that stripped screw holes and broke kinda easily...not to mention sloppy parts tolerances and fitment.

 

[Bmxreeves]

There's a 4x4 stampede.


__________________________
1.9 ibex tuber
Slash that got run over by reindeer

Cheers Jacob

 

[chuckatruck]

Good idea.



Asks me to login....no dice here.



Stampede is good...I prefer 4x4 over 2 wheel drive for basher, much easier to line up and hit jumps with speed! "thumbsup"




Nice, but only 2WD.



Interesting, quick cheap fix with parts everywhere. Yours looks great wtih the Kyosho tires/wheels on it? "thumbsup" Any video, action shots, or more of the axles themselves? Redcat's site doesn't have any good clear, larger size pics of the mechanics of this thing. EDIT: Pics are a bit better and bigger on picasaweb.

I had an HPI Wheely King, sold it due to poor design, crappy wimpy plastic that stripped screw holes and broke kinda easily...not to mention sloppy parts tolerances and fitment.

Can't find any more pics of it never had a video. If you youtube or google brushless ground pounder you can find some decent videos. I had that traxxas brushless system in mine

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[chuckatruck]

Can't find any more pics of it never had a video. If you youtube or google brushless ground pounder you can find some decent videos. I had that traxxas brushless system in mine

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I lied I found more pics

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[chuckatruck]

I lied I found more pics

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

 

[TrailSnail]

After a few upgrades, my Ground Pounder is a lot of fun. The older transmissions had only one support and had issues, mine has had no problems on brushless power. I did do Mod 1 gears. Weakest points IMO are the shock mounts, links/rod ends. I bought axle braces that eliminate the stock shock mounts.

 

[ski_rush]

Where does one buy a "steal geared axial tranny"? Are you talking about the diffs? What specific parts does one look for?

 

[TrailSnail]

Where does one buy a "steal geared axial tranny"? Are you talking about the diffs? What specific parts does one look for?

He was referring to an Axial transmission with upgraded steel gears, like one made for a Wraith.