53 replies to this topic

[njmlondon]

Hi all
I seem to have got the 3-speed bug at the moment and am torn about what to get.

Whilst I am still mulling over going really old school and getting a Hilux or Blazer to restore, I have been also looking at the re-re Bruiser and the temptation to get one is getting harder to resist every day. However I am probably more of a Mounty fan than a Bruiser and would also want to kake it more scale by lowering the ride height somehow and using smaller wheels.

Whilst doing my research though I came across the Hi-lift Hilux. This was released during the years when I fell out of the hobby, so it sort of passed me by and I never paid much attention to it. Then I saw Wyoming's Hi-Lift Hilux and that got my attention!

So I have had a dig around and it turns out you can get a Hilux Hilift from HK for about £300 which is a lot less than a Bruiser will cost me.

Can anybody tell me how they compare? Which one is more fun to build and which one drives best? Is the Bruiser worth a lot more or is the difference in value based more on nostalgia?

Your thoughts are much appreciated.

[taliesin]

A couple of thoughts:

First: I've met Seth (Wyoming) and seen some of the custom rigs he built - his modeling skills are out of this world. Don't confuse what he does with anything remotely resembling stock Tamiya products - they're not the same. (Check out his new built Bruiser to see what I mean.)

Second: the Bruiser is probably a better rig than the Hi-Lift, but not necessarily on a 1:1 ratio with the price. If the Bruiser appeals to you despite the horrid price tag, then I say go for it. I did. I just wanted one, and the Hi-Lift had tempted me, just not enough to spring for one. As a runner, it might have been the better choice.

Third: if you just want a runner, you might even look at the RC4WD Trail Finder 2.

I think a lot of the Bruiser mania is nostalgia, but I just wanted one of the darn things and bought one. Still not sure it was a good value, but I really just don't care. If you want a solid runner, there are probably much better options. Heck, I think my Axial Honcho would smoke it, and I'm sure the Trail Finder 2 would .... But it wouldn't be a Bruiser.

[Shodog]

What to get really depends on what you want. If you want a runner, the Hilux hilift is a far better performer, more rugged and is easier to modify. In the looks department, the bruiser wins hands down. You should consider the RC4WD trailfinder 2. I think it's a nicer kit than the Hilift with more metal parts and a cheaper price tag.

[WillyChang]

Hilux body doesn't look like it belongs on Hilift chassis... F350 & Tundra look much better on it.

[Raman36]

If price was not an issue, I would say, get the Bruiser. Even though the Hi Lift is more modern, it really doesn't offer much that is better. It offers 3 4wd speeds, you end up using low 70%, medium 30% and high never. Diff transfer case is too low to make it capable of climbing over things, you will end up raising it like I did on my Hi Lift. Overall, its a decent kit, but needs a bit of work to get it to perform.

Another fact to keep in mind is that the kit may soon be discontinued, since the Bruiser is out now. Realistically, you should be considering between the Bruiser and the RC4WD Trailfinder 2.

If you want a capable climber, than get the Trailfinder 2. If you want a nostalgic work of art, get the Bruiser. If you still want the Hi Lift, 3 speed, you can buy mine

[Percymon]

What to get really depends on what you want. If you want a runner, the Hilux hilift is a far better performer, more rugged and is easier to modify. In the looks department, the bruiser wins hands down. You should consider the RC4WD trailfinder 2. I think it's a nicer kit than the Hilift with more metal parts and a cheaper price tag.

Absolutely spot on!

I looked at the 'modern' 3 speeders for a while but never felt happy spending the money as I knew I wouldn't run it much as I have little if no interest in crawling. I bought the bruiser, as it is so much better in the looks department straight out of the box. Yes it's more money, and perhaps I was a little swayed by all the nostalgia and hype at it's launch, but I'm happy I got one. I just hope tamiya hold off a blazer release long enough for the bank balance to recover lol!

[njmlondon]

Thanks for all your input!

I already have a RC4WD (with some RCModelex parts) chassis and do rate it very highly and if I was after pure crawler I would look no further than the TF2.

But the truth is I am after the purity of the Tamiya 3-speed experience so like most of you are prepared to spend more money than I should for someing that is probably not the most competetive, but just looks and feels right.

Having trawled the internet last night for photos, it seems to me that the Hi-Lift chassis is just not as nice to build or to look at as the Bruiser! Silly reason I know but there you go!

I think it will have to be a Bruiser converted to Mountaineer specs for me. I have a work trip to HK in a month so may have to take a large empty suitcase with me! Getting it past customs should be easy but getting it past my wife's border controls may prove trickier!

But as Percymon says, I do hope they don't bring a Blazer out soon... going to need some time to clear the decks for that re-re (please please please!)

[backtomyroots]

Bruiser hands down, transmission is 2wd and 4wd - much more fun than the 3 speeds of the high lift hilux.

My 2 cents .

[Shaggy39]

I was asking the very same question (bruiser or Hilux) and for what I want it for I would rather have the hilux and use the extra money to make it really special.
Lots of people recommend the RC4WD kit but whenever I have looked on their site they are out of stock......

[WillyChang]

yeah teh TF2 supply is dried up again 1st batch lasted 3d, 2nd lot ran about 3-4wks until start of May.

[backtomyroots]

Well, you could choose based on "looks".

This may help .

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

[Shaggy39]

Now I am really jealous

[TWINSET]

Hi all
I seem to have got the 3-speed bug at the moment and am torn about what to get.

Wait for the Mountaineer - It's like a Bruiser but with a good-looking bodyshell

From a scale-realism point of view, the Bruiser is spot-on - you only have to look at the diff pumpkins on both trucks
Running spares (hopefully) shoudn't be an issue on either, so if ££ was my only limit, I'd go for a Bruiser (or Mountaineer, if there was one )

[Raman36]

Wait for the Mountaineer - It's like a Bruiser but with a good-looking bodyshell

From a scale-realism point of view, the Bruiser is spot-on - you only have to look at the diff pumpkins on both trucks
Running spares (hopefully) shoudn't be an issue on either, so if ££ was my only limit, I'd go for a Bruiser (or Mountaineer, if there was one )

The mountaineer is a bruiser without the shell right? Can't you just opt on not installing the shell? Any other differences that I'm not aware of?

I prefer the side step bed of the original Hilux..

[TWINSET]

Can't you just opt on not installing the shell? Any other differences that I'm not aware of?

The rear plate of the front cab needs sourcing, along with the rollbar parts, and not sure if the rear beds are 100% the same?

[njmlondon]

Well, you could choose based on "looks".
This may help .

Well that has not really helped! Now I want / need them all!

I prefer the side step bed of the original Hilux..

100% with you Raman. I can but dream that Mr. T re-re's the original.

[Raman36]

Well that has not really helped! Now I want / need them all!
100% with you Raman. I can but dream that Mr. T re-re's the original.

I doubt they would re-re the original as in chassis, radio box and lockable hubs. I'd be willing to settle for a re-re of the body and rims

[WillyChang]

The rear plate of the front cab needs sourcing, along with the rollbar parts, and not sure if the rear beds are 100% the same?

2012 Bruiser gets Highlift Hilux (aka Mounty shell) rear bed, its got rollbar holes in the wheelwells
and DIY mounting holes for the added-on Bruiser cap.

Rollbar spares from Highlift if you don't mind the tinted chrome.

RC4WD could be potential future easy source for rear wall if/when they get around to offering spareparts for Mojave body.

[billg4]

the rear window wall piece is in the kit with the windshield glass
so all you need to ''source'' is a rollbar and lights

[stu22]

I doubt they would re-re the original as in chassis, radio box and lockable hubs. I'd be willing to settle for a re-re of the body and rims

Now that they have a reasonable re-release Bruiser I don't see why a sidestep Hilux 4x4 or Blazing Blazer based on the new chassis would be out of the question. Looking at the vintage Bruiser and Hilux there really are not that many differences that matter so I would assume this would be the same if there was a re-released Hilux 4x4 based off of the major work already done for the new Bruiser.

It wouldn't be an exact copy of the originals, which is something IMHO Tamiya finally got right for us vintage collectors, but would be close enough that I would probably get one.

[njmlondon]

Now that they have a reasonable re-release Bruiser I don't see why a sidestep Hilux 4x4 or Blazing Blazer based on the new chassis would be out of the question. Looking at the vintage Bruiser and Hilux there really are not that many differences that matter so I would assume this would be the same if there was a re-released Hilux 4x4 based off of the major work already done for the new Bruiser.

It wouldn't be an exact copy of the originals, which is something IMHO Tamiya finally got right for us vintage collectors, but would be close enough that I would probably get one.

I would be more than happy with this. As you say it protects the historical interest (and for those that care the financial value) of the original whilst exploiting their R&D on the new Bruiser chassis. Given the fact the BB and the Hilux rear bodies are higher and could easily sit on top of the Bruisers radio box and yet still sit low enough on the chassis for it to be more scale, I would hope this re-re concept cannot be too far away. Throw in a Mounty too and they can get 4 re-re's off this chassis.

[stu22]

I would be more than happy with this. As you say it protects the historical interest (and for those that care the financial value) of the original whilst exploiting their R&D on the new Bruiser chassis. Given the fact the BB and the Hilux rear bodies are higher and could easily sit on top of the Bruisers radio box and yet still sit low enough on the chassis for it to be more scale, I would hope this re-re concept cannot be too far away. Throw in a Mounty too and they can get 4 re-re's off this chassis.

I'd want the original radio box and to have the ESC mounted in it's own box for a re-released Hilux or Blazing Blazer. I don't think it would be too much to ask as it's mostly plastic parts and they need to differentiate it from the Bruiser (and hopefully Mountaineer.)

I don't have a vintage Mountaineer to compare against but to me the body looks like the one on the modern High-Lift, and even if it is different the re-release Bruiser body isn't identical to the vintage one. The only excuse I can see for not re-releasing the Mountaineer is it could be seen as competition for the HiLux High-Lift by some, although I consider them completely different platforms.

[WillyChang]

could be also because everybody's asking for "BRUISER"

By the time it reached market "Mountaineer" wasn't as popular
& didn't really sell well, many kits sat for years on LHS shelf.
Even today imho the name isn't widely associated with a 3spd Tamiya.

And Tamiya actually had to DO some work to make a Bruiser bed cap,
that's an extra sprue from a brandnew mold.

[raysan]

Just put a Bruiser on hold. I saw it on Saturday and nearly fell over when i saw the price at the hobby shop, i wussed out and didn't buy it. Anyway, i've been thinking about it ever since and remembered when i was 12 in Singapore on holidays and they had just come out and were over 800 bucks. That was when i bought the frog, my first rc and ive wanted a new Bruiser ever since. Fully happy now that I called the shop and asked them to hold it until Saturday when i can go in and get it......cant wait!
Especially cant wait to try it out against my F350 highlift and scx10.

Which one to buy.......all of em

[lee1980]

Re-re Brusier for me, i have been toying since high lifts came out about getting one but never did even when prices in UK dropped before recession kicked in. To me bruiser is so much more realistic all metal etc not sure which performs best mind.
Last time I looked buying in UK the high lift was still a pricy truck so for me to get a bruiser for a good price from Stella was a no brianer!!