Traxxas the way to go?

[WickedFog]

I’m glad some of you guys are around my age. I’m 50 and I thought for sure I was going to be the grandpa of the bunch.

Also, what exactly is a “smart charger”? Apologies if it was already mentioned. It’s hard to keep all the stuff straight.

Oh, and working on 54 here in a couple months. I have forgotten way more b-days in the last 10 years than I have remembered. Usually it's a family member that reminds me it's my birthday

Getting old sucks huge donkey... well, you know.

The Hota seems to be the charger of choice. I just checked the price on Amazon and they’re not expensive at all. Of course, I didn’t really know what to expect for a price. I just assumed it would be higher.

Just make absolutely sure you buy the D6 Pro, and not the D6. The D6 does not have a built-in power supply, so you have to power it off of a DC power supply.

 

[KnowAir]

"Smart chargers" are products from Traxxas and Spektrum which do away with the balance plug on conventional lipos and instead use a tiny center pin in their battery power connector to manage balance between cells. These batteries work great with their own charger but to charge them with a conventional charger you need an adapter plug, and the batteries are over-priced compared to convetional batteries.

Both brands use a plug that can be found in the wild, Spektrum uses and IC5, but it's the same as the EC5 so any battery with an EC5 plugs in no problem

Traxxas has their own connector but batteries can be bought with the TRX plug and again work without any issues.

On the charger side, like with the Hota, you just need an XT60 to EC5, or XT60 to TRX adapter to charge the batteries. Those are easily found on Amazon.

I have batteries with EC3, EC5, TRX and Deans T connectors, I just use adapters for my charger.

I used the Deans or T-plugs, which are the Deans knockoffs for many years, even on 4s! LOL. Eventually I realized the limits of the Deans and moved on to XT90's. I understand that EC/IC 5 have a higher amp rating, but I chose XT90 and haven't looked back. I put them on all my models and batteries for simplicity. 2s through 8s, all running XT90's.

 

[332_RC]

I hope I’m able to talk about this stuff like you guys one day. With the brand names and the terminology, I feel like I should be taking notes.

Sometimes we know what we know and that's all we know. No need to take notes. The forum is doing it for all of us. Hit search, & look around!

I used the Deans or T-plugs, which are the Deans knockoffs for many years, even on 4s! LOL. Eventually I realized the limits of the Deans and moved on to XT90's. I understand that EC/IC 5 have a higher amp rating, but I chose XT90 and haven't looked back. I put them on all my models and batteries for simplicity. 2s through 8s, all running XT90's.

True. One plus for the T plug or Deans, is low resistance for Nihm, 2s or 3s, especially under powered rigs. Get that juice to it! High amp 3s or 4s, needs XT90 or EC5.

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

I used the Deans or T-plugs, which are the Deans knockoffs for many years, even on 4s! LOL. Eventually I realized the limits of the Deans and moved on to XT90's. I understand that EC/IC 5 have a higher amp rating, but I chose XT90 and haven't looked back. I put them on all my models and batteries for simplicity. 2s through 8s, all running XT90's.

I do this too just for simplicity too, but we use xt 60 and 90s.

 

[CertifiedMike]

I'm super late but I wanted to say hi and welcome to the site! Its great to see that you're getting back in and diving head first into R/C again!
I have kits from the 80's thru to today.
I have 2 Traxxas nitros from a few years back and I am happy with them.
They are good quality and I think you'll be happy with the trucks.
We'll leave the brand bashing out of it.
I'm so glad that you're getting all this good info from these guys!
We might be a bit older but we're smart too!
Welcome to RCTALK.COM!

 

[KnowAir]

I do this too just for simplicity too, but we use xt 60 and 90s.

Just makes my life easier. 2s yup, 4s? Yup, 2x2s, and so on. I prefer a single plug when possible, but then I have the E Revo which I'm stuck with 2 batteries, and the Xmaxx, K8S each requiring 2 batteries. So, it works out.

 

[Lukedavis]

Welcome to the forum! The rustler 4x4 is a beast of a truck!

 

[PainKiller]

I can't recommend that Hota enough. So if it were me, I'd order it now. Get that out of the way. You're going to need some balance extensions and some adapter cables as well if you're set on a Traxxas. For any other brand RC, just ask and I'll provide ya with a link to proper adapter cables.

You can get the Hota off aliexpress.com for a lot less, but it'll take at least a couple weeks to arrive. And you can get it for a few dollars less than the link I provided if you shop around. But Heli Direct are great folks with amazing customer service. They will go above and beyond if you have problems, or need help.

Sweet. Thanks. At this moment in time , I’m 99% sure I’m gonna get the two Traxxas rigs. My kid is pumped after telling his buddies that he’s getting the Maxx and they were all excited for him , from what he tells me. I’m pumped too. Not just for him to get his truck but for my truck too.

Also , a friend at work is giving me a couple skateboard ramps that his kids have outgrown. So that should be pretty cool for jumping RC’s.

I'm super late but I wanted to say hi and welcome to the site! Its great to see that you're getting back in and diving head first into R/C again!
I have kits from the 80's thru to today.
I have 2 Traxxas nitros from a few years back and I am happy with them.
They are good quality and I think you'll be happy with the trucks.
We'll leave the brand bashing out of it.
I'm so glad that you're getting all this good info from these guys!
We might be a bit older but we're smart too!
Welcome to RCTALK.COM!

Thanks man. So far this forum has been beyond great. The stuff I’ve learned in the last few days form everyone is crazy. Reviews on YT are one thing but talking to people who have actually own the trucks and chargers etc really makes a difference. People here have tried the good stuff and the bad and they can tell you the difference and why. It’s awesome and I’m trying to absorb as much as I can.

 

[WickedFog]

Sweet. Thanks. At this moment in time , I’m 99% sure I’m gonna get the two Traxxas rigs. My kid is pumped after telling his buddies that he’s getting the Maxx and they were all excited for him , from what he tells me. I’m pumped too. Not just for him to get his truck but for my truck too.

Also , a friend at work is giving me a couple skateboard ramps that his kids have outgrown. So that should be pretty cool for jumping RC’s.


Thanks man. So far this forum has been beyond great. The stuff I’ve learned in the last few days form everyone is crazy. Reviews on YT are one thing but talking to people who have actually own the trucks and chargers etc really makes a difference. People here have tried the good stuff and the bad and they can tell you the difference and why. It’s awesome and I’m trying to absorb as much as I can.

You're gonna go insane if you hang out here too much. One day, you'll be driving home from work, and at some point there will be a gap in time. You'll show up at home with yet another RC, with no recollection of where or how you got it. You'll start to wonder if you robbed a hobby shop, knicked it from a kid on the street, or spent your grocery money on it. You get home and your wife asks "Where's the milk?" and you'll be making up ridiculous excuses like, they were out, it blew out the window during freak straight line winds, or any number of other transparent lies. If you tell her you actually went into a fugue state, and don't remember a thing, she'll have you committed. And you'll spend the next 6 months wondering if you really are insane, all while taking meds that really do make you insane.

Welcome to RCTalk. We have a rubber room and a nice house coat for you with straps, buckles, and the whole nine yards... right this way

 

[KnowAir]

Oh yeah, I missed too.. welcome to the forum @PainKiller
My bro has the v1 Maxx, loves it!! One of his favorites. I might say the Maxx trucks are some of their best overall, but honestly they're all pretty good. You and your son are gonna have a blast!

 

[WickedFog]

Oh yeah, I missed too.. welcome to the forum @PainKiller
My bro has the v1 Maxx, loves it!! One of his favorites. I might say the Maxx trucks are some of their best overall, but honestly they're all pretty good. You and your son are gonna have a blast!

I don't own but two Traxxas RC's. A Jato and the drag Slash we built from an SCT slider. I also have had an entire X-Maxx chassis begging to be completed. Some day it will be. But I can tell ya, even though the X-Maxx chassis is all plastic, I can see why it's durable. It is braced where it needs to be, and it's really lightweight. The XRT and Sledge look like awesome RC's as well. And I really want the UDR. But as far as the other Traxxas offerings, I am a bit - meh. The Maxx's do look like fun trucks too though. I just have my fill of truggies wanting to be monster trucks.

I do really want to build a Pinto drag car based on the Bandit chassis, but that one will be all carbon fiber chassis, and not a single Traxxas part on it. That's one good thing about Traxxas vehicles. Some of them have a really good aftermarket following, and you can build them from the ground up into a lot of different things, with nothing but nice aftermarket components.

Just rambling.

 

[332_RC]

I can say I have two Redcat bashers. The Kaiju is like a Traxxas copy. The Blackout is a TT02B copy. Both are good RCs. Not great. Good. I would own a XRT in a heartbeat. One day.

 

[PainKiller]

You're gonna go insane if you hang out here too much. One day, you'll be driving home from work, and at some point there will be a gap in time. You'll show up at home with yet another RC, with no recollection of where or how you got it. You'll start to wonder if you robbed a hobby shop, knicked it from a kid on the street, or spent your grocery money on it. You get home and your wife asks "Where's the milk?" and you'll be making up ridiculous excuses like, they were out, it blew out the window during freak straight line winds, or any number of other transparent lies. If you tell her you actually went into a fugue state, and don't remember a thing, she'll have you committed. And you'll spend the next 6 months wondering if you really are insane, all while taking meds that really do make you insane.

Welcome to RCTalk. We have a rubber room and a nice house coat for you with straps, buckles, and the whole nine yards... right this way

Hahaha , sounds like you may have been down this road once or twice

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

Hahaha , sounds like you may have been down this road once or twice

He’s not lying my son and I got into this at Xmas last year, and we got about 12 now so far and now I’m looking at boats

 

[WickedFog]

He’s not lying my son and I got into this at Xmas last year, and we got about 12 now so far and now I’m looking at boats

 

[332_RC]

He’s not lying my son and I got into this at Xmas last year, and we got about 12 now so far and now I’m looking at boats

Don't look at this then.

 

[PainKiller]

Pretty soon I’ll be asking which tools I’ll need to get started. A set of hex drivers? Screwdrivers? Allen key?

That’s all for me tonight. I’ll catch up with you guys in the morning.

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

View attachment 202621

Don't look at this then.

Does it float I got boats on the mind, kinda waiting on the new Traxxas one to come out, think it’s this week

 

[WickedFog]

Pretty soon I’ll be asking which tools I’ll need to get started. A set of hex drivers? Screwdrivers? Allen key?

That’s all for me tonight. I’ll catch up with you guys in the morning.

Just have a look through here. It's a bit dated, but there is a lot of useful info in there. There are other good threads to check out in the tools forum as well.
https://www.rctalk.com/forum/threads/tools-for-getting-started-in-rc.113119/

 

[CertifiedMike]

Sweet. Thanks. At this moment in time , I’m 99% sure I’m gonna get the two Traxxas rigs. My kid is pumped after telling his buddies that he’s getting the Maxx and they were all excited for him , from what he tells me. I’m pumped too. Not just for him to get his truck but for my truck too.

Also , a friend at work is giving me a couple skateboard ramps that his kids have outgrown. So that should be pretty cool for jumping RC’s.


Thanks man. So far this forum has been beyond great. The stuff I’ve learned in the last few days form everyone is crazy. Reviews on YT are one thing but talking to people who have actually own the trucks and chargers etc really makes a difference. People here have tried the good stuff and the bad and they can tell you the difference and why. It’s awesome and I’m trying to absorb as much as I can.

Lol! This is true! If there is one EVER SHINING FACT in RCTALK.COM, no one who posts here on a regular has a "cork" or "filter" so to speak.
I think its an unspoken "given", we understand the value in true opinion and understand the damage misinformation might cause. If we love something we say so, if we hate it, we don't ever shut up about it!
(That might only be me actually. )
Its a good forum and a good community here. Even if we're mostly old farts!
Glad you found us!