Best type of car for grass
 

Hello -

What is the best type of car for handling grass? Will an 1/8 scale buggy handle the grass? Or should I be looking for a stadium truck or monstor truck for more ground clearance.

I am thinking about purchasing a Hyper 7, but I want to be sure that it will handle the grass okay before I buy it.

Thank you,

Bjfrankl

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

a 1/8 buggy wont have trouble with grass as long as its cut. I wouldt try driving in grass thats 3-5 inches tall. a MT or a jacked up ST would be better if the grass is kinda tall.

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

Well thats an easy an obvious question..... The grasshopper of course.<div></div><div>All kidding aside, the car/truck i run which does the best on grass is probably the Associated 8.2 e, followed by the savage flux of course.</div><div></div><div>I think any offroad 4 wheel drive 1/8 will do great on grass followed by the monster trucks which are 4x4 and then the 2 wheel drive off roaders. The trick here is ground clearance and good tires.

Any 1/8 scale buggy will rip through grass with no problem imo. My Associated rc8.2e would abuse my Savage flux if they where to race on a made up grass track as a local park no problem.</div>

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

Only a monster truck will handle grass more than 3 inches (without noticeable adverse effects). A truggy would be ok, a buggy wouldn't be great. If nitro, grass is hard on clutches and con rods, if electric, grass is hard on heat in the electrics.

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

I use to bash with a mate that had a hyper 7, it was awsome on grass, comparing preformance it was as good as my revo 3.3 on grass.

U would be supprised on what can run on grass, u just have to keep a eye on things... my brothers DF03r & CC01 can handle it very well, I was supprised to see them running with out any proplems.

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

Depends on many things. Mainly the length of the grass and how long you want your clutch and engine to last.

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

Golf course grass is awesome! Till you get caught....

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

my flux will run almost twice as long on dirt/pavement vs grass. grass is hard on batteries, clutchs etc.
mt's are king in the deep stuff

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

I will be running the car at our local rc airplane field, so the grass is usually kept pretty short. The Associated 8.2e looks appealing, and I would like to stay away from a monster truck if possible. I have been looking at the Hyper 7 rtr, but it sounds like there are cars out there that would perform better in grass.

Any other suggestions? I am having a tough time deciding because there are so many options to choose from. I have been flying rc airplanes for a few years now, but this will be my first nitro rc car.

Thank you,

Bjfrankl

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

I'm thinking you might get very bored running in grass. As folks have said, if it's tall and/or thick grass, it slows things down quite a bit. Even in a vehicle that can handle it, it sort of mutes the experience so that it's a bit boring, in my opinion. Just my $.02.

Dirt is where all the fun is at. :)

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

If you plan on running on tall grass often, it would help to gear your rc down some. It wont have the top speed it did, but the engine or motor wont get as hot. I know what Foxy is saying, i had my Maxx geared for speed runs and took it to a friends house who's grass was quite tall. My engine shot up to over 320 degrees and was a dog in the grass. Changed the gearing and helped tremdously. Prolly obvious, but just tryin to help. Best of luck finding something to fit your needs. Happy Rc'ing!

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

My DF03Ra and CC01 also do well on grass haha... I'm limited to pavement or a small grass park at the moment so I'm trying out stuff that's fun to drive technically. I think one of the most fun things on grass would be an RC dirtbike just because the surface is repetitive but the driving wouldn't be so much.

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

My DF03Ra and CC01 also do well on grass haha... I'm limited to pavement or a small grass park at the moment so I'm trying out stuff that's fun to drive technically. I think one of the most fun things on grass would be an RC dirtbike just because the surface is repetitive but the driving wouldn't be so much.

Failing that, something RWD that slides a lot, or a rally car.


(doh, clicked quote instead of edit -_-)

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

there is one thing that comes to mind that would be hard to beat... HPI Baja clone, they are getting even cheaper now with bigger motors... they can even run over most 1/8 buggies

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

Thank you for all of your responses to my question.

I have thought about buying an rc motorcycle, but I really want an 1/8 buggy to race. The problem is that there is not a track nearby to race. The only place I could run a nitro rc is at our rc flying field, but the field is mostly grass. I would have many places to run an electric car, but I think that I would become bored with an electric. I become bored with electric rc planes, so I don't think that I would be satisfied with an electric car.

So am I correct in assuming the following:

1. An 1/8 scale buggy would handle the grass, but the grass would be hard on the car (most noticebly the clutch).

2. The best option for grass is a monster truck because of its high clearance.

Bjfrankl

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

Yes your assumptions are rite on the money. IMO, 1/8 buggies handle grass with absolutly no problems, unless the grass hasnt been cut. Even then the 1/8 buggies can go over grass, slower and with more abuse to parts and motor but with out a problem. IMO there is just nothing like a 1/8 buggy off road. Even though it doesnt have the ground clearance that monster trucks offer they make up for it with their 4x4 drive, and weight to power ratio. The RC i have the most fun with out of my 12 or so rc's i have is my Associated 8.2e with its Tekin motor/esc combo i finished about 4 months ago. There is just nothing like a 1/8 buggy off road IMO. The handling and speed these RC's offer off road cant be compared to any other 4x4 RC.

Monster trucks (like my Savage Flux) are the best over grass but have no where near the handling, speed and driveability that the 1/8 buggies offer. The Savage RTR rite out of the box was also a bit unimpressive to me as far as handling went. It rides ok but to get the most out of this truck i had to do a few hop ups which ended up costing me about another 400 bucks on top of the RTR purchase before i was satisfied with its handling. This included a new servo (the wheels wouldnt turn while it stood still), I made it wider (it would flip on every turn if not careful), New tires and rims (the originals where just to big and clumsy imo), heavier oil in shocks (original oil made the truck ride like a cadillac imo), and the suspension conversion kit with wider axels (truck needed to be wider and dropped a bit in order to take turns at speed). And a few other small ones i cant recall at this time. After all these hop-ups the Savage is fanally driving like i like it but it cost me a totall of about 600 on top of the RTR purchase.

Now the 1/8 buggy on the other hand is a different story. I am completely happy with the Factory 8.2e after being built and adjusted. The 1/8 buggy handles like a F-1 off road and grass compared to the Savage... Theres just nothing like it....



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RE: Best type of car for grass
 

only a 1:5th scale....
other than that., I hate running rc cars on grass. They feel like underpowered toys, even with the right tires... but thats just my opinion. ;)

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

to me seems trucks with transmissions work best in grass, the emaxx, savage etc. theres power always to 1 front and 1 rear wheel opposed to transferring the power to 1 wheel front to back with the center diff. Thick fluid in all diffs, good only for grass and snow

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

MT (Savage) for grass, yes a buggy will handle short grass but unless you have jumps to hit it will be a giant one speed borefest without wheelies.

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

You could do a 1/4th scale nitro dirt bike...

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

I agree with this. Plus there are so many variables to grass (the height, the type, the soil, etc.) I've driven my Hyper 7 on grass and it's handled fine, and times when it did not....again depending on those variables.

With that, I am curious how running on grass can adversely affect a clutch and connecting rod? I'm not doubting this, simply wanting to understand why. Is it because your having to constantly apply more throttle in grass? Thanks

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

Friction. No other reason. You have much more traction on grass. The clutch shoes will simply shed more material trying to hold the clutch bell.

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

Thank you everyone for your input! I appreciate your advice. I ordered a Hyper 7 today from Tower Hobbies. I decided on the Hyper 7 because I am going to find a different place to run my car; I'm not going to run the car on only grass. I really want an 1/8 scale buggy, and I hope to find a location with pavement and/or dirt to run the car. The price of the Hyper 7 also fit within my budget, and this was my first nitro car so I didn't want to spend more than $300-400.

Bjfrankl

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

Great choice!! IMO there is nothing like a 1/8 buggy off road. They are like the F-1's of off road. They just rip!!!
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RE: Best type of car for grass
 

Is the going to be ur first nitro?

The hyper 7 will be a blast...

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

yep..
theres a place I go to, is a mix of short grass/sand/dirt... is not that bad.

just stay away from tall thick grass like st augustine... MTs just float on it :D

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...4/IMG_4956.jpg

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

This is just my opinion, and if you are a noob to RC it may be a blast running the buggy on any surface... just for the thrill to be doing it regardless of what type of RC it is.;)
But I used to have so much fun running my nitro 1/10 RC10GT stadium truck in parking lots, grass, dirt, etc... UNTIL I had my first taste of 1/8 nitro monster trucks.
After just one time going thru the gears in a flat parking lot with my friends Savage, I had to have one!
My RC10GT would pull wheelies, drive up curbs, and handle nearly any terrain, but it's very tame compared to a MT.
Now I have an 1/8 Truggy and an 1/8 Buggy, neither gets used for bashing because the MT's are just that much more fun to bash around on any surface.
If you have a track or rough terrain near you, the buggy should be a blast for years to come, but if you are a flatlander like me it may get boring real quick compared to the thrill of trying to keep a monster truck under control.

Buggy/truggy on flat land = drive back and forth in different directions and never worry about flipping it unless it traction rolls.
MT on flat land = WHOA! back off before this wheelie gets out of hand, CRAP! another wheelie!!! SHE'S GONNA ROLL! back off and try and get control while I take this turn so I can grab another wheelie!

Basically I'm saying I have MT's, a buggy and a truggy.
The only times the buggy and truggy get driven is if there is an actual track with jumps involved because that's where they excell, and the only time I have fun driving them.

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

I almost ordered a Savage, but I liked the Hyper 7's price, escpecially since this is my first rc car. I'm still second-guessing myself because it was a hard decision. I'm sure that I will buy a monstor truck at some point.

Any advice for running my Hyper 7 for the first time? For example, breaking in the engine, the best fuel to use, etc.?

Bjfrankl

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

Break in the engine on flat land like any other vehickle.

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

this video might help some understand how tuff the 7's are

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tncEgjMaqc[/youtube]

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

I agree with some of SLAYDUDE's points. There is something about a MT that no other RC offers. It is kind of fun running an RC that requires some skill from the driver in order to keep the RC from rolling over or from doing wheelies. Its actually lots of fun. At the same time though, it could get annoying at times. The best way i could describe it to someone getting into RC's is as follows....<div>
</div><div>The MT will be like a wild powerful beast ripping up through anything in its path. Bouncing all over the place, wheeling on command, and hopping along.</div><div>The 1/8 buggy is going to be like a well tuned off road machine which is going to feel more like a race car off road. Flying through anything it has ground clearance to go over. On road its going to be pretty much the same thing. It is going to handle on road like no other off road RC.</div><div>
</div><div>They are both extremely fun to drive on and off road (this is why i own one of each). The MT could at times get annoying with all the wheelies and roll overs it does which gets annoying after a while since you cant really turn at full speed with out this happening. I am huge into handling and this is why i love taking out my 1/8 buggy. There is just nothing made at the moment which could handle off roading better than a 1/8 buggy can. If you where to do laps on anything off road, there is nothing that will put in a faster lap time than a 1/8 buggy will. This is reason enough imo to want one!</div><div>
</div><div>Enjoy your hyper and post one here your impressions. I guarantee you they will be extremely positive ones!</div>

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

You sound much like myself. The Hyper 7 was my first (mainstream) hobby car. We've loved it. After about six months, I got a Savage. Not because I did not enjoy the Hyper 7, but because I enjoy it <u>so much</u>, I wanted another off-road vehicle just in a different class.You'll figure out what you like about it/what you don't like. From there, if you are inclined, there's no law against having multiple RC vehicles to meet your various needs.

As for breaking in, I'm not going to open that can of worms. ;-) You can find plenty of information on the internet for it. Any other questions on it, check out my YouTube channel and you'll see some videos of it.

Thanks!

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

Do I need to put air fliter oil on the foam filter before I run the car for the first time, or has this already been done at the factory?

Thank you,

Bjfrankl

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

There should be an outer pre-filter and an inner main filter, if you pull the outer foam off you will be able to pinch the inner foam and get oil on your fingers if it's been oiled.
Don't trust the small asian children to have done it for you even if the manual states it's been done at the factory.;)

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

It appears that the inner and outer foam air filters are not installed. Do I need to put oil on both of the inner and outer foam pieces? And how much oil do I put on the foam?

Thank you,

Bjfrankl

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

To be on the safe side, it won't hurt to apply some air-filter foam oil prior to running it. Folks make fun of me, but I clean/re-oil my foams after <u>every run</u>. Perhaps it is overkill, butthe extra five minutes gives me a peace-of-mind. ;-)

As to how to apply it (specifically for the Hyper 7),see myvideo on it via the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRs-9-emA28

Thanks!

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

wing mount- $15, bolts for shocks $2, exhuast coupler $4

IF it had been a certain MT i've had before (you know which one) bulkeads X 7 @ 15 a pop, skidplates X7 @10 a pop, shock towers @13 X4, knuckles $13, bumper set $15 shock caps $5 and god knows what else.... and I'm not even kidding you.

RE: Best type of car for grass
 

The_Shark - Nice video. Did you have any broken parts after going over that jump?

JohnP2 - Thank you for the video on adding oil to air filters. The video answered all of my questions.

I hope to run the car this weekend. The weather is supposed to be a bit cooler than normal (mid 50's), but I've always thought that nitro engines (for airplanes anyways) run well when it's 50-60 degrees. I just have to install the batteries, attach the wing, bind the transmitter to the receiver, and I should be ready to start breaking-in the engine. It doesn't look like I need to do anything else before I run the car for the first time.

Bjfrankl