Is it really better to get a hardcase lipo over a softcase for just general (nothing crazy) bashing with a Rustler VXL? Could I just wrap a softcase in tape or something making it safer?

thats what i have always done. even soft-cased lipos are pretty durable.
however, on places like hobbyking.com a hardcased pack only cost a few bucks more than a soft case of the same rating. there used to be a big difference in price between soft and hard cased packs. since that aint the case(pun) anymore, might as well get a hardcased lipo pack.

yeah but its the batteries fitting that is the problem. the softcases are smaller by a bunch.

Not true, and hard case lipos fit in better with out damaging any cells

well, what are a Rustler's battery tray demesnsions?

Measure them.

well Traxxas says its 139mm long, i'm not sure i believe it though.

yeah, why would traxxas know the dimensions of their own RC's?

lol.

I measured my battery and it's 136mm, so 139 is exact.

i only use softpacks in cars that have a interior battery compartment, like your rustler.
on cars where the batt is exposed i only use hard case's.</p>

and did it fit without any mods? thanks for the help.

the softies i have used were turnigy 3000 mah 2s so they are thin. i use a foam block to keep the down.
i have also fitted 3000mah 3s in there, its about the same size as a 5000mah 2s hard case.

no mods needed to fit them in my b4.

keep in mind some tracks will not allow you to use soft packs at all.

ok. and i don't race competitively so no worry about them not letting me race.

Okay, so I have Turnigy 5200mAH lipo batteries that fit into my slash fine. They are also hardcase. Softcase get damaged more easly.

yeah but the Slash's tray is like 3/4 of an inch longer.

The Slash's battery tray is longer than that of a Rustler.

The battey case has another inch to a 1 1//2 inchers of space left.

I would run a hardcase lipo just because of my own paranoia involving Lipo batteries...and my propensity to do accidental and yet still awesome barrel rolls.

LOL, I have an answer for ya, because they are too retarded to measure anything.
Im sorry your post was so funny im glad I got a good laugh...

I made a big boo boo like you did today and I said "Canadians can get ripped off by cheap prices"
The post sounded so stupid, someone actually put it on thier signature.[&o]

Completly agree. Hardshell is like a sheild around your battery.