To get or not to get a TLT kit?

[Madkoifish]

Ok this is similar to the other thread here but a few diffrences, hence I didnt want to hijack someone elses thread for my questions.
Lets start from the begining shal we?
I definetly want to build up a solid axel crawler, I want to be able to mount 1/18 scale bodies on it maybe a few 1/10 Either way Im looking to make a small crawler/basher.
My prolblem is should I just buy the axels diffs and related stuff that would be needed for the axels and build a custom chassis with either the typical pede center tranny or any other 2wd tranny in there ( I currently have a old losi lst sitting around, it has a lt less mass than a pede but its a ball diff (something a mess of JB weld could fix I suppose) ) OR should I go out and spend the wad for a rolling chassis new or used and build up from there?? Issue for me is COST Im a poor ass and usualy go about fabbing all my stuff. I would also like to know if there are sites or ways to aquire this stuff either a whole tlt or the bits needed for a custom. OTHER than ebay, personaly I cant stand the place for other reasons. AND as well of someone can point me in the right way for a listing of parts of the tlt used IE diffs axle housings bearing, hubs knuckles etc ( a scan of the manuals part list would be helpfull ( I havent found any online YET) I have seen peoples comments about widening the axles etc so maybe I could look at other makes?? Because as I see it all I need is axles of some sort with gear diffs I can lock with standard outdrive cups and plenty of places to bolt on ball joints or other connections. Im a bit of a n00b at the solid axle thing Been in RC for over 15years now but everything has been h arms >_<
Summer is coming to seattle and I want to get my projet on a roll before the rain stops ~_~ (heh thats if it stops :mrgreen: ) I also want to try something diffrent hence the thought of hacking apart my losi lst the tranny is pretty small has a steel idler and easy to replace spurs. Even a slipper (dunno if thats usefull)
Thanks in advance for any help provided.

 

[rc4x4nut]

With the TLT based project from what I have seen it doesnt matter if you start out with a roller or just the axles. Just the other day I saw a pair of used axles go for just as much as a new kit from ultimatehobbies. If you want something cheap and simple then go with the toureg.

 

[Madkoifish]

not looking for a H arm suspention

your not meaning this thing??

http://www.rccaraction.com/articles/tvr_touareg.asp

if so its not much diffrent than the many other vehicles I already own. Its sounding like a better idea to buy a rolling chassis over parts. I figured just mybe I could slip by on it since its only the axles. Guess the avlibiity of HPI "trees" has spoiled me some. Used to going out and being able to buy anything as a seprate item in baggies. lol
Ill have to do more homework it seems and make my leap when I do Ill document it since people seem to have fun seeing stuff progress.
NOW time to figure out where I can find the $$$ for this new project!!

 

[Madkoifish]

OK! another DARRR I just found a parts listing of all the stuffs for the car now to find out if they can be gotten localy and at a street cost. heh
urls are for others looking for the same things I am.
http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/rcpss.php?command=parts&kit_id=47201
32$ cromed plastic deals
http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=53693
starting to look like a new kit is the better buy. what I know Ill need so far is close to 66$ maybe more. . . . blah
guess the left overs will just add to my piles of stuff. XD

 

[JakeTheAlligatorMan]

Check your LHS or Tower for a Kit, Spend the extra $$$ for the Max Climber(Tougher Upgraded Axles) Sell the Extra Parts( Here, There, Ebay, Wherever) That's Probably the cheapest & most Painfree way Honestly.

Fab a Chassis(you can get more than enough ideas & help here to "git ur dun", Hack the Stocker, or Get a Bulu.

Use whatever tranny makes you happy(sounds like you got the idea of what will work) but you will probably get the most help around here with a $40 Pede tranny. The latest Pede Tranny also has holes pre-drilled in the output shafts(nice bonus)


Just a thought... instead of scraping a whole car for the tranny you might be able to sell it and buy a pede tranny, tires, etc...


Touregs/Trials Trucks are great fun, but not anything like a well built TLT.

Hope this helps, Probably the most helpfull thing you could do for yourself is come hang out with us the ORCRC gang down here in Portland at the next comp in June.
Or if your down here sooner we get together on Sundays usually. Check out RCJimsPlace.com/Clubs/Oregon Xtreme

 

[ILoveRCRockCrawlin]

just go to tower and go to the parts list for crawlers and buy the parts you want or need

 

[radishkid]

just go to tower and go to the parts list for crawlers and buy the parts you want or need

Once again, it's cheaper to just buy the kit and sell the parts that you don't need. Buying parts separately is generally more expensive.

Additionally, InetRC makes axle wideners for the TLT series. However, if you are trying to keep this @ 1/18 scale, doing so will completely defeat the idea of a small scale truck. Perhaps consider the PTI monster truck that a few people are starting to get. It is more expensive than a TLT, but it's more capable should you decide to keep it closer to stock. Anything TLT will cost you quite a bit by the time you mod it to work right, but you will enjoy the truck. The axles are a nice little piece of engineering, the rest is more or less useless for crawling, as you already know. The advice of going for a max climber is excellent. Tamiya worked out the bugs with the stub axles and battery placement on that one (granted you keep the stock chassis)

 

[Madkoifish]

Basicly Im looking for something I could stuff in a backpack. So most of what I have seen for 2.2 seems to fit that size. The reason I refered to other brands of axle is that I wouldnt need to extend the axles, Seems to me that extending the wheelbase via bits that bolt on outside the steering radius wouldnt be the best thing, or is it?? heh I know for everything else Ive done RC we tried like hell to keep the turn radius inside the wheels centerline. Either way I go with this I cant wait to get started.
Oh yeah for the tranny that lxt is like OLD it was the replacement for the JRXT so I doubt I could sell it for enough to even buy a pede tranny. . . . that and the lst gearbox looks much smaller and lighter, only issue I see is most everyone is running universals out of the center drive line so I would have to drill the steel bits or modify it to work with those. I originaly planned to use dogbones but thats sounding not so good as Im progresing through some of these sites.

 

[toyofast]

Oh yeah for the tranny that lst is like OLD it was the replacement for the JRXT so I doubt I could sell it for enough to even buy a pede tranny. . . .

Convert the LST tranny to use sliders. I'm sure you can find parts or a whole older Losi tranny to use. I have a JRX2,(purchased in 1989)... the sliders on it are almost exactly like the 'Pede ones. The inner diameter is off a bit but overall the two are about equal.

I'd like to use my old Losi tranny in a crawler but I know the gears will strip after a few runs. The plastic used back then isn't like the ones today.

 

[Madkoifish]

Anyone here know off hand what a rs4 mini nitro with a dynamate engine carbon plates and the racer chassis would go for?? lol
Im grasping at straws here. I cant find any non ebay sites to list or find costs for my old junk ;p
I think no one would want the stuff nitro minis are dead and the lxt is soo OLD its a joke. lol
Well some way or manner Ill get my tlt, then I can harass you all on the best way to design a chassis and stuff ;p

 

[rc4x4nut]

What condition is the nitro mini in?

 

[Madkoifish]

Dusty for sitting around has a newish dynamite 12pd pics as follows

one harm is sorta iffy, loaned it to someone :? so 20$ at LHS to replace, stuff is still sold AFAIK.
I have hpi alum shocks for it and some hubcarriers but I found em brittle so its got stockers on from the stronger rally set Fiber plastic (originals were this rubbery stuff)

I was thinking 200 with sime junk. the 2 speed is a bit much for it and one reason I dont run it. You need a snooth blacktop surface. I have tar and gravel roads here and that beats the living piss out of my rally and touring cars. T_T so outtqa my toys this and my LXT are the only things Im really left to sell. I have a old bigfoot from kyosho but I think the shipping would cost more than the truck itself.
Im hoping to raise funds for a tlt and a pede tranny, thats if any are left when I allocate funds T_T hehe Oh yeah electrics arnt included its all junk as well. I do have some misc parts and things too.

 

[Madkoifish]

Ok Im thinking 250 with all gear IE rtr just need a hump pack for the electrics. 200$ roller and as everything is OBO applys! Ive been told 150 is all i should expect but What I will do is itemise all the stuff Because the pic isnt all you get. It as well doesnt show the 4 universal axles the full bering kit fiber pad and a few other small things. Its so hard to judge cause all the used examples I keep finding are roller minipros which are electric. And dont really compare since the pro went for darn near 50% the cost new.
Basicly what Im wanting is enough to get a pede and a nib tlt so I could be conned into less for trade. IE good unscratched/abused pede and 150?? who knows.
I also have a oldish LXT I could sell as well and a old dusty kyosho USA 1 (sorry called it a blackfoot earlier GAHh) latter wouldnt sell for more than the shipping cost I feel lol thin weighs a tonne.
Im cleaning it up now and taking pics of the bits
current sales I found
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=44015&item=5975844831&rd=1
buy it now price of 350USD and that thing is STOCK, well more stock than mine so I think 200$ for rolling chassis is a good price to work with 250 for the electrics.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=44020&item=5976810485&rd=1


anyhoo Ill start a new thread on this , where I dunno but heh pm if you run into this here and are intrested. its just Im strying from the goal of tis thread which wqas to decide to buy a kit or to buy parts for a tlt, the decision has been made so heh time to let this thread DIE lol
My sale page

 

[Madkoifish]

Ok adding to this I just aquired a pede tranny and found other cash for the tlt SO I might consider many types of offers or trades please pm if intrested. Thanks for all the help suggestions and tips. I still wanna try the old XX tranny!! hehe