Kraton 6s EXB or Kraton 4S

[stealtharsenal]

Hello all.
Looking for some advice on whether it makes sense to pick up a Kraton 6S EXB instead of a Kraton 4S. Yes, I know the question sounds a bit ridiculous on the surface — the 6S is objectively the more capable choice. My hesitation comes from what I’m actually trying to accomplish: more of a basher/monster‑truck style rig.

For context, I’ve been out of the RC world for years. I used to be a nitro guy racing Xray buggies and the D8T truggy back in the day. I’m now getting back into the hobby on the electric side. A few years ago I picked up a Talion BLX, later sold and bought a Talion EXB, and most recently grabbed the new Mini Kraton. The Mini Kraton has been great for driving around the house — my son loves watching it rip around.

I think the most relevant question, is the Talion and Kraton too similar of RCs? Which would make perhaps the 4s different. Sure I could put bigger tires on the talion, but I love ripping that truck at the track.

 

[WickedFog]

Welcome to RCT!

Buy anything but Arrma 4s line. I have heard nothing but bad about it.

 

[RustyUs]

If you got the funds and room to run 1/8 scale RCs... Arrma 6S platforms it shall be. You'll have a much better traditional truggy platform with the Kraton 6S EXB.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

Same as above, stay away from the arrma 4s lineup. The 6s Kraton is a beast.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

And welcome aboard!!

 

[Lukedavis]

Welcome to the forum! 6s all the way!

 

[RLB454]

Welcome back into the obsession
Between the two Kratons, as already mentioned, 6S all the way if you have the funds. I think you will find that the Talion is a totally different experiance, so dont worry about them being too similar.

 

[Ramp addict]

The Kraton 4s seems to be a truck without a nich. It's almost as big as a 6s truck but it's not. My recommendation is go with the 6s Kraton. I own a bunch of them of various V models and I like them all.

 

[stealtharsenal]

So after doing a bunch of comparisons, I was going to just lock in and go for the Kraton EXB, but I actually think I am going to grab the 6s blx. My reasoning here is that the cheaper blx has a fair amount of exb on it, at least as much as my talion exb. Seems that we are really talking about chassis braces and aluminum diffs. I can buy the chassis braces take off later as they are not very expensive.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

The shock towers are the biggest difference. The plastic ones break really easy. I have yet to damage one of the EXB versions.

 

[stealtharsenal]

That's one of the reasons I was looking at the 6S BLX. The towers are aluminum now. I am going to my hobby shop this morning to talk pricing with them, but I find the EXB and the BLX to be rather close now for the pricing differential.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

Its hard to tell from the images but if the blx towers are aluminum, their half the thickness of the EXB towers. Either way, you can always upgrade later, although I think you'll spend far more than the $200 difference between the 2 doing so.

 

[stealtharsenal]

Take offs on ebay. Jenny's sells both for $40. Thickness of both towers exb vs blx is 5mm, just 6061 vs 7075. I could care less about the aluminum diff cases to be honest.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

By the time you by the takeoffs of the braces, chassis, and shocks, even on jennys its over the price differential.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

Not trying to talk you out of it, but it stinks too have $800 into a $600 rc

 

[stealtharsenal]

I hear you. What I think I am saying to you is that the only thing that interests me is the braces. The towers (as a professional engineer) aren't going to be an issue between metal variants. The thickness is the thickness. If the hit is hard enough, both will bend. If you look at the link to the V6 below, you will see they made some really big upgrades/adjustments to the new BLX which makes the EXB a harder sell. That all said, my shop will make a deal with me on either car. If the EXB can be had for a better price as they mentioned, maybe I go that route.

BLX now comes standard with the following:

• EXB (Extreme Bash) black-anodized 7075 T6 aluminum chassis plate
• EXB (Extreme Bash) heavy-duty 29mm differentials
• EXB (Extreme Bash) front bumper and stainless steel skid plate
• EXB (Extreme Bash) tough wing mount

https://www.arrma-rc.com/en/product/1-8-kraton-6s-4x4-rtr-brushless-speed-truck/ARA8608V6.html

 

[stealtharsenal]

So as an update. Ended up with an EXB, shop made me a great deal. Spent less than what a blx is from Horizon or Amain with promos.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

I'm sure we were all hoping for pics. I built mine from parts a year or so ago. Just curious if theres been any changes. Clipless body? Have you had a chance to run it yet?

 

[Slick2500]

I hear you. What I think I am saying to you is that the only thing that interests me is the braces. The towers (as a professional engineer) aren't going to be an issue between metal variants. The thickness is the thickness. If the hit is hard enough, both will bend. If you look at the link to the V6 below, you will see they made some really big upgrades/adjustments to the new BLX which makes the EXB a harder sell. That all said, my shop will make a deal with me on either car. If the EXB can be had for a better price as they mentioned, maybe I go that route.

BLX now comes standard with the following:

• EXB (Extreme Bash) black-anodized 7075 T6 aluminum chassis plate
• EXB (Extreme Bash) heavy-duty 29mm differentials
• EXB (Extreme Bash) front bumper and stainless steel skid plate
• EXB (Extreme Bash) tough wing mount

https://www.arrma-rc.com/en/product/1-8-kraton-6s-4x4-rtr-brushless-speed-truck/ARA8608V6.html

I know from experience that the Arrma EXB "7075" aluminum parts are some of the weakest 7075 aluminum parts on the market, the chassis, shock towers and steering Ackerman bend just as easily as their 6065 counterparts. I was extremely disappointed in how easily the chassis bent.

 

[justatyranitar]

Make sure to reinforce around where the clipless latches are. Those are the first places to start cracking on the body.