Newbie question: True durability of theses trucks???

[rjcalnan]

Hey everyone! The bug has caught me - 15 years after my folks getting little electric cars from RadioShack for me, I'm getting the itch to "go gas, and go 4x4, and go BIG!"

Well - with the Savage 25 RTR kit coming out (since free time is sparce in my life) I'm posing this question:

How "tough" are these trucks - REALLY????

I live in a new housing development, and down the road for me they are putting in 33 new homes, so the dirt is all dug up and fresh, but none are sold yet - so it's PRIME hills and dirt for an off road truck, but can the trucks REALLY take that much of a beating out of the box?

And if they can't take the beating - what are some suggestions to make it "tough" enough - even if the suggestion is to get the Nitro RS4 MT RTR's instead and spend the money to make it tough, that's fine - I just don't want to blow the bank here, just have a hell of a time off roading a 4x4 RC truck.

thanks so much!
rich

 

[El Pirata]

I'll put it to you this way, if it's not broken I have not touched it, however I am truly impressed with my savage's durability.

Oh yeah, and my savage routinely takes jumps with 6'+ of vertical air without damage.

 

[vtjvt]

the savage is one tough truck, I have beaten the crap out of mine and haven't broken anything (yet)

 

[Error401]

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, well, I'd suggest checking out the video section to see for yourself. The savage is one tough truck. I've hit bricks and medium sized rocks at WOT and not broken it. Sure, some parts out of the box are kind of weak, like the stock black digbones, but that can be remidied fairly easily. Sure you're gonna have to spend a little more to bullet proof a savage, but that's like any other monster truck that's out there, but the Savage, IMO, is the best that's out there right now.

As for comparing the Savage to the RS4 MT, apples and oranges. The Savage is a .21 1/8th scale, whereas the RS4 is a .15 1/10th. Big difference. The Savage will eat up terrain that will make the RS4 mt choke, and you can always drop in a Picco .26 or Hyper .21 8 port and really make it a monster Savage.

 

[rjcalnan]

Thanks for the replies guys - and I did watch the videos, but you know marketing, and can understand my misbelief (A Chevy Tahoe ACTULLY climbing rocks in the mountains - come ON!!! lol)

I have no doubts I'll get the Savage 25 when it comes out - as from what I've read on the actual sites, as well on here, it looks like the Savage 21 is already a Traxxas killer, and I was going to get that, until I read that the 25 is only going to be $20 more!!!!

Anyway - I guess I don't need to post any more until the new truck arrives on my basement table!!!

Any hints on stuff to buy so I don't break it immediatley?

laterz...
rich

 

[Rex2342]

I just got done bashing my Savage21.I went to dead BMX track a bunch of guys built in the woods near my house.I jumps are INSANE!!!!!I was their for about 6 hours.I broke a dogbone,front bumper post,stripped out my Velocity 40's(again),and stripped out my stock rims the rest of the way, bent 2 shock shafts,and I need a new body LOL.Now that may sound like alot but if you were to see these jumps you would not think so.These jumps are taller than I am and I had to stand on them just so I could see my truck after I launched.I'm talking about a good 12-15 of air and a good 10 feet of distance.None of the major suspension stuff broke,bent,or stripped.The rims are known for stripping anyway and the dogbones were the stock ones that came with my truck.I replaced with some spares I had forom a newer kit and no more problems.I'm using HB threaded shocks and the shafts are very weak on them also so all and all it was a good day.Nothing that can't be fixed for pretty cheap.

 

[Error401]

Sounds like somebody had some fun today.

Keep in mind that the Savage SS kit does not come with a radio. And a good place to get an idea of what support equipment to get is towers hobbies. Poke through the car stuff and ask your self, is that really necessary to go run? Things like a fuel bottle (filler thing), glow ignitor, 4way wrench, etc. Once ya get to bashing, you'll find all kinds of tools you'll need.

And I wasn't talking about the HPI videos, check out the videos on this forum, or www.beatyourtruck.com, and of course www.trilordy.com These videos aren't factory sponsored, and you'll see exactly how tough they are.

 

[rjcalnan]

saw a few nice vids in there

looks like the Savage25 will be the way to go bar-none as far as ease of RTR and out of the box.

I wish I had time to do the kits and learn all the ins and outs, but I just don't.

I'll definately do some upgrades though - the dog bones, and maybe some engine mods.

One more question, and this could be VERY laim-brained of me, but I haven't read anywhere that says if the acceleration trigger on the pistol radios is analog or digital.

Analog of course being a variable "real time" rate - so pull a little, truck only goes a little.

Digital being that if it's on it's ALL the way on.

thanks so much guys - looks like I picked the right time to try to find a truck to play with!!!

thanks again!
rich

 

[Error401]

I think the term is "proportional". The AM and FM band radios are analog, PCM (pulse code modulation) FM radios are digital, but all (decent R/C hobby radios) are "proportional" in both steering and throttle. The third channel on most radios is non-proportional and is used for shifting from forwards to reverse, where the in between area is not needed or wanted.

AM radios are the leaste expensive, but are more susceptable to radio interference, and lack the range that FM offers. A few AM radios are computer radios (see below)

FM radios offer better resolution and frame rate (higher frequency), are less susceptable to interference, greater range than AM, and are "middle of the road" in the pricing range. Some FM radios are computer radios (see below) and offer most of the features that the PCM computer radios offer, but not all.

PCM radios offer true digital signal processing, are the least affected by interference, and most (if not all) are "computer" radios. This means that you can program all kinds of things into them such as end point adjustment (ammout of total servo travel), variable dual rate, exponential travel, and a ton of other features. Most of these kinds are "high end" race type radios and carry a big tag.

 

[rjcalnan]

Thanks for the info - again!

There's a local shop in Rottenchester (Dan's Crafts and Things for any local folks) so I might head over there Wednesday to see if they've got a Savage RTR kit to see what kind of Radio comes with it, and to see if I can test the truck a bit in their parking lot.

My guess is they won't let me cause I'm just a dumb guy that will probably just buy online anyway, but if treats me right, I'll get it from him.

Oh well...again, thanks for all the info guys!

rich