Buggy to truck conversion possible?

[Stigtheone]

Hello all!
As a relative noob to the RC Nitro game, I have been wondering if I can convert my 4wd buggy into a truck...
Is it even possible to do it?
Would it be a case of just finding a shell to fit and removing the rear wing and associated bits?
Or is it something more in depth and out of my noob league?

 

[Chubaka]

If its a traxxas, there is a good possibility, especially rwd.

You have 2 options imo, check the manufacturers website. If they offer both, good chance parts are swapable.

Option 2, buy truck body and wheels. Jconcepts, proline racing and several tothers offer different bodies. Going from buggy to truck, your gearing will be too high more than likely, so maybe grab some smaller pinions.

 

[Stigtheone]

If its a traxxas, there is a good possibility, especially rwd.

You have 2 options imo, check the manufacturers website. If they offer both, good chance parts are swapable.

Option 2, buy truck body and wheels. Jconcepts, proline racing and several tothers offer different bodies. Going from buggy to truck, your gearing will be too high more than likely, so maybe grab some smaller pinions.

Sorry if I’ve explained it badly bud, I don’t mean the crawler type truck, I mean the flatbed type truck- is still be using it on the street as I don’t use my buggy off road anyway lol

 

[Greywolf74]

you're talking about trying to make it into something like this right? Just want to make sure British English and American English are on the same page.

 

[Stigtheone]

you're talking about trying to make it into something like this right? Just want to make sure British English and American English are on the same page.
View attachment 133320

No like a pick up truck mate like this or similar (just realised I'm being an almighty idiot) lol

 

[Tunedfrog]

An outreach, perhaps but an almighty idiot? NO
We are all guilty of trying to build something up RC, that's the nature of the hobby and why we love them.
Give it a try. I've mentioned before, if it works great, if not, you can build back up two original rigs.

 

[Greywolf74]

No like a pick up truck mate like this or similar (just realised I'm being an almighty idiot) lol

Either way I have no clue how you would put anything but a buggy body on a buggy because of the way the chassis, shock towers, body posts etc are. Not saying you couldnt mod some sort of new body post system up but even if you figure out how to do that the body would have to be on top of the shock towers which is going to make the body sit really high and probably not look right. Sorry, wish I could be more helpful.

 

[Stigtheone]

An outreach, perhaps but an almighty idiot? NO
We are all guilty of trying to build something up RC, that's the nature of the hobby and why we love them.
Give it a try. I've mentioned before, if it works great, if not, you can build back up two original rigs.

Haha thanks mate, first step is to find a shell that will work, it’s more about customisation for me tbf, my Frankenstein Duratrax shell was made from a broken old axis shell an a shell from one of my kids old cheap electric rc cars, turned out pretty cool!

Either way I have no clue how you would put anything but a buggy body on a buggy because of the way the chassis, shock towers, body posts etc are. Not saying you couldnt mod some sort of new body post system up but even if you figure out how to do that the body would have to be on top of the shock towers which is going to make the body sit really high and probably not look right. Sorry, wish I could be more helpful.

Thanks, this is why i asked here bud! I’ll have a look at some shell sizes and stuff, I can make new shock towers from steel plate easily and get some shorter shockers if needed. Just like to play with things and these are something to do when the weathers crap outside and I can’t work on my bike lol

 

[Greywolf74]

Thanks, this is why i asked here bud! I’ll have a look at some shell sizes and stuff, I can make new shock towers from steel plate easily and get some shorter shockers if needed. Just like to play with things and these are something to do when the weathers crap outside and I can’t work on my bike lol

Ahhh shorter shock towers would help for sure. I dont have the means to fab my own parts so I dont do much in the way of mods that I can't buy online. Hope you get it figured out. Would love to see it.

 

[Tunedfrog]

It's going to be a very cool build regardless. Post the pics...

 

[Stigtheone]

Ahhh shorter shock towers would help for sure. I dont have the means to fab my own parts so I dont do much in the way of mods that I can't buy online. Hope you get it figured out. Would love to see it.

I wouldn’t mind if I have to leave the shock tower a poking out a hole in the body, that’s kind of my style anyway but yeah I can do bits like shock towers as I’ve got some 3mm steel sheet here and the tools to work it!
Going to see if I can find some dimensions of different shells first, need to match the wheelspan as best as possible first I suppose then go from there!

It's going to be a very cool build regardless. Post the pics...

Thank mate hopefully I can find the right shell to work first! I’ll defo post on here too

 

[Stigtheone]

So, as an update, I’ve scoured the web tonight and found one shell that would fit my wheelbase exactly- a Traxxas Tmaxx long wheelbase shell (see pic of clear body). Also found a gorgeous looking new-shape F150 shell (see pic of blue 150), that’s 15mm s but is more expensive. The traxxas is fairly cheap, around £20 the f150 is £35... (shame my wheelbase is so long as there was a few shells I’d have loved to bought- mk2 escort and escort cosworth!!!)
So looks like the project may make it to stage two!
Also bought the pull start and carb dust cover needed for the camper so we may get that running within the next week!
All in all progress, let’s see what the next stage brings!
Thanks for the help and encouragement lads, should be some interesting bits coming soon then

 

[Greywolf74]

Awesome! progress!

 

[Chubaka]

Love the f150. A shorter maxx is nothing but a chassis and braces.

Being across the pond, I'm not sure on what you can get. Maxx 3.3 revo 3.3 and savage bodies supposedly all work on your wheelbase.

 

[Stigtheone]

Love the f150. A shorter maxx is nothing but a chassis and braces.

Being across the pond, I'm not sure on what you can get. Maxx 3.3 revo 3.3 and savage bodies supposedly all work on your wheelbase.

It’s the maxx 3.3 that I found, I’ll take a look at the revo 3.3 bud thanks for the pointer!
Edit; they come back as 348mm wheelbase so slightly over size, may just be the maxx for me then as it’s bang on 330mm like my buggy is

 

[Stigtheone]

Is £33 too much to pay for a new clear body shell?
Dont mind the fact I’m going to cut it etc but I really don’t see any other models that will fit and I haven’t bought other shells before so not sure what people usually expect to pay for them lol
Ooooh just found this, bit rough around the edges and in the bed but I don’t mind the look tbh, £27 delivered doesn’t sound bad either

 

[Greywolf74]

Is £33 too much to pay for a new clear body shell?
Dont mind the fact I’m going to cut it etc but I really don’t see any other models that will fit and I haven’t bought other shells before so not sure what people usually expect to pay for them lol
Ooooh just found this, bit rough around the edges and in the bed but I don’t mind the look tbh, £27 delivered doesn’t sound bad either

33GBP is 45USD which is a decent price on a body here. I just bought a Kyosho Hellcat body that cost me about 58GBP. A lot of 1/8th scale bodies here are up in the 55-60GBP price range

 

[Stigtheone]

33GBP is 45USD which is a decent price on a body here. I just bought a Kyosho Hellcat body that cost me about 58GBP. A lot of 1/8th scale bodies here are up in the 55-60GBP price range

Second hand too? I think I’m gonna go for that silver ford shell of the dimensions are good, either that or the Emaxx shell as it’s wider than the tmaxx and doesn’t have the head cut out which means I can cut out wherever I need mine to be... looking forward to getting hold of the pull start and dust cover for the Camper now so i can check she runs well, as that’s the one I want to modify (I have a duaratrax axis but the front bulk head is damaged and they are impossible to replace so not 100% on modding that yet)

 

[Greywolf74]

Second hand too? I think I’m gonna go for that silver ford shell of the dimensions are good, either that or the Emaxx shell as it’s wider than the tmaxx and doesn’t have the head cut out which means I can cut out wherever I need mine to be... looking forward to getting hold of the pull start and dust cover for the Camper now so i can check she runs well, as that’s the one I want to modify (I have a duaratrax axis but the front bulk head is damaged and they are impossible to replace so not 100% on modding that yet)

Not secondhand. I was referring to new unpainted bodies.

 

[Stigtheone]

I see mate sorry lol but I think I’ll wait for a reply from the silver ford and compare it to the emaxx shell then make my decision. I’m just a tight @rse lol