Traxxas the way to go?

[PainKiller]

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!

Haha I’m glad too. Every night after dinner, I find myself online looking at different trucks, chargers and batteries. I’m slowly becoming obsessed. Not that I’m complaining. And who would’ve thought that my son mentioning he wanted an RC for his bday would rekindle this fun hobby for me? Good times ahead.

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

Good times ahead

 

[CertifiedMike]

Haha I’m glad too. Every night after dinner, I find myself online looking at different trucks, chargers and batteries. I’m slowly becoming obsessed. Not that I’m complaining. And who would’ve thought that my son mentioning he wanted an RC for his bday would rekindle this fun hobby for me? Good times ahead.

This hobby is great for bringing families, people together!
Your story is even better because it includes you kid's story too!
It won't be long before you'll both be posting pics and vids of your truck's builds and we'll all be drooling!
You'll see... and I'll even say I told ta so!

 

[Greywolf74]

Haha I’m glad too. Every night after dinner, I find myself online looking at different trucks, chargers and batteries. I’m slowly becoming obsessed. Not that I’m complaining. And who would’ve thought that my son mentioning he wanted an RC for his bday would rekindle this fun hobby for me? Good times ahead.

RC is like the Hotel California. You can check out but you can never leave!

 

[Finesavageboy2]

I’m slowly becoming obsessed

YES, come to the darkside!!

 

[PainKiller]

If you buy a kit , do you have to buy the motor and electronics separately?

 

[9x19]

Depends on the manufacturer, Traxxas kits these days usually comes with electronics, most others, don't.

 

[KnowAir]

If you buy a kit , do you have to buy the motor and electronics separately?

Well a kit refers to an rc that needs to be built, none of which come with electronics. Some include body, tires and wheels, others don't.
Traxxas really only makes rtr's as far as I know. Which come preassembled, "ready to run", minus batteries and charger typically.

 

[CertifiedMike]

There are different "kits". The term used to mean "a kit that YOU build" but it gets thrown around so much now, its lost its meaning in those terms.
RTR, ready to run. Add battery, fuel and go.
ARR is a kit that is partially assembled. It might need electronics, tires, wheels, body or paint. Fluids (shock and diff oils) would be a concern in some cases.
Unassembled kit comes unassembled BUT can and often does come with an esc and a motor, often without a battery and radio.
It seems that the more race oriented the choice, the more likely is a kit that can be customized to the buyers liking.
A lot of times a racer will have a complete set up and only want to upgrade the buggy. This can be done to some reason.
You really need to read up on each kit.

When you get to crawlers, its a different world and I know next to nothing about purchasing them.

 

[Lostinthewoods86]

Well a kit refers to an rc that needs to be built, none of which come with electronics. Some include body, tires and wheels, others don't.
Traxxas really only makes rtr's as far as I know. Which come preassembled, "ready to run", minus batteries and charger typically.

Traxxas does have 2 kits, the slash 2wd (we just built one) and the trx4 They do come with everything needed to run

 

[PainKiller]

Well a kit refers to an rc that needs to be built, none of which come with electronics. Some include body, tires and wheels, others don't.
Traxxas really only makes rtr's as far as I know. Which come preassembled, "ready to run", minus batteries and charger typically.

That’s what I thought. I remember back when RTR didn’t even exist.

 

[CertifiedMike]

That’s what I thought. I remember back when RTR didn’t even exist.

This is what I meant. The definition changed imo?

 

[PainKiller]

This is what I meant. The definition changed imo?

Gotcha. Are there any RTR companies that come with noticeably better electronics/radio?

 

[Greywolf74]

Gotcha. Are there any RTR companies that come with noticeably better electronics/radio?

The Spektrum stuff that comes in the Arrma rigs is ok and the Reedy stuff that comes in Team Associated stuff is ok. Those are about the only two and they arent great but better than say Traxxas electronics.

 

[PainKiller]

The Spektrum stuff that comes in the Arrma rigs is ok and the Reedy stuff that comes in Team Associated stuff is ok. Those are about the only two and they arent great but better than say Traxxas electronics.

Team associated has RTR’s? Hmm. I’ll have to give them a look.

 

[Beer_Goggles_RC]

Team associated has RTR’s? Hmm. I’ll have to give them a look.

associated makes some really good rigs. Especially from a 1/10 RTR racing standpoint. Their MT10 has been a major hit

 

[9x19]

Yeah, the MT10 is really a good rig for the money, center diff (no slipper) decent electronics (don't like the servo), but a really tough truck.

 

[Beer_Goggles_RC]

Yeah, the MT10 is really a good rig for the money, center diff (no slipper) decent electronics (don't like the servo), but a really tough truck.

View attachment 202714

Method wheels

 

[PainKiller]

Yeah, the MT10 is really a good rig for the money, center diff (no slipper) decent electronics (don't like the servo), but a really tough truck.

View attachment 202714

Wow! That looks sick! Is this in the same category as the Maxx?

 

[KnowAir]

The Spektrum stuff that comes in the Arrma rigs is ok and the Reedy stuff that comes in Team Associated stuff is ok. Those are about the only two and they arent great but better than say Traxxas electronics.

One thing about Associated rtr is that the Reedy esc's are typically locked out, so no programming options. However, I do seem to recall there being a hack to get into the settings. Razor RC on YT may have something about it.
I find the Spektrum stuff to be decent, and honestly, the Traxxas isn't terrible. More like neutered. It'll get the job done for a while. I've lived with rtr electronics for years and enjoyed them. Still using in some rc's.
The Spektrum esc's are programmable at least. Limited, but it's there.