New Duratrax Crawler

[geckocycles]

A new Duratrax crawler came out with locked F&R option, Dual motors on axles extra pinions for crawling and 4 Wheel steering. 1/14th scale all RTR $240
http://www.towerhobbies.com/products/duratrax/dtxd18_e.html

[catfishblues]

I saw one of these at the LHS, but it didn't come with electronics, and they didn't have the ESC in stock yet. Looks like a fun alternative to the big 'ol AX-10, though!

[geckocycles]

With this much unsprung weight it should help with keeping the CG low. Although you need 2 batteries but you could put in some Lipo's.

I think I am going to give it a try after I get my front locker for my Sami.

[catfishblues]

With this much unsprung weight it should help with keeping the CG low. Although you need 2 batteries but you could put in some Lipo's.

I think I am going to give it a try after I get my front locker for my Sami.

It should run all day on NiMHs! You're pushing two fairly efficient, high-turn 370 motors. Weight isn't a huge concern, and it's not like they need a lot of juice to get going through that gearing. I'd stick with NiMH until I can afford a decent LiPo charger. Plus, NiMHs charge quicker.

[yoothgeye]

I like that little guy, I've got 3 big Nylints (1 nearly mint) and 2 little ones, if I could sell them I'd get one of these, make me some room.

[Multicolorsami]

Neat, thats a little like my freinds axial.

[X-jeeper]

tower hobbies has this thing on sale right now for $149.97, or you can get the truck, 2 batteries and a charger for $223.98!...just a heads up for christmas time! 

[yoothgeye]

tower hobbies has this thing on sale right now for $149.97, or you can get the truck, 2 batteries and a charger for $223.98!...just a heads up for christmas time! 

Thanks for the tip!

[geckocycles]

Yea I got that sale sheet. I looked at the videos now that they are working and was not impressed with the crawl speed. I wonder why they look like it is an on or off switch. Speed Controller?

[X-jeeper]

i guess its like the RTR ax-10...the rock racer. the crawl speed isnt quite slow enough or smooth enough but you can still have alot of fun with it and its very upgradeable! Buy the almost ready to run model and add your own ESC to get it the way you want it. I think im gona get one soon just to mess around with. 

[yoothgeye]

A friend of mine just bought one of these, no reviews yet, but some are showing up on eBay, RTR for $99 with free shipping.

[bullwinkle]

Justin..... Would you loan me 99 dollars? 

[geckocycles]

These things don't crawl even with the other gear set they give you. They really bounce around allot and you have little control of them. I passed after I looked at the video and then asked around.

[catfishblues]

These things don't crawl even with the other gear set they give you. They really bounce around allot and you have little control of them. I passed after I looked at the video and then asked around.

Thanks for the heads-up, Ken. I almost bought one last week. It was an RTR, $139. Seemed great, until I found out it takes a certain configuration of battery pack, and the shop didn't have any on hand. I passed. Looks like too many proprietary electronics for me.

[fart box]

is there another inexpensive alternative to these? i want to get one but most are a little too pricey for me

[yoothgeye]

is there another inexpensive alternative to these? i want to get one but most are a little too pricey for me

This seems to be the cheapest way to go right now, my friend really likes his, but is already planning upgrades and using different batteries than the one's asked for. I won't know till I see it since he knows NOTHING about crawling.

[fart box]

what battery does it say to use?

i have some knowledge of RC stuff  so i know the different kinds of batteries

[bullwinkle]

Lil round ones.....

[yoothgeye]

what battery does it say to use?

i have some knowledge of RC stuff  so i know the different kinds of batteries

Some special Duratrax batteries, 2 of them that cost $24 each, so most people are substituting regular 6 cells.

[catfishblues]

what battery does it say to use?

i have some knowledge of RC stuff  so i know the different kinds of batteries

I'm not sure on the size. Ns or something. Not sub-Cs. You can find the N packs at the store, but the Duratrax requires they be in a stick configuration. Most of the packs you can readily buy are in the stacked config. It wants the batteries arranged in line like a standard sub-C pack. You could probably find a place to stick a couple of Li-Pos pretty easily, but that's getting pricey. I think the ESC from an E-Maxx or new Summit would work, but they're bigger. The Duratrax one starts at $80. It looks like it flexes well, but I don't know. I'm still toying with the idea, but I think you'd be better off picking up an Axial, HPI, Losi, or one of the other 10th scale offerings out there. You can spec one of those out pretty affordably if you already have some electronics you can use.

[fart box]

yeah i was at the hobby shop last night getting some parts for my rustler and i started playing around with the axial scorpion, seems really nice,

has anyone messed with the 1/18 losi crawlers? they looked pretty neat too

so does the new traxxas summit was really nice, lots of cool features, but like all traxxas stuff...stupid expensive

[yoothgeye]

There are others out there that are obviously superior, but the Duratrax Cliff Climber gets my attention because of it's price. It's a good platform since anything you get you will end up modifying whether you spend $100 or $1000.

[fart box]

yeah i'm just not a fan of dual motors (especially brushed) and i don't really see any way to get out of it on these, but ill still probably get  one

[Thorny]

yeah i was at the hobby shop last night getting some parts for my rustler and i started playing around with the axial scorpion, seems really nice,

has anyone messed with the 1/18 losi crawlers? they looked pretty neat too

so does the new traxxas summit was really nice, lots of cool features, but like all traxxas stuff...stupid expensive

Hey Kevin,  hit me up with if you wanna try out the losi crawler.  I also have an over done  Axial crawler that does not get enough love like it should.

Here's my axial.  It was a ARTR

[yoothgeye]

When you decide that Axial needs a new home that will give it more love than you, hit me up, maybe we can figure out some kind of a trade.

[fart box]

sweet dude, gimme a call today, im bored as heck

[tbramich]

Thanks for the heads-up, Ken. I almost bought one last week. It was an RTR, $139. Seemed great, until I found out it takes a certain configuration of battery pack, and the shop didn't have any on hand. I passed. Looks like too many proprietary electronics for me.

i got one for $119 from a LHS. the batteries dont matter if you use 2 sided tape and stick them on the axles. you just need to change the connectors. it requires 1 battery's and i almost converted it over 2 1 lipo but i think that would mess up the weight. i have driven mine for 30 minutes and only used 5-700 mah's out of the packs. (1500 mah packs). will try to get a battery mount pic up shortly

[chazzuk]

awsome how much was it

[tbramich]

awsome how much was it

i got one for $119 from a LHS.

[yoothgeye]

I got to test out my friend's Duratrax... it looked really neat, but it didn't crawl, had no low gearing, just had to spin tires over everything. I was kinda dissapointed.