Rc crawler

The Luke · Dec 26, 2019

So I had a scx10 rubicon a couple years ago. Sold it off when we were fundraising to adopt our son. So I've been out of the Rc world ever since.

Fast forward a few years and my wife buys me a redcat Gen7 pro for Christmas yesterday. Open it up and the body is shattered. So, I can swap it out for one that's not busted or trade it for a similar priced model. $300 + tax is my cap.

I don't totally love the body on the gen7. I tend to favor the comp crawlers or more of a trail rig(think losi night crawler, wraith or a cab truck, deadbolt). I like the deadbolt, but it's all plastic steering and links compared to the redcat all metal.

I'm looking for suggestions. Thoughts?

The Luke · Dec 26, 2019

scooter60 · Dec 26, 2019

If you are just looking to replace the body, I think the Gen 7 is a 12.3" wheelbase and there are tons of body options out there for that wheelbase. Pro Line makes several different styles but they will be clear lexan and will require painting.

As far as replacing the Gen 7. Maybe consider the Gen 8. Redcat improved a lot of things on the Gen8. It has portal axles, metal links, and a killer IH Scout body. There are tons of aftermarket parts out there to make them better.
Another option is the Traxxas TRX-4 sport. It's a non licensed truck body that is similar to a Toyota body. It also has portal axles and metal links with tons of aftermarket support. They are right around $330 rtr.

I built my wife a Trx-4 Sport out of their kit version a few months ago. It turned out really sweet and will out crawl any SCX10 or 10II that it has been around. I have around $500 in it including aluminum beadlock wheels and the aluminum front bumper. That doesnt include the led lights and inner fenders I added after it was built.

jeeptj99 · Dec 26, 2019

i mean you're gonna beat the piss out of it anyway so is it that big a deal if the body is busted? will they send you a new body?

jeeptj99 · Dec 26, 2019

Also, we are going to have to start taking them riding with us and while we wait on matt to fix what abigail broke we can play with them. molaugh

The Luke · Dec 26, 2019

@jeeptj99 haha absolutely.

It absolutely matters. Why spend $300 on something that isn't supposed to be broken? I want to be the one to break it.

jeeptj99 · Dec 26, 2019

The Luke said:
@jeeptj99 haha absolutely.

It absolutely matters. Why spend $300 on something that isn't supposed to be broken? I want to be the one to break it.

i get it.

The Luke · Dec 26, 2019

I jumped up to the gen8. Amazon delivered in 5 hours.

TBItoy · Dec 26, 2019

The gen 8 look pretty good. Local hobby shop says there have been pretty reliable

CarolinaCrawler1 · Dec 27, 2019

I picked up a gen 7 sport for my youngest son. He hated the body so we got him a honcho body from eBay. Swapped it on pretty easily. The redcat is a great deal for the money, that is coming from a diehard Axial guy.

The Luke · Dec 27, 2019

@TBItoy yea, your local hobby shop guy is who talked me into it. Between the portals and some kind of fancy clutch thing, I was sold.

Lil ugly · Dec 27, 2019

I have a redcat 7. I switched it up to rear steer and a few other minor mods. It has been ok, does not do as well as my buddies traxxas but I spent half the money he has. My body busted as well, I think I am going with one of the custom lexan bodies next.

The Luke · Dec 27, 2019

@Lil ugly I'm on the hunt for a buggy/truggy body for mine gen8. The wife said the scout body that came on it is too pretty to bust up.

Speaking of, how do you body swap these things with all the fancy inner fenders and such? I guess they're removable. I've not looked that close yet

The Luke · Dec 27, 2019

jeeptj99 · Dec 27, 2019

that thing looks like it has ground hawgs on it

Hotrodpayton · Dec 27, 2019

Got a Gen7 and 7 pro for Christmas, my son broke the gear set in the gen 7 in the first couple hours of use. Rebuilt kit with metal gears are on the way, there are tons of free mods that can be done to the Reds to make them way better machines

Lil ugly · Dec 30, 2019

The Luke said:
@Lil ugly I'm on the hunt for a buggy/truggy body for mine gen8. The wife said the scout body that came on it is too pretty to bust up.

Speaking of, how do you body swap these things with all the fancy inner fenders and such? I guess they're removable. I've not looked that close yet

The Gen 7 I have does not have the inner fender portions like the Gen 8 does. You either have to modify the inner fenders to fit the new body or take them out with the body. I have been looking at a half cab truck body and to install it I will need to make a new mounting point for the rear of the cab and will use the Velcro option for the front section at my original mounting point. I am going to use stainless steel brakeline or similar to bend up the back half cage. I will tig weld mounting points to the cage ends to bold to my original frame. Basically same stuff we would do to a 1:1 just not as involved.

The Luke · Dec 30, 2019

@Lil ugly I'm thinking of doing similar. I think I'm going to remove the inner fenders and bend up some brake line to make a basic chassis. I can't bring myself to spend $50+ on a body that I'm just going to destroy.

Lil ugly · Dec 31, 2019

I don't have a much option at this time. My son dropped a brick on it a while back and crushed it, and then this weekend we were coming back from camping and a storage cabinet broke free from it straps in the toyhauler and landed on my crawler crushing the body. Gotta finish building my 1:1 first though.