MT ignorant

[BlackGlove]

when it comes to buggies, truggies, and MT's - I have no idea which vehicle is "?best?".

when I got started I had the old RC10, ya know the gold anodized tub , and I bashed around in the hangar bay, and flightdeck on LPH-10, (that is until one day radar decided to do a PM on its systems - which caused me to loose control and fortunately hitting a tiedown turnbuckle, flipped into the air and land in the #2 fueling station feet in the air whirling madly - otherwise Davy Jones would be proud owner of my buggy) after which I did some off-road racing (one of the Chief's built a track in his backyard), and after discharging & relocating, got into dirt oval (off-roading wasn't very big in Milwaukee at the time) which was very big.

Now I'd seen the stadium trucks, and really liked the action, but until reciently dropped out of the sport.

Now I have a MT by Ofna "Monster Blazer" which hasn't been as much joy as I know it can be due to a mill issue, which has to be rebuilt - it runs hot (when it runs), very hot - between 278 and 289.6! The last time I ran it, for maybe 2 min and it showed 289.6 so I decided to put it away. I'm thinking about getting a new mill, for the price of rebuilding this Force 21 P4 mill for a Mach .28 by Dynamite (at the same time I wanna rebuild - later - cause this might be a really burnin' mill when at point).

Now since I've written a book, the bottom line is this - I have a son I will be teaching how to drive, he LOVES MT's!!!! but I want a rig that is 4WD and easy to fix w/ easy availability for parts...

Question: which rig (MT, ground bustin, obstical course wreckin - racing demon) Buck for $$BUCK$$ would you fella's recomend?

Thanks fellas - sorry for the novel, I just like to make it plain! :redbuggy:

 

[digger]

Savage, hands down!

 

[BlackGlove]

digger,
why? If I told you that 'yak' was the best steak you could ever eat (presuming you eat meat) would you question why or just go buy?

I sense your passion for the Savage, but what about the rig has your noodle tied in a knot?

Thanks for the suggestion - I'll weigh it with the other replies I get.

 

[mr_bob]

i second what digger said but will try to provide with more meat


if you do some searching youll find that the revo and savage are both very durable savage being more then the revo

and we know how little kids are you tell them to go one way they go the other and next thing you know its into a dicth curb or tree


but i would deffently go with a savage for a kid that wants an mt

its a great all around truck

 

[Mallanaga]

i can't speak for the savage, but i do own a revo. it holds its own when bashing, for sure. plus, i would say that it doesn't leave anything to be desired. when i say that i just mean that... say you bash for a year or so, but once you get into it pretty heavy, you can take the revo to the track, where not only will it hold its own, it'll walk all over other trucks (with the proper engine... of course).

i have had my revo for about a year and half now, and i have never once questioned the fact that i might have bought the wrong truck. i still have the stock 2.5r engine (you might want to go with the 3.3) and with the proper gearing, i have all sorts of torque and power. i have a blast everywhere i go. it handles well in the air, it lands like a cat, and it doesn't fall to pieces if i don't hit a jump just right. the handling on the ground is superb as well... i just can't say enough good things about it.

to top it all off, the technology that's in the revo is just awesome. the chassis... the suspension... all of the little adjustments you can do to tweak it just the way you want it... /sigh. it makes me happy just to work on it.

good luck with anything you decide on. i'm sure you will have a blast, no matter what. cheers.

 

[Tarant]

Everybody has a opinion. For your son i would suggest a Savage. They a great price range, they DON'T break and if they do their parts are cheap and easy to find. It is big and very upgradeable and it would be a great truck for your son since it is very strong, and easy to work on and it is faily simple.

I have never had a Revo so I can't help you their.

and before you get ripped into I suggest you search.

 

[FastEddy]

How old is your son?
Does he have a grasp on using a controller?
With as good of a basher as all the trucks listed above are, do you want 10-15 lbs of hot metal and sharp edges hitting you, your son, or someone else?

I would be more inclined to let son learn on the smaller, lighter, and slower rig and mastering that one first just as you did.

If he has already progressed to the point of "at will control", then have at it.

 

[olds97_lss]

I'm with Eddy on that one... or at least get a decent radio that allows you to adjust EPA's so you can control how much gas it gets.

Both the savage and revo are kind of a pain to work on. Most MT's are more difficult to work on than your old RC10. The good side about the savage and revo though, is that they are pretty durable with the right upgrades, so you don't have to "work" on them much.

Are you looking to get him something in line like your OFNA (big block racer)? Or are you looking more for something a little smaller, slower and easy to handle?

For ease of working on, I've only had the savage, maxx, revo, xxx-nt, hpi nitro MT (4 wheel drive 1/10 stadium) and a HB lightning (1/8 buggy). Out of all of them, the nitro MT and HB lightning were the easiest to work on and maintain. Also, out of all of them, the HB lightning was the most durable with the xxx-nt and nitro MT being the least durable. The savage pulls a close second in durability to the buggy and the revo pulls a close third. The maxx just sucked, so we won't go there...

As for parts availability, all my hobby shops carry next to nothing for 1/8 buggies and truggies. But they all carry savage and revo parts. I usually buy off the net anyway, but it's nice to know I can break it on Saturday and have it fixed and driving again by Sunday.

 

[BlackGlove]

How old is your son?
Does he have a grasp on using a controller?
With as good of a basher as all the trucks listed above are, do you want 10-15 lbs of hot metal and sharp edges hitting you, your son, or someone else?

I would be more inclined to let son learn on the smaller, lighter, and slower rig and mastering that one first just as you did.

If he has already progressed to the point of "at will control", then have at it.

My son, and all fathers have a tendency to brag on their own, is a chip off his grandfather's block, he's been using every type of controler made since the age 2! He's run the old converted RC10, he mixes up L from R coming back at him, but heck so do I sometime - and I'm an 'old geezer', I "Z-kinked" my first dogbone at around 30 cause I forgot L IS R when coming back at yourself.

No - I have much confidence in my son, and enough comon sence to take him out to the 'dirt pile' so not to endanger anyone else. His discipline is phenomonal, and I accredit that to his Gfather's training of his father, and his martial arts training (since age 3).

 

[digger]

Savage will take a hell of a beating. Parts are easy to get. Plenty of upgrades. If ya are bashing, it will take about all you can give it.
I wasn't thrilled about working on mine for the first time. The TVP's were a bitch. After a couple times it wasn't that bad. The "X" is supposed to be better. Mine is the S-25.

Never ran one, but maybe look at the MT2? Ya don't see many posts on them, but from what I have read, most of the guys that had one really liked it. It seems like a "starter car" of sorts. Maybe someone else will give you some input on it?

As Ed posted, if your son isn't very old, maybe you don't want to get something like that to start with? The little electrics are great. Try the RC18?
Upgrade as he gets better?

 

[Karl M]

I'll chime in about digger's suggestion about an MT2, I own one. It is a great starter truck but I wouldn't go calling it a monster truck, more of a 4wd stadium. (I'm assuming digger was mentioning HPI's MT2.) Its pretty quick and I haven't had too many problems with duribility but my LHS doesn't carry any parts, like they have never heard fo an MT2. All parts come from Tower Hobbies or Stormers Racing which I have never personally had any problems with. Because of lack of ground clearance issues, I am a little limited on some types of bashing but the truck is truely at home on the track. Good starter truck yes, I'm looking at a Savage X as my next ride.

 

[BlackGlove]

I'm with Eddy on that one... or at least get a decent radio that allows you to adjust EPA's so you can control how much gas it gets.

Both the savage and revo are kind of a pain to work on. Most MT's are more difficult to work on than your old RC10. The good side about the savage and revo though, is that they are pretty durable with the right upgrades, so you don't have to "work" on them much.

Are you looking to get him something in line like your OFNA (big block racer)? Or are you looking more for something a little smaller, slower and easy to handle?

For ease of working on, I've only had the savage, maxx, revo, xxx-nt, hpi nitro MT (4 wheel drive 1/10 stadium) and a HB lightning (1/8 buggy). Out of all of them, the nitro MT and HB lightning were the easiest to work on and maintain. Also, out of all of them, the HB lightning was the most durable with the xxx-nt and nitro MT being the least durable. The savage pulls a close second in durability to the buggy and the revo pulls a close third. The maxx just sucked, so we won't go there...

As for parts availability, all my hobby shops carry next to nothing for 1/8 buggies and truggies. But they all carry savage and revo parts. I usually buy off the net anyway, but it's nice to know I can break it on Saturday and have it fixed and driving again by Sunday.

Honestly - it will be my truck, that will eventually become his; the reason for something 'easy' to work on. Since I know the Ofna (No.11 - remember the mule No.11? was that on Grizzly Adams?) isn't parts friendly, that will be MY main toy until we get situated. Hopefully by the end of next season, my 'mini-me' will have adjusted enough to be competitive, and my skills will have improved to be his chief mech, I'll let him run for the metal, I'll run for the sweet smell of Nitro in the air!!!! :celebrate2:

 

[4u2nv]

Mpls?? Sweet! I'm by St.Cloud! (Bout a hour north of ya) Anyway, I had a T-maxx, a couple rc10gts, and a few onroaders, and now have my savage. My savage is by FAR my favorite. Since I wasn't racing, the Rc10Gts kinda bored me. There isnt much ST terrain around here to really play with them. My maxx was a money pit (Like every maxx) but was a awesome rig to start out on. Repairing it (Daily) really helped teach me my way around a Rc. Now my Savage.. Its tough as nails and is awesome as hell to bash. Id go with the Savage.. I love mine.

 

[BlackGlove]

yeah,
from all I could find to read, and all I've heard from you guys, I'm really thinking about the SavageX

 

[olds97_lss]

You won't be hurting for power, speed or durability with that one! Although, I think it comes with the HPI 25 which isn't the best, but it gets the job done.

If you get the kit vs the rtr, you will get the 28! And, you and your son can put it together... together. So he can really learn what makes it work.
Savage X Kit
Keep in mind you will have to supply the electronics with the kit though.

 

[BlackGlove]

You won't be hurting for power, speed or durability with that one! Although, I think it comes with the HPI 25 which isn't the best, but it gets the job done.

If you get the kit vs the rtr, you will get the 28! And, you and your son can put it together... together. So he can really learn what makes it work.
Savage X Kit
Keep in mind you will have to supply the electronics with the kit though.

That's the plan, I appreciate, and am trying to teach him that appreciation really comes from putting it together yourself. He's really protective of his rockets - cause he had to put them together! The very first one got lost in a tree (had to compensate for the winds and they quit blowing in mid flight and the very last possible tree that could snatch it - did) and it was let's go buy another, now he wants to make sure everything is right before a flight and won't let friends get too active or antsy when holding them.

I still have some looking into the Revo to do, but I'm really impressed with what I've come across (and heard) concerning the Savage. The one thing I was wondering was if the kits came w/ an engine or not - but from what you're saying, it looks as though it does. Thats GREAT! Just another high point for the Savage.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

I currently own both a Savage and a Revo (much like old97) and, so far as a pure basher goes, I'd suggest the Savage.

As has been mentioned, both the Savage and the Revo can be tricky to wrench on, but because of the Savage's inherent toughness, I've not had to do a lot of wrenching on that rig! Mine has the 3-speed tranny that I've never had to get to and adjusting the shift points is fairly easy. About the only thing I've broken on it were the fuel tank mounts and it was all of a ten minute repair and didn't require tearing it all down.

The Revo, in my opinion, is far easier to wrench on, relatively speaking. Many may argue with me, but I find the two-bolt engine mounting system the Revo has far easier to work with in pulling a mill, putting it back in and setting the mesh than a traditional four-bolt arrangment. Adjusting the front shocks is a snap, but the rears can be a pain, especially with the E-Z Start set-up. About the only real damage I've ever done to my Revo consisted of cracking the hub the left front hub carrier, but that's to be expected when hitting the edge of a gutter at WOT! Replacing that took about twenty minutes total, so I cannot complain.

If your son is primarily going to just bash around with it, I'd be inclined to suggest a Savage. I recently dropped a new HPI 4.1 mill in my Savage and have been both pleased with its tunability and impressed with its speed.

Should you go the Revo route, you will not be disappointed one bit! My suggestion on the Revo is, if it's truly going to be a bashed, I'd go with the P3 rockers or even the long travel rockers with stiffer shock springs. This will just insure adequate ground clearance all around for that rig.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[digger]

Sounds like you are about ready to buy a Savage.
The guys here talked me into one couple of years ago. I never regretted it.

The kit would be a great father-son project.

 

[olds97_lss]

Should you go the Revo route, you will not be disappointed one bit! My suggestion on the Revo is, if it's truly going to be a bashed, I'd go with the P3 rockers or even the long travel rockers with stiffer shock springs. This will just insure adequate ground clearance all around for that rig.

Good luck and enjoy!

Your the only person I've ever seen use the P3 rockers...

 

[Monkey Wrench]

Your the only person I've ever seen use the P3 rockers...

So.....does that make me a goober or something?

I've only used the P3 rockers when I bashed with it. Seemed to give it a bit more lift on the chassis.