Radio Controlled Trucks

[SoonerObsession]

I'm thinking about getting involved in this hobby. Anyone have any suggestions on how I should start? Nitro or electric? I'm not a mechanic by any means, but I heard they are kind of fun to tweak and alter for better performance. I think I want a truck so I'm not limited to pavement. Anyone envolved in this?

[OUDoc]

Traxxas has some great stuff. Easy to use and ready to race. I've got the AWD 4TEC nitro car. Tops out at 60mph. Others would recommend you build your own. Depends how much time and knowledge you have, I guess. I like my set up just fine.
http://www.traxxas.com/ The Revo is supposed to be great.

[SoonerObsession]

I checked out the Traxxas website a few days ago. They look like they have some great cars/trucks. Are there any hobby shops in the metro area that sell Traxxas? I went to the one on Penn and Britton, but they didn't have any. They had a few cars, but no nitro vehicles.

[OUDoc]

Hobbytown USA on Rockwell and NW Expressway is where I got mine, but their selection seems to be declining (?going out of business?). I'd start by calling them.

[KsSooner]

I had the same idea but with boats. We have a small lake behind our house that would be perfect. Saw some boats for $40 that were basically toys. But at the other end of spectrum saw boats that were $250 to $500. Is there something in between in case I really don't like it?

[12]

http://www.neatstuff.net/pics/Radicon-Bus-Gray.jpg

[GDC]

I got a Team Losi XXXT this past summer mainly because a guy just opened an RC track just down the road from where I live. I lost interest pretty quick but it's a good tool for motivating and teaching my students so I still have it.

[GDC]

http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/onion_news3266.article.jpg

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/31075


Hamster Thrown From Remote-Control Monster Truck
July 6, 2005 | Issue 41•27

MILTON, MA—Tragedy was narrowly averted in the Bourke household Monday, when Harry, the family's pet hamster, was violently thrown from the 4" by 4" payload of a toy Ford F-350 monster truck.


Enlarge Image

The site of the accident that nearly claimed the life of Bourke family pet Harry (inset).
According to reports, the toy vehicle was racing through a living-room obstacle course—which included a coffee-table-coaster slalom, a cardboard ramp, and a Dixie-cup pyramid—when it swerved out of control and crashed into a Lincoln Log structure, sending the hamster flying through the monster truck's driver-side window and knocking over three nearby Fisher-Price Little People.

The scene quickly devolved into pandemonium, with the launched hamster tumbling humorously in mid-air several times before landing at the foot of the sofa and fleeing in shock. A frantic, living-room-wide search for Harry ensued and, after extensive search efforts behind the sofa, under the recliner, and behind the bookcase, the hamster was found between the vertical blinds and the sliding glass door, shaken but alive.

As of press time, Harry was resting in his cage, his condition described as "skittish but stable."

"This is a tremendous shock," said Bourke next-door neighbor Paula Gates upon learning of the mishap. "Harry is well-liked by all the neighborhood children, and for his life to be jeopardized in this manner is terribly upsetting."

Parental investigators have determined that the toy's two operators, whose names are being withheld due to their ages, successfully navigated the monster truck through the obstacle course numerous times before adding the hamster in an attempt to increase the activity's entertainment value. If found guilty, the boys, 7 and 9, could be sentenced to an evening in their rooms and fines of up to two weeks' allowance.

The accident's cause has been the subject of much debate. While many blame the toy's manufacturer, Playcorp Unlimited, for making a substandard product, others say the monster truck's operators are at fault. Angry at the operators, an unnamed Bourke parent is pressing for a strict ban on the use of family pets in play activities, with a penalty of three days without PlayStation for those found guilty.

Playcorp spokesperson Paul Ionesco expressed "deep dismay" over the crash.

"This is a flagrant and obvious misuse of our product," Ionesco said. "No Playcorp product is intended for the transportation of live cargo, no matter how cute and humorous the spectacle of a little hamster driving along in his little truck may be."

Monday's crash marks the fourth time that Harry, 1, has found himself involved in dangerous play. In October 2000, Harry was placed on the back of family dog Raggles, who ran through several rooms within the house before being stopped by mother Lorraine Bourke. On Feb. 20, he was strapped to an army-man parachute and dropped from a second-story window. Three days later, the hamster was placed inside his glow-in-the-dark run-about ball and pushed down a flight of stairs. Both acts occurred with no parents in the vicinity and were never brought to trial.

[OUAndy1807]

Hope I'm not too late.

Nitro or Electric: Depends on what you want to do. If you just want to tool around out in yard, go electric. If you want to race/supe it up/go crazy with it buy a nitro. The high dollar nitro cars look pretty awesome, but they're loud, messy and you have to buy fuel. Electric has a higher initial costs (you have to buy batteries and a battery charger), but they're quiet and clean. Run time is also an issue with electric, but with 3 batteries, I can typically run for about 15 minutes in my yard.

Monster Truck or Buggy: If you're using it in grass, don't mess around with a buggy. Again, there are some gnarly nitro trucks out there, but unless you're rock climbing or something you don't need them

Back to Nitro or Electric: If you want to tinker, nitro is the way to go. A lot more moving parts, but that means a lot more to break. With electric you have a lot of pieces that you pretty much plug in and walk away from until you have a problem. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't know how to mess with a electronic speed controller, electric motor etc..

I've got a nitro car that does 60+ and a electric truck (Traxxas Stampede) that I bought to tool around the yard with. Since buying the truck, I don't think I've played with the car. It's fun, but it's a pain in the butt to clean the fuel and oil off of the car after you're finished driving.

If you're looking for a lot of bang for your buck, I think the traxxas is the way to go. So far I've had to replace one part and I try to tear this thing up (one of my favorite things is to launch it down the 16 stairs on the west side of Lloyd Noble. I picked it up at the Hobbytown in Norman with 3 batteries for under $200.

I'm a huge nerd. (and if anyone on here is looking to unload a nitro monster truck let me know).

[SoonerObsession]

I made a trip to the Hobbytown on Rockwell this weekend and all they had in the store was Nitro cars/trucks. They said they could order them for me, but I want to check it out before I buy it. Does the Hobbytown in Norman have the Traxxas electric trucks in the store for you to check out?

[OUAndy1807]

yes

[StoopTroup]

I hope Santa checks my list this year.

I want to do some backflips!

http://www.traxxas.com/products/nitro/tmaxx/tmx_images/backflip.jpg

[SoonerObsession]

I ended up with the Traxxas Stampede also. I have not had a chance to take it out much yet, but man I'm pretty excited about it. It's not a nitro as far as speed, but 20+mph is pretty dang fast for a newbie like me. I can definately see myself buying a nitro some day. I need to invest in some more batteries though. This picture looks like the one I bought.

http://img446.imageshack.us/img446/5253/traxxasstampede4hj.jpg

[Red October]

What about radio shack? Dont they have some good RC cars?

again, I dont know nuthin about tham thangs..

[SoonerObsession]

What about radio shack? Dont they have some good RC cars?

again, I dont know nuthin about tham thangs..

Radio Shack has good cars. If you're 5 years old. ;) But I'm all grown up. Can't you tell? :D

[C&CDean]

So, you guys are what, 12?

Buy a freaking 4-wheeler or dune buggy or jeep and go out and do the real thing. Judas H. Priest people. Remote control cars get old in like 3 minutes.

[IB4OU2]

So, you guys are what, 12?

Buy a freaking 4-wheeler or dune buggy or jeep and go out and do the real thing. Judas H. Priest people. Remote control cars get old in like 3 minutes.

Hell yea! I got a Bruin I ride every weekend for work or play.

[OUAndy1807]

So, you guys are what, 12?

Buy a freaking 4-wheeler or dune buggy or jeep and go out and do the real thing. Judas H. Priest people. Remote control cars get old in like 3 minutes.
so do four wheelers.

[StoopTroup]

I have a F150 Lariat but it's more fun to tear up something cheaper IMO.

[SoonerObsession]

So, you guys are what, 12?

Buy a freaking 4-wheeler or dune buggy or jeep and go out and do the real thing. Judas H. Priest people. Remote control cars get old in like 3 minutes.

I totally disagree. I have had so much fun with my new toy! I even thought about staying home from work tomorrow.

[BoogercountySooner]

Hell yea! I got a Bruin I ride every weekend for work or play.

Rubicon for me with a freakin huge bigfoot kit!!

[OU4LIFE]

you can soup up the electrics just as much as the nitro IMO. I have an old electric blackfoot truck that I bought in kit form and built it myself. the nice thing about that is you know exactly how everything works when you are done, so when something breaks, and it will break, you easily know how to fix it. I have four separate battery packs and a Panda charger, if I start out with all 4 charged, I can run for a good hour easily, and when the first battery goes down, it goes on the quick charger and I can run for even longer by doing that.

I've had my truck clocked at over 45, and for an electric, that's fast. There are lots of different rearends out there for differents models, and all ar customizable. You can get hotter, hand-wound motors that have higher RPM's, and get different size pinion gears to either go fast, or go slow but have a ton of torque.

IMO, electric is the only way to go.

Now having said that, I bet I haven't had mine out in 4 years.

[SoonerObsession]

If I charge a battery and I'm unable to use it the same day, is it going to hurt the life of the battery to be fully charged for a long period of time?

It's a 2400 NiMh 7.2 volt

[OUAndy1807]

no. actually, I think you want to store them fully charged if possible.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=412452

[SoonerObsession]

no. actually, I think you want to store them fully charged if possible.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=412452

Thanks!

[OUAndy1807]

that forum is pretty useful for rc planes but not so much for trucks. www.rcuniverse.com (http://www.rcuniverse.com) is better for trucks.

[Stitch Face]

Oh, grow up, all of you. I have an old rebuilt Sherman tank that I ride around the neighborhood and back lots, crushing kids' bikes and whatnot.

[GDC]

Oh, grow up, all of you. I have an old rebuilt Sherman tank that I ride around the neighborhood and back lots, crushing kids' bikes and whatnot.

http://www.filmthreat.com/UploadImages/culdesac1X.jpg

Did you know this (http://www.filmthreat.com/Reviews.asp?Id=3169) guy?

[SoonerObsession]

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I thought I would see if some of you have heard of brushless motors/systems. About a month ago I purchased a Novak 5.5 GTB Brushless system and man it flies! If you have ever gotten tired of having to go get the comm cut on your brush motors you will love the brushless. Hardly any maintainance whatsoever. Here is a little video of my tires ballooning with the back end raised off the ground.

Tires Ballooning on Stampede (http://media.putfile.com/GTB-55-Stampede)

Here's a pic of it now..

http://img25.imageshack.us/my.php?image=driverfront6pw.jpg

[StoopTroup]

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I thought I would see if some of you have heard of brushless motors/systems. About a month ago I purchased a Novak 5.5 GTB Brushless system and man it flies! If you have ever gotten tired of having to go get the comm cut on your brush motors you will love the brushless. Hardly any maintainance whatsoever. Here is a little video of my tires ballooning with the back end raised off the ground.

Tires Ballooning on Stampede (http://media.putfile.com/GTB-55-Stampede)

Here's a pic of it now..

http://img25.imageshack.us/my.php?image=driverfront6pw.jpg
Pretty cool.

Advice...get rid of the Dodge sticker. ;)

[SoonerObsession]

That Dodge sticker is almost worn off now. These things take a beating when you approach 40 mph. I'm already looking to get another body. There are some really cool ones available, but not all of them fit. My next paint scheme will be metallic crimson. I'm looking for some small sticker decals that would look good. Anybody have any ideas where I can get small Sooner decals?

[OUAndy1807]

brushless motors are definitely the way to go if you can afford them. I've pretty gone exclusively to them with my planes. More power and they never wear out.

[SoonerObsession]

I thought you guys might appreciate the new paint scheme...
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e72/tandkwelch/Soonerpede.jpg

[BudSooner]

Drag racing anyone?? check all of the other pictures...holy carp!
http://www.freewebs.com/motornisse/topfuel225cc.htm

Other miniature v8 engineshttp://www.rcprops.com/rcengines/rc_v8_gas_engined.htm