Recommend me an Electric Truck

ieatfish · #1 03-19-2009, 04:24 PM

I am in the market for a new monster truck. I've had an old Traxxas Stampede for years and would like a new one. My budget is around $200 just for the truck and radio. I don't mind kits but keep in mind I would need to buy loctite, etc. I also don't mind buying used if it is in great condition.

I was thinking something a lot like the Stampede or T-Maxx as opposed to a rock crawler. Any suggestions?

bchymas · #2 03-19-2009, 04:56 PM

Just keep your Stampede. A Stampede will do about what other electric 2-wheel drives will do, (at least for bashing purposes) so why waste your money? If you're really itching for something different, use your money to buy a brushless system and some steel VXL gears. That will change your entire outlook on that old Stampede!

ieatfish · #3 03-19-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bchymas

Just keep your Stampede. A Stampede will do about what other electric 2-wheel drives will do, (at least for bashing purposes) so why waste your money? If you're really itching for something different, use your money to buy a brushless system and some steel VXL gears. That will change your entire outlook on that old Stampede!

That is a good idea. I will definitely look into that. I hate stripping gears.

bchymas · #4 03-19-2009, 05:10 PM

I also have a very old Stampede. I recently bought and installed a steel idler gear that cost me a paltry $3. You can also get a differential housing with steel teeth for about $6 and then you're totally bullet-proof. I don't have a brushless system yet but I know some really good ones are available for less than $150.

ieatfish · #5 03-19-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bchymas

I also have a very old Stampede. I recently bought and installed a steel idler gear that cost me a paltry $3. You can also get a differential housing with steel teeth for about $6 and then you're totally bullet-proof. I don't have a brushless system yet but I know some really good ones are available for less than $150.

I never considered just upgrading my Pede.

I would want a brushless motor (are they really maintenance free?), steel gears, new battery packs, charger, and maybe a new set of wheels and tires. Also, for the $200, could I get some aftermarket parts to beef up my truck?

bchymas · #6 03-19-2009, 06:00 PM

What type of charger/batteries do you have? If they're out of date, I would definitely start there. Unfortunately, a good charger and batteries are not cheap. I have a Duratrax Intellipeak Twin Pulse I picked up used. It's phenomenal but it cannot charge LIPOs which stinks because that's where this hobby is headed. NiHMs are decent but from what I hear LIPOs are a far better value for your $. What am I trying to say here? You might want to spring for a charger that can charge NiCDs, NiMHs and LIPOs. I believe you can get one for around $100. Then pick up a NiMH or two and have fun with those till you can afford a LIPO. This is getting expensive isn't it?

neavissa123 · #7 03-19-2009, 06:56 PM

dude, i remember 5 years ago not being sure what to get. stampede or e-maxx. everyone told me to get the e-maxx and i did...i never regred doing so. i had so much fun with it, its not even funny. (German saying, ha ha)
the e-maxx is a blast. you can get good ones on eBay for around $150 bucks...or check your local craigslist, the deals on there are not too bad sometimes...
i am not saying the stampede is bad or so, all i am saying is that an e-maxx would be an upgrade to a stampede...you just have to decide if you wanna keep driving 2 wheel drive or 4x4?!

thanks
G

ieatfish · #8 03-19-2009, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neavissa123

dude, i remember 5 years ago not being sure what to get. stampede or e-maxx. everyone told me to get the e-maxx and i did...i never regred doing so. i had so much fun with it, its not even funny. (German saying, ha ha)
the e-maxx is a blast. you can get good ones on eBay for around $150 bucks...or check your local craigslist, the deals on there are not too bad sometimes...
i am not saying the stampede is bad or so, all i am saying is that an e-maxx would be an upgrade to a stampede...you just have to decide if you wanna keep driving 2 wheel drive or 4x4?!

thanks
G

4 wheel drive definitely grabs my attention. In this thread there is an HPI E-Savage that looks pretty solid. I have PM'd him to see but it looks like a good deal. I don't know if I need the Mamba Max, Castle BEC, and Hitec 645MG he listed, though.

neavissa123 · #9 03-19-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ieatfish

4 wheel drive definitely grabs my attention. In this thread there is an HPI E-Savage that looks pretty solid. I have PM'd him to see but it looks like a good deal. I don't know if I need the Mamba Max, Castle BEC, and Hitec 645MG he listed, though.

i bought an e-maxx 3905, that's the newer model with a mamba monster max in it. 2200kv motor and a 6s 5000mah thunder power battery...TOO MUCH POWER!!! no one needs that much power in a 1/10th scale car...so i put the mmm in my 8T. its plenty fast on 4s a123...i then put my old esc and motors, from my 3906 e-maxx, in the new e-maxx. i love driving it. its sooo much fun...that being said, you will NOT regret getting an e-maxx...

G

bchymas · #10 03-19-2009, 09:44 PM

No doubt the E-Maxx is a great machine. However, you won't have too much fun with one running a couple clapped out NiCDs. If you could find one that comes with a good charger and some decent batteries for under $200, that would be ideal. Otherwise, if you invest in a good charger and batteries now, you can still enjoy your Stampede and you'll be ready later when you want something else.

ieatfish · #11 03-20-2009, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bchymas

No doubt the E-Maxx is a great machine. However, you won't have too much fun with one running a couple clapped out NiCDs. If you could find one that comes with a good charger and some decent batteries for under $200, that would be ideal. Otherwise, if you invest in a good charger and batteries now, you can still enjoy your Stampede and you'll be ready later when you want something else.

I think that's what I'll do. I'll see how much money I get over the next couple weeks. If I make enough, I'll probably get the new EMaxx with some nice batteries. Do you recommend LiPo or NiMH? Are the mAh between the two types comparable? And how is the punch on a LiPo compared to a NiMH and NiCAD?

neavissa123 · #12 03-20-2009, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ieatfish

I think that's what I'll do. I'll see how much money I get over the next couple weeks. If I make enough, I'll probably get the new EMaxx with some nice batteries. Do you recommend LiPo or NiMH? Are the mAh between the two types comparable? And how is the punch on a LiPo compared to a NiMH and NiCAD?

i would get some lipos...check out unitedhobbies.com for some good deals on lipos...i would try these:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...0C_Lipoly_Pack

but double check with someone else...i have not tried these packs myself cant see though why they would be bad to use in an e-maxx?!

G

bchymas · #13 03-20-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ieatfish

I think that's what I'll do. I'll see how much money I get over the next couple weeks. If I make enough, I'll probably get the new EMaxx with some nice batteries. Do you recommend LiPo or NiMH? Are the mAh between the two types comparable? And how is the punch on a LiPo compared to a NiMH and NiCAD?

LIPOs are awesome. They give much more power and run-time. You will need a good charger with a balancer and that will probably cost you around $130. There's also a danger that you will ruin your LIPOs if you run them down too much. That's why most people make the brushless jump before they get LIPOs, because the newer brushless systems have voltage cutoffs that prevent LIPO batteries from being damaged. I hear you can get a voltage cutoff device that will work with older speed controllers for around $30 though.

ieatfish · #14 03-21-2009, 06:49 PM

So today I went and got an E Maxx 3905 along with two 5000mAh 7 cell NiMH batteries. It has been a blast so far. I don't plan on upgrading anything until something breaks and I am not out bashing...yet. Thanks for the help.

bchymas · #15 03-22-2009, 11:53 PM

Nice, let us know how it goes. I'd be very interested to know how much run-time you get. I've been thinking about picking up a 5000mah NiMH.

Ott Rod · #16 03-23-2009, 04:56 PM

What kind of batteries are they (5000mAh)? I have a pair of 4500 mAh Elite 7 cell side by side packs form Cheap Battery Packs.com and they have held up pretty well. They now offer a 5000 mAh pack for $49.00 and I'm REALLY considering getting some a pair. I've had the new E-Maxx for over a year now. It's my first RC car and it's been a kick. It's still stock except for finally getting some aluminum bulkheads.

ieatfish · #17 03-23-2009, 09:20 PM

Well, they worked very well. I had two 5000mAh Venom 7 cell packs with the Traxxas plug pre applied. I took my truck out today and it was making a weird noise so I took it back inside to check it out. As it was sitting on my table, the leads going to the 7th cell began to glow red hot. I turned off the speed control and they actually got brighter. They melted the plastic covering and then died down. I took it into the hobby shop and we tried some different batteries and they worked fine so something must have been wrong with the ones I got. Anyways, I'll get my truck back tomorrow hopefully.

But yeah, I got at least 30 min of hard run time and it was really quick. I always forget it isn't my old stampede and mash the throttle...right onto its roof. It has been a blast.

sherwyslash · #18 04-08-2009, 07:31 PM

I know that its not a monster truck, but i got a traxxas slash. its a blast. its a corr truck, looks and feels just like the real ones that the pros race, and i got the truck and radio for about $185 from tower. I saw on some other website that they have one for $195 with a good battery. I would never go back on my choice! I love my slash!