Gonna buy a nitro truck....

[ncfishers]

Hey All,

I've been lurking for awhile, but this is my first post.

I'm planning on buying a truck pretty soon. Budget is <$600, so for the most part money isn't a huge issue. Current top contenders are the HPI Savage 25(possibly the SS), the XTM Mammoth, and the GS Racing Storm. I will be doing probably 85% bashing, but I want to be able to race at the local track every now and then and be somewhat competitive. I've read all kinds of good things about the savage as a basher, but how does it do on a track? How much would it cost to make it perform competitively on a track(engine, different suspension parts, etc..). Also since a lot of my driving will be on grass in the backyard will the mammoth/storm truggies bog down to much in 3-4 inch grass?

I've started to rule out the mammoth just because it "looks" a little weak structurally. It is the cheapest and fastest though, not that top speed is the most important thing in bashing or racing. Between the truggies I'm leaning towards the GS SUT right now because I haven¡¦t found anyone that's said anything negative about it(anyone know how fast it¡¦s supposed to go?). Overall I think the savage looks the toughest, and would make the best basher, I just don't know how it'll handle track duties. Maybe I'll just have to buy a savage and then a 1/8 buggy If only that money tree I planted would come to fruition. Obviously another big thing is aftermarket/replacement parts availability. The savage has the best support from my LHS follow by the SUT(75% storm parts).

Well after all that babbling I guess I¡¦m really down to the Savage and the SUT. Two completely different types of trucks. So I guess the questions are how much does it cost to make the savage race worthy, and how much does it cost to make the SUT durable enough for some heavy bashing? Anyone have both?

Keep in mind that my neighbor has a 2.5 T-Maxx that I need to be able to whoop up on.
BTW¡K T-Maxx is out because too many people have them¡K and I keep hearing how much people have spent on them to make then decent bashers or racers.

Also posted in rcuniverse.com forum, so sorry if you had to read it twice.

Thanks... sorry for the long post

Joel

 

[StrechM]

A few of the locals have Savages. They are very sturdy when it comes to bashing. When it comes to speed and handling my T Maxx leaves them in the dust.
I have held the GS Storm in my hands long enough to see that it's a modified Storm RTR. From what I could see it's no where near as sturdy in appearance as the Savage, but from the reports it will kick the tar out of the Savage and the T Maxx on a track.
I did order one from my lhs.

 

[ncfishers]

How much money have you spent on the tmaxx to make it track worthy?

Post again when you've received your SUT. I'd like to hear what you think about it once you've had it for awhile.

I know it won't be as sturdy as a savage... i'm just wondering if it's going to be breaking way more than the savage when used for bashing.

Thanks for the response.

Joel

 

[StrechM]

Originally posted by ncfishers
How much money have you spent on the tmaxx to make it track worthy?

More than I'd care to say.https://www.rcnitrotalk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3213&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500
I'm looking forward to getting the SUT. I feel like a kid in a candy store and the shop keeper just told me I have to come back in a couple of weeks.

 

[olds97_lss]

Well, as you will find almost anywhere, some like the maxx and some like the savage. I'm in "the grass is greener" group. I have the maxx. I think you can still call it a maxx. The only things on it that are still stock are the radio box and shocks. But the shocks are about to go.

It took me about $2000 to make it as powerful and as durable as i wanted it. The 2.5 just didn't do it for me. So, with a 21 conversion and engine i got the power i wanted, but lost durability. Now after replacing a lot of parts with aluminum and steel gears i have the durability.

Now i'm just waiting for good weather. It's been sub-freezing here for the past 3 weeks. I'm really jones'ing for running.

By the grass is greener comment, i'm saving up for a savage SS. From what i've read, it's the best of the savage lineup. Supposedly some of the weak points have been fixed.

I don't race at all, but i do bash pretty hard.

 

[ncfishers]

Thanks for the responses. I'm sure the tmaxx is a great truck. Just too many people have them. I like to be a little different. Also I've heard so many stories like olds97_lss' about how much $$ they've put into their maxx. I suppose you can put that into any truck... i just haven't heard it as much.

Anyone have a gs storm unlimited that the can comment on the bashing capabilities/durability? Enough clearance to drive in3-4 inch grass?

Thanks,

Joel

 

[30%NitroBoy]

Hey dude,

The mundande T-maxx vs Savage debate will never end...lol. They have their similarites but they're both different animals. As for the Mammoth, I'm also not sure about it's stock structural integrity or lack their-of.

Get the Savage 25 and Call us in the morning..hehe.

Peace

 

[olds97_lss]

Or, get the maxx and put a second morgage on the house...

 

[30%NitroBoy]

Originally posted by olds97_lss
Or, get the maxx and put a second morgage on the house...

LOl man....and so true. Screw buy the diffs and tranny on flea bay. Build the whole thing from hop up parts..hehe if you truly want hardcore performance.

Peace

 

[ncfishers]

Well... i did it.

I bought a Savage for the below reasons.

seems more durable for bashing(i'll get a 1/8th buggy or stadium truck later if i want to race)
has good LHS support
not a tmaxx

I'm brand new to nitro, so I'm sure I'll be posting lot's of questions in the future. Thanks for your replies.

Joel