With an $800 budget , what would you get?

[KnowAir]

Yeah, I wasn't even talking about the EXB. The regular Kraton I feel is a better truck. Granted, the aluminum chassis plate in the Kraton is made out of pop cans, and not 7075 T6 aluminum like they claim, but still I know it's a lot better design. The electronics are better too.

Ours is running the stock ESC and motor, and it's a V3.

I have heard many say that about the EXB chassis as well. The BLX is just a 6000 series aluminum. Though the Sledge is also 6000..
I have the v5 EXB, my bother has the v5 BLX, we haven't had any chassis issues with our Arrma's, but his Sledge chassis is indeed bent.. still running it, but it's tweaked. Same usage as the Arrma's.
So look's like M2C came out with this brace (recently?) for the v5's, $36. Worth a try I'd say.
https://m2cracing.net/shop/shop.php#!/M2C-3056-KRATON-6S-SKID-PLATE-BRACE/p/683908893

Of course being a "DIY" guy, I'd just make my own.. I have 7075 T6 1/8" plate laying around.

 

[WickedFog]

I have heard many say that about the EXB chassis as well. The BLX is just a 6000 series aluminum. Though the Sledge is also 6000..
I have the v5 EXB, my bother has the v5 BLX, we haven't had any chassis issues with our Arrma's, but his Sledge chassis is indeed bent.. still running it, but it's tweaked. Same usage as the Arrma's.
So look's like M2C came out with this brace recently for the v5's, $36. Worth a try I'd say.
https://m2cracing.net/shop/shop.php#!/M2C-3056-KRATON-6S-SKID-PLATE-BRACE/p/683908893

View attachment 202915

Oh, I was not aware the regular and EXB didn't share the same chassis. Well, I am betting they do actually. They just paint a different design on the EXB plate. Whether Horizon knows it or not, 7075 T6 will break, looooong before it bends. And I saw Talbot banging on an EXB chassis with a hammer, and it bent with every blow. Sorry Horizon, that is definitely not hardened to T6 grade. It may very well be 7075, but I even doubt that from the looks of the stock chassis.

I explained all this to Horizon, and the fact that I have machined enough 7075 to build a bridge to the moon, and they still assured me it is 7075 T6. All I could do was laugh at them.

 

[Chubaka]

the Savage is a bucket list truck for me as well. but i want the X 4.6. but the thread asked about electric so i said flux.

I want a 4.6 also..... to go with my older xl..... that I never messed with.

 

[WickedFog]

I want a 4.6 also..... to go with my older xl..... that I never messed with.

The old XL was like their flagship, indestructible monster right? I was away from the hobby mostly during HPI's rise and fall.

 

[PainKiller]

The old XL was like their flagship, indestructible monster right? I was away from the hobby mostly during HPI's rise and fall.

So is HPI mostly out of the picture now?

 

[Chubaka]

The old XL was like their flagship, indestructible monster right? I was away from the hobby mostly during HPI's rise and fall.

Correct. The new xl I've heard alot of issues with. And it seems they changed the design so not all parts are interchangeable.

 

[WickedFog]

Correct. The new xl I've heard alot of issues with. And it seems they changed the design so not all parts are interchangeable.

That's a real shame.

 

[Chubaka]

So is HPI mostly out of the picture now?

They discontinued the nitro rs4 line. They changed the savage. For better or worst is too early to say. Alot of the good hopups are long gone and they dont offer much hopups on current rides. Last few times in the hobby shop they didn't stock hpi but could get what you wanted from them.

 

[KnowAir]

Oh, I was not aware the regular and EXB didn't share the same chassis. Well, I am betting they do actually. They just paint a different design on the EXB plate. Whether Horizon knows it or not, 7075 T6 will break, looooong before it bends. And I saw Talbot banging on an EXB chassis with a hammer, and it bent with every blow. Sorry Horizon, that is definitely not hardened to T6 grade. It may very well be 7075, but I even doubt that from the looks of the stock chassis.

I explained all this to Horizon, and the fact that I have machined enough 7075 to build a bridge to the moon, and they still assured me it is 7075 T6. All I could do was laugh at them.

Not gonna argue the grade of aluminum Arrma is using, IDK. but the EXB and BLX chassis are different. The BLX has ribbing stamped into it at the rear section whereas the EXB chassis does not. Stronger? IDK, never bent one. However we have bent a Sledge chassis, soo.. that's that.
Some 14 years ago I bought a piece of 7075 T6, I previously said 1/8", it's actually 1/4". I made my own chassis plate for a TT MT4. Even bent the plate to make the kickup at the front. I did heat it first though.. wanna talk about a struggle? Grrr!! At 6.35mm thick, as you might expect, I never bent that sucker!! LOL

 

[Littlemotor]

Not gonna argue the grade of aluminum Arrma is using, IDK. but the EXB and BLX chassis are different. The BLX has ribbing stamped into it at the rear section whereas the EXB chassis does not. Stronger? IDK, never bent one. However we have bent a Sledge chassis, soo.. that's that.
Some 14 years ago I bought a piece of 7075 T6, I previously said 1/8", it's actually 1/4". I made my own chassis plate for a TT MT4. Even bent the plate to make the kickup at the front. I did heat it first though.. wanna talk about a struggle? Grrr!! At 6.35mm thick, as you might expect, I never bent that sucker!! LOL

Jesus bro!

 

[KnowAir]

Jesus bro!

View attachment 202919

Yeah, I got a lil carried away, LOL. But for anyone who remembers, the MT4 was known for bent chassis back in the day. Even worses than the Kraton BLX.
Peeps were making their own T2T braces and whatnot.. looked hideous, and basically just transferred all the stress to the front/rear towers and bulheads. So, I thought fuggit, I'll just make ma own outta somethin better.

I still have both.. the MT4 and the chassis I made. A couple years back I grabbed a new factory chassis and swapped everything over while doing rehab on the MT4. I wanted to get some weight off of it for track duties as an ST4 instead.

 

[Littlemotor]

Yeah, I got a lil carried away, LOL. But for anyone who remembers, the MT4 was known for bent chassis back in the day. Even worses than the Kraton BLX.
Peeps were making their own T2T braces and whatnot.. looked hideous, and basically just transferred all the stress to the front/rear towers and bulheads. So, I thought fuggit, I'll just make ma own outta somethin better.

I still have both.. the MT4 and the chassis I made. A couple years back I grabbed a new factory chassis and swapped everything over while doing rehab on the MT4. I wanted to get some weight off of it for track duties as an ST4 instead.

I couldn’t agree more. Yep-first thing I did when I bought that silly Talion EXB for Mrs. Littlemotor was take that stupid lunchbox handle off that thing, and slide an M2C chassis under it. Never had a problem.. I’m of the mindset that a 1/8 *uggy chassis should be able to flex, and if it DOES flex due to a lawn dart with that T2T “brace”, it’ll bend that stupid handle, and the chassis remains bent.. What you did allows for the same thing as I did with a stupid expensive aftermarket chassis imo.

 

[KnowAir]

I couldn’t agree more. Yep-first thing I did when I bought that silly Talion EXB for Mrs. Littlemotor was take that stupid lunchbox handle off that thing, and slide an M2C chassis under it. Never had a problem.. I’m of the mindset that a 1/8 *uggy chassis should be able to flex, and if it DOES flex due to a lawn dart with that T2T “brace”, it’ll bend that stupid handle, and the chassis remains bent.. What you did allows for the same thing as I did with a stupid expensive aftermarket chassis imo.

That reminds me, I also removed the T2T (handles) off of both my K6 and K8. Not needed.
Keep in mind, I'm running on a track, not half pipes, haven't had a problem running without them.

 

[PainKiller]

So if a rig is of a certain size (1/8 scale) then it comes with an aluminum chassis? Or is it the power plant that determines whether it’s aluminum or plastic. The Maxx has a plastic chassis I believe.

 

[Littlemotor]

So if a rig is of a certain size (1/8 scale) then it comes with an aluminum chassis? Or is it the power plant that determines whether it’s aluminum or plastic. The Maxx has a plastic chassis I believe.

Depends.

Once you start getting UP to 1/8 buggies, and truggies-the quality ones will ALWAYS have a CNC 7075 aluminum chassis.

 

[Suburban_Hooligan]

So is HPI mostly out of the picture now?

they filed for bankruptcy. got sold off. the new owners didn't really do much. released the Jumpshot line but failed to support anything and no shops ever had anything in stock. then the company was sold off again and got a new owner. the new/current owner is a lot better and is making a noticeable effort to keep parts and cars in stock as well as stock hobby shops. they are responsible for the updates on the Savage, most of those upgrades seem to be welcomed (like the wheel hexes) they tried to make the truck beefier. most of the truck is still interchangeable with the old trucks and the old trucks can easily be "retrofit" with modern parts (change a few parts and everything bolts together)
they still make good stuff its just getting a little dated and they don't have the visibility they did pre bankruptcy. things have improved in the last few years, i wouldn't be afraid to buy one. they actually have a few trucks I'm looking at like the Jumpshot MT, and Nitro Bullet. and iv heard mostly good things about the Vorza buggy.

 

[332_RC]

Not gonna argue the grade of aluminum Arrma is using, IDK. but the EXB and BLX chassis are different. The BLX has ribbing stamped into it at the rear section whereas the EXB chassis does not. Stronger? IDK, never bent one. However we have bent a Sledge chassis, soo.. that's that.
Some 14 years ago I bought a piece of 7075 T6, I previously said 1/8", it's actually 1/4". I made my own chassis plate for a TT MT4. Even bent the plate to make the kickup at the front. I did heat it first though.. wanna talk about a struggle? Grrr!! At 6.35mm thick, as you might expect, I never bent that sucker!! LOL

Normally to be able to stamp or bend aluminum, it's 5000 series, or lower. 7075 chassis are CNCd but still bent at the front. Aluminum will crack when bent, so far. 3000 & 2000 series aluminum is considered bendable aluminum. Very gummy. 5000 will bend nicely, but has the strength of 6061. Hence why the BLX chassis may bend easily & have the ribs in the rear. My guess. I've cut & drilled a BLX chassis. It's not 6061. IMO

 

[PainKiller]

I would even argue the Kraton 6s BLX is a better truck than the Sledge, but the EXB is waay better. As you can tell, not really a fan of the Sledge. Not because I think the truck is soo bad, just that the price is out of whack, add to that the smear campaign Traxxas did against the Kraton when they released it, and I just don't like it.

Smear campaign? Do tell …

Normally to be able to stamp or bend aluminum, it's 5000 series, or lower. 7075 chassis are CNCd but still bent at the front. Aluminum will crack when bent, so far. 3000 & 2000 series aluminum is considered bendable aluminum. Very gummy. 5000 will bend nicely, but has the strength of 6061. Hence why the BLX chassis may bend easily & have the ribs in the rear. My guess. I've cut & drilled a BLX chassis. It's not 6061. IMO

So 6061 is not great compared to 7075?

 

[9x19]

I’m starting to get ideas in my head and I don’t know if I can get them out…. I was just looking at the Traxxas Sledge (belted). And it looks awwwwwwesome. But would a novice like me be ok driving something like that? I need opinions please.

If you're wanting larger scale, I would take a good look at the Team Corally Kagama... It is really well constructed with oversized parts just about everywhere. The RTR version comes with a pretty good ESC/Motor and parts are readily available on-line. This company has $60 off of $400 right now, so you could get the roller for $360, or the RTR for $560.
https://rchobbyexplosion.com/

Here's a pretty good video comparison.

 

[KnowAir]

So if a rig is of a certain size (1/8 scale) then it comes with an aluminum chassis? Or is it the power plant that determines whether it’s aluminum or plastic. The Maxx has a plastic chassis I believe.

It's whatever the designers and manufacturers want to use. Traxxas (and others) have proven that plastic is capable. I call them plastic fantastic, LOL.
There's much debate about which is better, stronger, ect. I feel the plastic is more forgiving, but sacrifices rigidity. So while the plastic flexes and contorts without breaking, it lacks the stifness that most want for sharp and predictable handling.
Bashers with plastic chassis are fine IMO, but if I were looking to race competition, aluminum would be my choice. Of course then there's carbon fiber, but that's going beyond my budget.