My response will probably sound a little like Nitrosports. I'm not sure if your new to the hobby, maybe you just wandered across the Caldera and thought it would be cool for the kids. Maybe you put a lot more thought about it and did a little research. I can say that like Nitro posted, an aftermarket charger is a must. But that doesn't mean your stock charger shouldn't work. Same goes for the servo. Everybody will tell you that with most RTR trucks the servos are crappy and should be replaced, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't function properly.

I will be the first to tell you that I'm a big supporter of Redcat. I'm not a dealer, but Redcat has made it affordable for me to be in this hobby with my kids. I own several different Redcats and up until just recently have been very happy with all the products I've purchased from them. So far I've had no major problems with our rc's. Any minor issues I've had I always said was a trade off for saving so much compared to some of the other manufactures. About a month ago I purchased a Volcano EPX for my 7 year old daughter. I decided on this model because at her age, I didn't need the speed that her brothers brushless Caldera provided. Also, price was a huge selling point. This truck was only a few dollars more than something you'd buy in Toys R Us. When I first un-boxed it, reverse didn't work. Redcat replaced the ESC under warranty. I wasn't that upset, I chalked it up to stuff like this happens, and the truck was still usable. After swapping out the ESC everything was fine for about 5-6 packs. Then the motor smoked. At this point we'd used it about 10-12 packs. I sent in a warranty claim. Redcat replaced the stock motor and in the email sent a little note about brushed motors. Now this isn't word for word but basically they told me to remember that brushed motors run very hot so I should keep the runtime to 6-7 minutes and then allow the motor to cool. I mean this sounds crazy. Can you imagine walking into a dealer and looking at any one of the brushed Redcats and the sales person tells you to only run it for 6-7 minutes or the motor will lock up. I will certainly not recommend the brushed Redcats to anyone after my experience with the Volcano EPX.

I could certainly see the frustration of a young teen that saved all their money up for one of these. They buy an extra battery and think they'll be going to the local park with both batteries charged and will be off and running...for 6-7 minutes.

Ok so if I lost you by know I apologize, but I guess the point I was trying to make is you have a good truck. The charger was unfortunate but almost had to be replaced, it's one of those things you just have to have in this hobby. The charger Nitrosports mentioned is probably the most bang for the buck out there, but still you can pick up a smart charger for as little as $25-$30 that will charge your nihm battery. The servo is another thing. It shouldn't break right away or even after a few weeks. It should last awhile. From what I've read on here, Redcat will likely replace it for you.

The Caldera is definately the most bang for the buck out there. Anything out there comparable would cost in the $400 range. My son is only 9 and he tortures his. It's seen a few diff gear replacements, and a few spurs, but other than that it's been a tough truck.