First vacation in about a decade, what to take?

[Saito2 7355]

This coming June, I'll be taking my first real vacation in about 10 years. I just hope my job hasn't become a disaster when I come back in a week, lol. We are visiting the state of Maine, a place my wife has dearly wanted to see most of her life. Our daughter's probably old enough to make the 9 hour car ride by now and we scrimped and saved. It will feel weird not working for 5 days, but that's American mindset sometimes. At any rate, are there any suggestions on what to take? I'm thinking truck, so that could be my "blueprinted" Blackfoot (flawless so far thanks to the cautious assembly and mods) or perhaps my trouble-free, but soul-less Traxxas Stampede. There's also the reliable Lunch Box I took with me on vacations as a kid too. Since there are hiking trails, should I make this an excuse to get a trail-truck (not normally my forte and I sold off my re-re Bruiser)? Aside from day-trips to the beach, vacation planning is now alien to me.

[El Gecko 1436]

If your BF or LB have the 10t pinions and motor adapters, I think you're probably geared ok for trails still. Maybe not with a 15t motor, but that's swappable beforehand. I drive my old 2WD Sledgehammer on trails all the time with a 10t pinion and 27t motor (FDR is similar to Blackfoot IIRC, and the tires are Monster Beetle size/tread pattern). Top speed is still nearly 18mph, but it putters along at walking pace just fine too, and it's surprisingly capable even with an open diff.

[alvinlwh 7081]

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[SupraChrgd82 1434]

Stampede.  Yes, completely soul-less and I deeply loathe Traxxas…but reliability and the lack of remorse for broken parts will make vacation more vacation-ish.

[Sogogi 3359]

Stampede for crazy bashing, BF for others

[Ferruz 12644]

If you can only bring one, I say make sure it's something you really feel for. A favourite model will be weaved into the best memories of your trip no matter if it's not fully trouble free. With a soul-less one, if wouldn't happen the same way.  What I'm trying to say is, bring a dog car, not a robot car 😄 Happy Holidays! 

[alvinlwh 7081]

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[Frog Jumper 3820]

Hking Trails in Maine???  You need a CC-02...  

[Tamiyastef 2556]

Take two. I managed to break the only one I brought with me within 3 minutes on its first run during my vacation and saw beautiful spots to drive in the next days... kind of a bummer really. So my advice is take 2, at least . I love my Stampede, quick enough on 2S to be fun and stay out of trouble. I also think this is the time to get a trail truck . 

[Saito2 7355]

7 hours ago, Ferruz said:

If you can only bring one, I say make sure it's something you really feel for. A favourite model will be weaved into the best memories of your trip no matter if it's not fully trouble free. With a soul-less one, if wouldn't happen the same way.  What I'm trying to say is, bring a dog car, not a robot car 😄 Happy Holidays! 

While all the suggestions were great, this was the one that hit home for me. Minimally, It will be an ORV monster (Beetle or Foot) that comes alone as its a bit more capable than the Lunchie. Now about adding that second, possibly trail truck option...

[87lc2 2837]

I'd bring the Blackfoot and get a trail truck.  When we go away I typically bring the Blackfoot (or Stampede) for fun, and a crawler to take on trails or have fun around the vacation house on various terrain.  Good combo that covers all bases for the most part. 

[speedy_w_beans 4279]

I'm going to take a contrarian position and suggest you take nothing, @Saito2.  If it's been 10 years since you've taken a vacation, and it's 5 days long, then use every moment to take in the scenery and make some memories with your wife and daughter.  Bring a blanket, some picnic food, a camera, Frisbees, shovels and tools for making sand castles, etc.  Make that vacation special for your wife and daughter; who knows when you'll get a chance to do it again.  You can drive RC cars anytime around the house or at a local park.  Just an opinion.

[FoxShot 280]

I'm going with @speedy_w_beans on this. However, if you do take one, a trail one so you can all be together/use it together.

[Nikko85 3774]

Blackfoot and a few spares for it. Perhaps as Speedy has said leave for a day or two and maybe take out for an early morning frosty drive when everyone else is tucked in. If you take lots of cars you'll be tempted to drive and compare them all, so maybe just take one you know well.

For trails, can you lock the diff in the ORV? Might make for a nice slower trail truck that way.

[Busdriver 6285]

12 hours ago, speedy_w_beans said:

I'm going to take a contrarian position and suggest you take nothing, @Saito2.  If it's been 10 years since you've taken a vacation, and it's 5 days long, then use every moment to take in the scenery and make some memories with your wife and daughter.  Bring a blanket, some picnic food, a camera, Frisbees, shovels and tools for making sand castles, etc.  Make that vacation special for your wife and daughter; who knows when you'll get a chance to do it again.  You can drive RC cars anytime around the house or at a local park.  Just an opinion.

I spent a few days in Maine back in 2018. A place called Boothbay Harbour. Frankly if you’ve only got 5 days take a rest from rc cars and just soak up the drop dead gorgeous scenery. I’d take a RTR boat if I took anything!!

[Saito2 7355]

36 minutes ago, Busdriver said:

A place called Boothbay Harbour.

That's where we are staying. 

To be completely transparent about home life, I work 1st shift, 8-10 hours a day and my wife is a stay-at-home-mom since our daughter is "high-functioning" autistic. I get up at 4am but am home to get my daughter from school everyday. We spend nearly 100% of our time together and bike ride everyday, 3 seasons out of the year (multiple times on the weekend). I haven't been apart from my daughter aside from school in 10 years (no and/or disinterested family members for babysitting). She is....active, shall we say, and I go to bed....tired. If I take anything for myself or not, her Lunch Box will come along for her personal enjoyment. Fortunately, I love my family. I figure I can rest when I'm retired (read: dead).

[Busdriver 6285]

4 hours ago, Saito2 said:

That's where we are staying. 

To be completely transparent about home life, I work 1st shift, 8-10 hours a day and my wife is a stay-at-home-mom since our daughter is "high-functioning" autistic. I get up at 4am but am home to get my daughter from school everyday. We spend nearly 100% of our time together and bike ride everyday, 3 seasons out of the year (multiple times on the weekend). I haven't been apart from my daughter aside from school in 10 years (no and/or disinterested family members for babysitting). She is....active, shall we say, and I go to bed....tired. If I take anything for myself or not, her Lunch Box will come along for her personal enjoyment. Fortunately, I love my family. I figure I can rest when I'm retired (read: dead).

I’m sure you’ll love it 😍