Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck!

Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck!
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Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/27/2006 8:17:03 PM

Heshup

Posts: 28
Joined: 11/17/2006
From: Starkville, MS, USA
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Hello everybody! Just found the forum a while back. Been doing a lot of reading. What a great place! Just filled full of lots of good info.

I am wanting to build a monster truck, 1/8 scale. I do not want to buy a truck, take it out of the box, start it up, and run it. No fun in that. I have read several articles where beginners should not attempt this task, that they should buy one put together for their first one. I am a beginner but I do not feel that I fall under the beginner's category by any means. To me, the thrill of owning one of these, is building one of these. This being said, I am asking people here to help me put together what I will need to build an awesome monster truck. We need to think rugged, fast, using the best parts. I believe in you getting what you pay for. I want it to be nitro.

I have ordered and received the new 2007 Tower Hobby catalog, as I see most people here talk highly of them. What I fail to see in this catalog is where one can buy a kit that one can build. If anybody has any info of any other great places for buying kits, all links would be greatly appreciated.

I would sincerely appreciate all the help I could get putting together this kit.

Many thanks.
Stone

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RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/27/2006 8:28:16 PM

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From: Leipzig, , GERMANY
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For a 1/8 MT kit, then HPI Savage X SS - no question. About the best thing going anyway - for pure bashing..

(in reply to Heshup)

RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/27/2006 8:54:56 PM

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From: Southeastern, NC, USA
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Yep, the Savage X SS. HPI is the only MT manufacturer(that I'm aware of anyway) that recognizes people like you who prefer to do their own assembly, so that's about the only MT kit you're going to find. Like any good kit should, it comes with lots of factory hopup parts. You have to supply all of the eletronics, but the kit does come with a decent .28 size engine to get you started.

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RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/27/2006 11:05:18 PM

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From: Stockbridge, GA, USA
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I thought Koyosho and Tamiya made MT kits. 'Course you won't find those on Tower. I'd guess that the Savage X SS is far and away the most popular kit and the truck you'll find the most aftermarket support for.

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RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/27/2006 11:14:57 PM

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Joined: 5/11/2006
From: hamilton, OH, USA
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Buy the truck you want and take apart!

I wanted the same thing when I got my truck a few months back. I was into RC cars about 12-15 years ago, and thought half the fun was building them. I was bummed to find out losi didn't offer and MT Kits. If I would of known about the Hellfire SS kit, I would of waited for it. the truck is flipping sweet! if I would of known about the savage x kit It may of got me. But in my posts about kit MT's, I don't remember ever seeing it. But I was a die-hard Losi fan back in the day, and was kinda partial to them upon re-entering the scene. So i bought an LST2 and took it apart and put it back together.

But you probably won't be dissapointed with the savage's durability. Hell, I may buy one now just to build it...

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RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/28/2006 1:25:47 AM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DaveG55

I thought Koyosho and Tamiya made MT kits. 'Course you won't find those on Tower. I'd guess that the Savage X SS is far and away the most popular kit and the truck you'll find the most aftermarket support for.

I'm not completely sure. Neither of them offer their "top shelf" MTs in kit form anyway. The Kyosho Mad Force was available in kit form(look at my sig) but not anymore.

The SS is a nice buy if you want a Savage. I'm no fan of HPI electronics, so the kit is nice in that regard. Instead of getting another useless AM radio and weak servos to sit and collect dust, they give you tons of hopup parts instead. It also has a healthy long lasting .28 engine in the box. You get stronger chassis plates, stronger engine plate, aluminum diff cups, hardened and shimmed diff gears, adjustable upper arms, adjustable links, steel spur gear, hardened and vented clutchbell, Dirtbonz tires, a tuned pipe, HD diff shafts, HD joint cups, HD dogbones. I don't even think that's the whole list either, it comes with quite a few upgraded parts... for about the same money as the RTR.

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RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/28/2006 1:53:51 AM

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From: Portland, OR, USA
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The more I hear about the XSS, the more I think about getting one... I had it narrowed down to the LST2 or the Muggy for my next truck.. then checked out a CRT kit.. and now considering the XSS.. man I hate being so indecisive!

...... I don't really want another basher but that kit looks really nice. (and being a kit is a big plus IMO).. there's so many upgrades, makes it hard to over look..

sorry, not trying to steal the thread, just had to get that out..

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RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/28/2006 3:15:52 AM

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Definately the XSS by ALL MEANS!! So many goodies I can't count them all. It's also a kit so you buy your own REAL electronics.

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RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/28/2006 4:08:34 AM

Heshup

Posts: 28
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From: Starkville, MS, USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Chronic

I'm no fan of HPI electronics.

Is there something I need to know about the HPI?

I like the Savage X SS. The one thing I don't like is the body. Lets just say I be a big fan of Toyota. Not bad price. I figure to spend about $800+. In fact I figure I will have a grand or so before it is all done. The money is not a problem. What are the electronics that people are talking about I will need that don't come with the kit.

Keep the info coming

Thanks
Stone

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RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/28/2006 4:10:32 AM

Heshup

Posts: 28
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From: Starkville, MS, USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: duckedup

sorry, not trying to steal the thread, just had to get that out..

No problem just jump in any time.

Stone

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RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/28/2006 4:49:34 AM

Fiegs

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The electronics you would need to buy for the kit is
the transmitter and reciever
along with a throttle and steering servo.

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RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/28/2006 5:03:59 AM

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From: Portland, OR, USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Heshup

Is there something I need to know about the HPI?

I like the Savage X SS. The one thing I don't like is the body. Lets just say I be a big fan of Toyota. Not bad price. I figure to spend about $800+. In fact I figure I will have a grand or so before it is all done. The money is not a problem. What are the electronics that people are talking about I will need that don't come with the kit.

Keep the info coming

Thanks
Stone

RTR trucks usually don't come with very good electronics- AM, sub-par servos etc... (except the LST2, it comes with a nice setup)

$800 is a great buget to work with, you should be able to put together a nice ride with that

... with the XSS kit you'll need to provide your own electronics (radio, receiver, servos).. One to consider would be a Spektrum system, no need for crystals, no glitching, no interference and a built in failsafe.. with a budget like that, you've got a few nice radio options though.. The Spektrum DX3 radio system comes with the servos you'll need and I believe it comes with an extra receiver too.

If you don't like the body, you can paint your own or buy an already painted body.. (there's several on ebay usually)

< Message edited by duckedup -- 11/28/2006 5:07:22 AM >

(in reply to Heshup)

RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/28/2006 6:13:40 AM

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From: Leipzig, , GERMANY
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There are DOZENS of body options for the Savage...

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RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/29/2006 9:59:40 PM

Heshup

Posts: 28
Joined: 11/17/2006
From: Starkville, MS, USA
Status: offline

Need to get the order in on this MT, wife is on my butt big time to get this done. Forgot to say this is her X-Mass to me this year.

So I can deal with the HPI Savage X SS. Need to know if they be anything I can upgrade on the X SS to make it better.

Now the electronics, radio, receiver, servos. I have no clue as to what are good brand/models. I do need the reverse for this MT. I figure they will be some small things I will need as I go through the build. I do like the Roto Start System. Are they any good or should one go with the electric start? This has two disk brake system and I have seen some trucks that had four wheel disk brakes. That was so cool. Good or bad?

Now if you like to talk about computer parts then you need to ask me what are the brands and what it takes to build a kick gaming rig. This is what I do on the side and have for years.

So some more input and point me to the parts will help.

Thanks so much for everyones input so far.

Stone

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Take time to do it right instead of making time to do it over!

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RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/29/2006 11:00:22 PM

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From: Portland, OR, USA
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I'll let the Savage guys chime in on what you might need/want for extra hop-ups.. With the XSS kit, you're basically getting a hopped up truck already though.. you might need/want to get a 5 cell rechargable receiver pack though, not sure....

As for the radio..
-Futaba........(3PM, 3PK..)
-JR..............(XS3, XR3..)
-Airtronics....(MX-3, M-11..)
-Spektrum....(DX2, DX3..)
-Nomadio
^^ all good brands..
Since you've got decent budget, make sure you get at least a FM system. Synthesized is one FM option (no need for crystals, change the channel on radio/receiver if/when needed), FM with crystals (non synth) is the other FM option, you're just stuck on the same channel and have change the crystals to change channels.. DSM is the next step up (Spektrum), killer range, no glitching, no interference.. Spektrum has it's own complete radio system (example: DX3) but you can also get a Spektrum module for all the above mentioned brands (except the Nomadio, it has a different system)..

A radio like the JR XS3 synthesized FM is a great system for the $$, that's what I run and I love it so far.. You can find it for around or under $100 on ebay and that's hard to beat considering all it's features and being synth.. If you go that route, you'll probably want to get a nice servo separately, look for a servo with metal gears and with at least 180oz of torque.. (Airtronics, JR, Futaba, KO, etc.. all make servos)
The other system I like is the Spektrum DX3, I've already mentioned it's features though so I won't waste anymore space..

.. that one will cost quite a bit more though.. (I'm not sure how powerful the servos are that come with that system)

Here's a couple links..
-JR XS3 ... this is just an example, you can find them for less..
-JR XS3 Pro ... basically the same as the above radio, it's got 10 model memory instead of 6 and it's silver.. might have other extra features, not sure though..
-Spektrum DX3 ... another example, this is a good price though..

Servo..
Airtronics 94358Z, 200oz. .. *just an example.. there are others for a little less but that's a good one, just make sure it's around or over a 180oz and metal geared..

< Message edited by duckedup -- 11/30/2006 12:28:10 AM >

(in reply to Heshup)

RE: Please help! Wanting to build a monster truck! - 11/30/2006 1:22:09 AM