Throw in ur 2 cent - please! -

[Alex123sb]

OK so I'm fairly new to Nitro RC... I starter with a Himoto Syclone just to see if it would be worth my interest. And let me just say that I fell in love with it. Anyway I'm ready to throw some serious money into it. I'm looking into getting a monster truck cause I'm more into bashing. I looked at the Traxxas Revo 3.3 Which i thought was the one for me for sure. I also looked into Team Losi's LST XXL which my buddy is getting and I don't want to get the same thing plus its a bit pricey although I know its worth it. And then i saw the HPI SAVAGE XL and it blew me away. So i guess I'm looking for everyone's opinion on this matter. Some people have told me that traxxas is just the standard and some people rather spend more then go with traxxas. Losi is top notch and HPI is the toughest around.

 

[ThunderTiger]

Go with the savage, they take a hell of a lickin' and keep on tickin'.

 

[BOUTCH]

Savage!!!!

 

[frickenjoey]

I would have to throw in for the Savage. I would try the x 4.6RTR. Great truck lots of power and very reliable. I have heard only so-so reviews on the 5.9 engine in the XL.

 

[chelseafc385]

I'm not sure how much your looking to spend, But when i was in my LHS yesterday. Someone was looking at buying a new truck, he first of all asked about the Savage. The person who worked there said that its a popular truck, BUT its not as good as others. Then he walked over to the Losi LST2, picked it up above his head, and just dropped it from that height. The truck didnt do anything, it just took the fall, like it was a piece of cake. It was probably about 6 foot it was dropped from, and its completely stock.

All i would say is, if you've got enough money to spend, i would get an LST2.

 

[traxxas t-maxx]

I have a traxxas t-maxx and even I will say go with the savage.

 

[solly69]

he walked over to the losi lst2, picked it up above his head, and just dropped it from that height. The truck didnt do anything, it just took the fall, like it was a piece of cake. It was probably about 6 foot it was dropped from, and its completely stock.

All i would say is, if you've got enough money to spend, i would get an lst2.

thats insane

 

[Crunkvilletx]

I see people jumping mt's all the time! I hope it could fall from that height.

 

[solly69]

ohh ok so mabey its not that impressive
well impressed me anyways considering i drop my 1/10th scale buddy from like knee height and the chassie hits the bottom haha

while on the topic of dropping/jumping cars.... how would i go sticking truggy springs into my buggy... would it just raise the ride height or is there alot more that i would have to do aswell?

 

[olds97_lss]

The savage is a tough one. Not sure if it's any tougher out of the box than associated's MGT, but out of the ones your looking at, it's the top of the pile.

The LST* will out drive it though and still give you the brute power of a big block. It's a bit more fragile. With a few upgrades, can be made tough though.

The revo will more than likely out handle the LST*. It's a very agile rig. However, I'd proffer the LST* over it for it's size and strength (after a few upgrades of course).

If bashing was my only driving force, then savage is what I would buy. The XL is extended over the old savage's and that extra length makes it handle much more gracefully than the shorter ones.

I have had a revo 2.5, 3.3 (chassis) with big block conversion, 18TM and 2.5R. It had enough issues with durability that I gave up on it. I couldn't get it setup in such a way that it would handle well and take big air all day long. I upgraded and adjusted things for over a year. In the end, it would still bend/break on me almost every time out. It would have been a great truck if I had a track to play at. That's where it would really shine. With it's lightness, it was quick, even without a big block in it.

I now have a savage with a 1" extended chassis and a heavily upgraded aftershock. I basically got rid of the revo when I got the aftershock. With a few key upgrades, the aftershock does what I want without damage and still handles pretty good.

I recently traded a 1/8 scale buggy for the savage I have and I have to say, I really enjoy having a savage again. Whenever I run it, the last thing on my mind is fragile. Usually, the first thing on my mind is "What can I jump this over!". It doesn't handle as well as my aftershock though, but it's still one tough rig. Knowing it's tough is part of what makes it a joy to drive. I don't have to worry about where I run it or how hard I punish it. As long as you have a spare spur, spare shocks and spare axle carriers... your day shouldn't end.

 

[ThunderTiger]

It depends a LOT on the rate of the springs. Heavier springs usually give stiffer suspension, but you may also have to switch out your shock oils for thicker oil as well. it's something i generally do as a rule. stiffer springs and thicker oil.

 

[solly69]

It depends a LOT on the rate of the springs. Heavier springs usually give stiffer suspension, but you may also have to switch out your shock oils for thicker oil as well. it's something i generally do as a rule. stiffer springs and thicker oil.

So installing truggy shocks wont have any affect on ride height and that?

 

[olds97_lss]

Truggy shocks are usually closer in length for front/rear than buggies are. If you run too long of shocks on the front for the chassis, you will over extend the suspension in flight and more than likely bottom out the shocks on landing. Neither is a good scenario. When it over extends, arms may break and axles may pop out of the diffs. When shocks bottom out, shafts bend/break.

Just realized you said "springs" only... sorry.

1/8 scale springs are typically larger in diameter than 1/10 scale. So you may have a hard time trying to install them on a 1/10 scale rig.

 

[solly69]

so just some stiffer springs and thicker shock oil?

 

[ThunderTiger]

Thats how its looking solly, also, see iff you can get 10mm of some small soft tubing on the end of your shock shafts, it softens the blow when the shocks fully compress. Also, if enough is put on, it can, but not always, stop the nut/end of the shock shaft, smashing into the bladder at the top of the shock.

Whilst your at it, if you haven't got shock boots, get some water ballons, cut off the bulbous end and zip tie one end to the bottom of the shock body and the other to the shock shaft. It will help stop any crud damaging the shock seals on the bottom end of the shock body where the shaft goes in.

 

[Alex123sb]

Everything seems to be pointing to the HPI SAVAGE XL. It's as tough as people say and that's what i want. I'm not gonna jump it over a house or anything like that but i do want it to hold up to some real bashing. I do have the money but Losi it a bit over my head.Another question would be, what is the best method to break in the K5.9 engine in the XL? And what % nitro should be used in it?

Oh yea sorry i forgot to thank every one for the great input and ur two cents.

 

[superdave2]

savage for sure