Dale Gribble

My Feedback: (4)

People can say whatever they want, "Rampage is still a bargain, yada, yada" but my experience shows that I am around $1k total for NECESSARY parts and the truck (not including $400 in optional parts) is STILL not going reliably for a whole gas tank on relatively light terrain. At best I have had 15 minutes of run time since I have had it.

splcrazy

lol all the problems your having with the truck is making me laugh , but i still want to get one . there is a ton of money to be made for some one with the machines to go over the entire truck and re manufacture brand new strong billet parts to fix all the parts that this comes with stock. but after seeing all the problems i think ill stick with my FG MT and rather spend more money on it for upgrades . untill they sort out all the probs i wont buy a rampage just yet .

DarkFire989

Thats a total bummer Dale. Sorry to hear that.

csp1971

That sucks Dale. I've put mine through some hell and haven't had all of those problems. My absolute worse problem with it was the plastic gears melting. Steel solved it. As for the turnbuckles, I have the stock ones on mine with alloy arms and haven't had anything snap like that. Bends I expect eventually though. What I don't like about mine is the flex in the rear part of the chassis but I haven't bent a chassis yet. I wish I had some welding skills to make a decent rollcage.

mooman007uk

yep the V1 lower front alloy arms cures it...i've at least 8 upper arms in my drawer that are either bent or snapped and yep i also snapped a python one first time i used them...after seeing the buse the V1 alloys took in person i bought some and never looked back, with these arms you have to do the screw mod on the lower arm pin retainers or get the alloy ones and still do the mod for insurance or you'll end up splitting the rear part of the diff case. Unfortunately the V1 arms aren't available anymore pn 050001, himoto used to have them but not listed now...the newer v2 ones with the pin bushings are way thinner and bend like chewing gum strips[&o]

csp1971 or anyone else, I'm selling my full 4130 cage with the vrc propipe if you want to totally fix any flex and get the best pipe out there have to sell as a pair cos the pipes made for the cage

Sherv

My Feedback: (1)

That is a bummer, I researched everyday for a month and almost settled on the Rampage V2 with DDM exhaust from DDM but luckily Moo saved me
He reviewed/tested the nutech and pointed me in the right direction. I'm VERY happy I never bought the rampage. I have had a relatively trouble free experience with nutech (engine problems 100% my fault for not tuning it right).
But with all that said.. I still want a rampage >.<
Waiting for dave to sell them again with free Pipes and extra CY motor.

Dale Gribble

My Feedback: (4)

I am going to plead my case to Redcat Racing and see if they are willing to help me in any way and what ideas they may have to help me have a positive experience with their product. You can all see that I am clearly trying here and am giving it the old college try. I really want this to be a good experience and I have overlooked a lot to this point but we all have our limits.

Dale Gribble

My Feedback: (4)

Here is an unedited video of the light crash that lead to the broken turnbuckle. The video is long. Forward to 4:10 and you will see the light jump around 4:15 that caused the break. This link points right to that section.

[link=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=n5060XbgLh8#t=243s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=n5060XbgLh8#t=243s[/link]

Dale Gribble

My Feedback: (4)

I found some V1 arms surprisingly. What is the screw mod? Do you have pics?

racetruck

I'am sorry to hear that you you have broken so much stuff on your truck rob64n my grandson and i have raced all of are redcats and not broke that much stuff. you are one prime example why we have tryed to get through to darin at redcat to stop putting those junk radios and servos in the redcat because it makes for a bad out look on the trucks he is going to cheap put a good radio in or no radio at all i have taken three of the servos apart just to have the chips fall out in my hand due to bad workmanship but i have two radios that caused me run aways one was an HPI and the other was a spekrum and i still dont trust the spekrum enough to put one in my miss bud. so were do you turn to get a good product

csp1971

I think this is what moo's talking about where you would drill up in the front and back (both retainers on both ends, 4 screws/nuts):

RAMTech-HBF-LSF

I have V1 arms.

mooman007uk

yep that's the mod, it really cinches everything down. with V1 arms and screw mod the front end should not give you anymore grief...i've never had a problem at the rear...I think in 2 1/2 years of some serious abuse I've only broken one rear lower arm and no uppers...do the retainer mod at the back too

Dale Gribble

My Feedback: (4)

ok moonman, I am following your advice here. I will get the parts on order shortly.

So, I am getting the front aluminum arm holder, the V1 arms, and titanium turnbuckles up front. This is my last stand.

mooman007uk

it's a tough enough set up for me to have bolted it in my jeep hill climber project it's held up for many moons with the MT tires on and a lot of abuse

OldSkoolMC

If you buy a Baja 2.0 you're paying for 23cc buggy with a el-cheapo 2.4ghz for 1K, which in my opinion, there are things you are going to NEED to upgrade too. I think everyone who owns a Rampage will agree that the stock servos suck and need to be replaced, along with a Radio system. Thing is, the Rampage MT is a totally different truck than a Baja and comparing the two is Apples to Oranges.

Going on cost alone =
I picked up a new RampageMT for under $590 to my door.
Add anice 2.4 radio Airtronics MX3Xw/receiver$159
Add two good Hitec 5755MG high torque servos for steering $69 each - $138
Add one good Hitec 5645MG for throttle $45

I'm sitting at $932 with a superior radio system/servos on the Rampage MT vs. Stock Baja 2.0 with a cheap radio @ $960 to $1050 range (which is still NOT a Monster Truck).

Part of this Hobby is breaking parts and repairing them. If someone wants a bullet proof RC car theyare better off getting in anotherhobby because I have yet to see ANYrc car, truck, plane..etc..etc that is truly bulletproof - They all break, if ran hard enough. Repairing/working on them is the fun and the main part of the Hobby. Allthis RTR stuff has spoiled many people nowadays. Back in the day, the only RTR you bought was from someoneselling somethingthey built. Almost allRC stuffcame inkits that you built, which if you wanttoknow the in's and outs of your vehicle, is the best way. (IMO) Then you identify weak points and make improvments on the spot - many improvements was fabbing up your own replacement parts.Instead of buying something RTRand waiting to see what part gives out.

I guess my point is don't expect to buy a 1/5thscaleandnot spendany moremoney on it to keep it running. They all need something at some point and it really never ends until you sell it off or quit the hobby all together. (Hence the reason many call the Rampage a bargain)

Dale Gribble

My Feedback: (4)

You can spare me the lecture like I am new to the game here. I understand the whole drive > break > fix > drive routine and have done it faithfully and happily for over a decade on 1/10, 1/8 and 1/5 scale. I know how the RC hobby works and have been doing it for a long time. You say that the Rampage and Baja are apples to oranges, but they are both 1/5 scale, they are both intended for off-road use and they both run on gas. We are talking gala to red delicious here. They are different apples, but they are both apples. The tracks near me run the 4x4s with the Bajas in the same class- most do. So they aren't that dissimilar.

My experience is my experience.

My HPI Baja 5T has been flawless relatively speaking. I have replaced one rear shock shaft since owning it for over a year. It is still running its stock electronics (besides Spektrum Receiver I added). If I did break a part, I can find replacements at a local hobby shop. I charge the battery, add gas and go. Repeat. Fix sparingly. I have hours and hours of runtime and enjoyment with this truck.

I have had 15 minutes of total runtime on my Rampage in 1.5 months time. I am experienced and I am tolerant of parts breaking, I get it. However, I need some payback to make it worth my time and money. That payback comes in the form of runtime and fun. Whenever a part breaks, I am a week out from running the truck again because everything is mail order. This next round of mods (V1 arms, mod, titanium turnbuckles) is my last stand. If I can't get an hour or more of runtime without breaking after all I have sunk in, I am 100% unequivocally done with this Rampage.

My HPI 5T has to this point been a superior vehicle and I am inclined to recommend to others to go and buy the HPI Baja platform based on my experience.

Maybe, just maybe I am over the fence in terms of the disappointments with this platform. I hope that I am.

OldSkoolMC

I've seen you on the Redcat forums and for every issue you have had there are other people who haven't had those issues at all.  So, maybe you have a lemon, or just bad luck with those parts?  Who knows.   You also stated that  "My 1/5 scale experience has been limited to HPI Bajas to this point". 

You are posting this as a review with "updates" to your own personal issues with ONE truck - That to me doesn't equate to necessary parts and some huge expense, knowing that the price of the rampage is almost 1/2 the cost of a Baja.  There are people on the Redcat forums who have had none of your issues who have been running their trucks for a few years (and running with stock radios).  As a matter of fact there was a guy who posted today about bouncing his TT off of curbs with nothing more than a bent bumper that you even replied to.  I'm just posting this for all the people who don't check out the redcat forums.  As I said before, I think everyone who owns a 1/5 Redcat knows they need to upgrade parts.  This isn't anything new or ground breaking news.  As with ANY 1/5 scale there are certain things that are expected.

And lastly, comparing a 25lb Baja to a 35lb MT IS a big difference.  Go to the GYM and grab a 10lb weight and strap it to your Baja and tell me it performs the same.  The added weight also makes a big difference on stress on parts.  A MT and a 5t are 100% completely different.  Just because it runs a gas engine doesn't make them the same or equal.  You want to comare a Baja 5t?  Compare it to a KM T1000.

noyb98098

My Feedback: (1)

Gala apples are pretty tasty...

[quote]ORIGINAL: Dale Gribble

We are talking gala to red delicious here. They are different apples, but they are both apples.

Dale Gribble

My Feedback: (4)

A Baja 5T weighs 28 pounds dry (source: HPI racing).

A stock Rampage MT weighs 33.5 dry pounds (source: http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...rticle_id=1051).

I removed the stock monster wheels/tires (~11lbs) and put on 5T Proline Trenchers and Split Six wheels (8.42 lbs). So, my Rampage MT weight ~ 30.92lbs.

We aren't talking 10 pounds, we are talking ~3lbs difference. My MT is 10% heavier than the HPI Baja 5T.

racetruck

I just checked the weight of the redcat TT with no gas it is 31lbs the MT is 36lbs and the XT comes in at 26lbs without the body dale dont get to down it is like any thing you get a bad one now and then yours must have been made on a monday i wish we could get proline to make monster truck bodys for the redcat! some of the stock redcat bodys are more brittle it is hit and miss. I sure hope the worst part is over for you and you can get alot of bashing with that MT

Dale Gribble

My Feedback: (4)

Here's to that dude! Thanks for the encouragement. I always feel like I am getting closer... 36lbs... hmmm, is that with all of the mud off? Any option parts? So my MT is around 33lbs with the Prolines then.

bbuzzard

My Feedback: (5)

U R silly!!

elven wizard

I'm really enjoying this Redcat Racing Rampage MT V3 post. Reading everyone's opinion about the Redcat Rampage. The honesty is much appreciative.

nitrosportsandrunner

it sucks dale that you are having many issues with your rampage.
i dont own one, but even reading all the issues i still wish i did.
i got to race my KM baja(which i love) with a rampage MT(not sure which version it was) the 4wd really made a huge difference in handling! the rampage wasnt much faster as far as top speed, but on a track he just kept lapping me!

it will be interesting to see what redcat has learned, and how the new XT's will fair.
i am hoping to buy the new XB-E brushless 1/5 when it comes out(will depend on how much i get in tax returns tho)