Favorite Type of Off-Roader

[Kowalski86]

Do you prefer monster trucks that stomp over any and everything? Buggys that carve up the dirt? The scale realism of SCTs and rally cars? Or weird in-betweens like truggys and stadium trucks?

I've been thinking on this lately as I have a variety of off-roaders in my fleet, unfortunately my SCT and buggys are modified for tarmac (admittedly SCTs work well on pavement, no spikey tires to bald), no gravel/dirt near me outside of construction sites.

I've been with out a monster truck for too long and ended up with a Monster Beetle, I have to say that monster trucks have to be my top off-roader by virtue of being able to stomp through grass, the tire tread rarely wears out on pavement, and this particular monster truck jumps much better than any of my vintage buggys.

But what do the rest of you think? Most of my experience has only been with various flavors of 2WD (not counting a Nikko Big Bubba), only recently am I looking into 4WD monster trucks.

[Saito2]

The Nikko Big Bubba was my first monster truck . I also probably prefer monster trucks, 2 and 4wd for their versatility. I'm not really into what a lot of manufactures call "monster trucks" nowadays, things like the Arrma Kraton. For me, I dig Clods, Lunch Boxes, Blackfoots (feet?) Monster Beeetles, Big Bosses, Double Dares, etc.

I used to like 2wd buggies next, but that has flipped and I now prefer 4wd buggies over 2wd ones. I'll probably grab my Super Shot before my Fox, but still enjoy them both.

At one time I liked stadium trucks, but now, I find the low body, wheels hanging out look to be kinda odd. I still like the King Cab/JR-XT style trucks, but once we moved into RC10T-style trucks, they got too unreal for me.

[alvinlwh]

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[moffman]

Ohh good conversation! My default settings is off road buggies I always go back to the 1/10 buggy! But I’ve got a friend at the moment who is desperate to get his young boy off the gaming console (fortnite I think it’s called? I’m a Luddite when it comes to gaming) anyway he’s bought a FTX outlaw because it’s cheap and cheap for parts when the inevitable happens and I have to say for the price it’s a brilliant off roader and they are really getting into it and it’s making me want to hurry up and re-build my monster beetle and get it stomping around!  But the 1/10 buggy has always been my no1 choice! Because for me it’s nostalgia! the buggy has always been in my hobby life and I like all the different types of configurations mid motor, belt drive, chain drive, shaft drive, 2wd and 4wd and all the different types of shock designs etc etc the list just goes on that’s why I’m a buggy fan!

[Kowalski86]

43 minutes ago, Saito2 said:

The Nikko Big Bubba was my first monster truck . I also probably prefer monster trucks, 2 and 4wd for their versatility. I'm not really into what a lot of manufactures call "monster trucks" nowadays, things like the Arrma Kraton.

They were good for being "toy grade" RCs, I had the "Lobo" variant.

Is the Kraton supposed to be a monster truck? Looks more like a "truggy" to me, I see what you mean though, some of the newer stuffs too low and wide. At least there's the Traxxss Stampede (even if it's an old design).

 

[Sogogi]

Buggies for me! And rally/scale trucks. 

[Mad Ax]

In terms of what gets me to buy a kit and bring it home, it's a big wheel monster truck.  A proper one, with 4x4 and solid axles.  I love building them, modifying them, looking at them, photographing them and generally owning them.

That said, I don't always enjoy driving them.  I can understand why the world shifted towards independently sprung monsters.  My Blackfoot Extreme, for all its floppy design flaws and it's ludicrously bad steering setup, was better-mannered around a tight garden than anything with solid axles.  The closest thing I have to a 4x4 independent monster is my heavily modified Wild Dagger, but I haven't driven it in well over a year and it's got more than its share of flaws that need fixing.  A 4x4 Stampede is probably the closest thing to looking like a real monster truck while still having suspension that works properly.

For me, the off roaders that have got the most stick time over the last 4 or 5 years are:

Blitzer Beetle - (with stadium truck body) - it doesn't look right with those silly wheels sticking out the side, but it was a fantastic backyard basher with an Acto Pink motor and handled my garden well.  Also great fun in bigger, flatter areas, jumps well enough, and with some careful setup adjustments it even raced well in the truck class at the Iconic Revival a couple of years ago.

King Blackfoot - as mentioned above, the steering configuration is awful, and it's hard to improve without getting technical with custom mods, but it's still a solid, fun truck in the garden (or it was, until I modified it and then had trouble with a few last bits that I can't make myself).  The rear end is a better design and more robust than the older Blackfoot / Monster Beetle designs, and it can handle a Super Stock motor with ease.  Put a lexan body on (the Landfreeder body fits) to reduce the weight up top, and you've got a very solid, robust and enjoyable truck, if you can find one.  Although there's no reason why a Blackfoot / Monster Beetle couldn't be just as much fun, if you were careful with the power or fitted the MIP ball diff.

G6-01 - mine has a 1:10 truck body on, so I can pretend it's a special monster truck with an extra axle.  For some time this was my absolute favourite backyard basher, in fact it was only some cosmetic damage in the last 18 months that caused it to be consigned to the storage box.  I really should grab it out and run it again.  The transmission can handle a hot brushless system, so it can hold its own in a bigger space.  It does require some careful driving at speed, as it rolls quite easily with that heavy ABS body installed.  My last mod was to install CVA shocks and I think they're set up wrong, as it ties itself in knots and rolls over too easily at speed.  It probably needs a stronger servo and servo saver, too.

MST MTX-1 - none of the above have had a look in since this arrived in my fleet.  Honestly, this is my all-day every-day basher now, it sits on a rack in the workshop where I can get at it easily, and it's always the first choice for a garden bash, as the smaller size works well within the confines of the walls.  With 4000Kv brushless power, it's fine on 2S but handles 3S well in bigger spaces.  The plastic links are fragile, mine bent and broke quickly, but there's a metal link upgrade.  Lots of body options for those who don't like the Chevy or Toyota bodies from MST.  The kit version is oversprung with its 8-damper setup, but easily fixed by removing one spring per corner, and the tyres are too soft and need custom foams cutting to fit (I used some leftover cushion foam).  It has sway bars as standard, which really tame the wayward solid axle tendencies and make it almost as well-mannered as an independent truck.

Lost LMT - if you want a big-wheel monster without all the hassle, forget your Clods and your TXTs and your SMT-10s - this beast is incredible.  Absolutely planted, incredibly tough, looks great and does everything.  OK, it's a solid axle truck, so I still have to drive it with care, and it'll tie itself in knots if I put in a 3S pack and go for max speed on tarmac - it needs lots of space to slow down - but it's miles ahead of any other solid axle truck that I own.  The turning circle is impressive too, so I can even get away with running it in the garden, although it's not really possible to enjoy its full potential without more space.  Keep the speed down and it works well on tarmac too - the tyres aren't hugely grippy on tarmac, so I can invoke a slide to stop it rolling over in turns.

Those are my personal faves for off-road bashing.  Special mention to the Bear Hawk and SRBs for beach running, but really that's the only place they get used unless I'm racing them at the track, as my garden is too rough for 1:10 buggy wheels.

[Kpowell911]

Just like the unpopular opinions thread. Im going to ruffle feathers…..

For anything off road OTHER than racing, you need 1:8th. At minimum a 1:8th buggy, ideally a Truggy. 10th scale off road doesnt really work in my opinion. I wish Tamiya Rally cars worked better, as they look incredible but they just dont have the ground clearance for anything other than a bit of dusty mud?

[El Gecko]

9 hours ago, Saito2 said:

The Nikko Big Bubba was my first monster truck .

Same! It's funny and a little crazy how many of us started with or had one of those trucks (or one like it). Eventually hoping to resurrect mine as a hobby-grade with half-decent suspension/gearbox/etc. but it's a bit of a pipe dream at the moment.

Monster trucks have always been my go-to, but my heart is really with buggies because I love how they drive. Of course, all RWD for simplicity and fun

[Grumpy pants]

For me the ground clearance on the bigger trucks wins me over.

That and we spent most of family ‘T’ time running a Blackfoot Xtreme to the edge of destruction - WT01 mega robust, low running costs, little or no maintenance.

A Blitzer Beetle, a Lunchbox and a Wild Willy 2 were the other goto runners. 

[Kowalski86]

1 hour ago, Kpowell911 said:

Just like the unpopular opinions thread. Im going to ruffle feathers…..

For anything off road OTHER than racing, you need 1:8th. At minimum a 1:8th buggy, ideally a Truggy. 10th scale off road doesnt really work in my opinion. I wish Tamiya Rally cars worked better, as they look incredible but they just dont have the ground clearance for anything other than a bit of dusty mud?

Most 1/10 rally cars just look goofy in action to me, without tons of slow-mo and editing magic they bounce around.

1 hour ago, El Gecko said:

Same! It's funny and a little crazy how many of us started with or had one of those trucks (or one like it). Eventually hoping to resurrect mine as a hobby-grade with half-decent suspension/gearbox/etc. but it's a bit of a pipe dream at the moment.

And here I thought that more people would have started with Tyco buggies! I just hope to sort out the electronics in mine, I'd rather keep everything else stock.

[Ray_ve]

My fleet is mostly monstertruck, so 4WD monstertruck is my 1st choice.

2nd Choice: a 4WD buggy.

After that, 2WD stuff that is not a street car. But I don't have those...

[Saito2]

11 hours ago, Kowalski86 said:

Is the Kraton supposed to be a monster truck? Looks more like a "truggy" to me, I see what you mean though, some of the newer stuffs too low and wide. At least there's the Traxxss Stampede (even if it's an old design).

That's how I feel, but Arrma list it a as monster truck. The Stampede and maybe to Emaxx are about as far as I could stray in that direction and still call it a monster truck. The Stampy has a lot of (old, now) buggy tech cleverly tucked in ther,e which made them such great performers over the other 2wd monsters of the day in the mid 90's.

32 minutes ago, Kowalski86 said:

And here I thought that more people would have started with Tyco buggies!

Me too. Those commercials were everywhere in the 80's early 90's. The Turbo Hopper was what most US kids probably pictured as an "off road buggy". Only the "cool" kids that went to hobby shops as opposed to toy stores got exposed to the kit-stuff in my area. 

[markbt73]

All of the above. And then some.

[ThunderDragonCy]

When I first got back into rc in 2017 I only had my old thunder dragon and my newly acquired dt03. When I had just these two they had to do everything and my favourite ended up being the dt03 on blitzer truck wheels. It had ground clearance, but was still stable and worked pretty much everywhere. I still prefer 2wd for offroad on balance. 

Now I have a bunch of different stuff, and onroad cars for street running, my favourite thing offroad it a 10th 2wd buggy. I just love a nicely set up 2wd buggy on grass or a nice big astro track. Ultra G is my favourite thing. 

[wtcc5]

Stadium Trucks for me  A Kyosho Outrage ST was my second R/C car. I later upgraded to a RC10T2. I still have the latter plus two Dyna Blaster.

So Classic 2wd or unconventional 4wd Stadium Trucks are my favourite (building one right now based on a an Top Force Evo chassis).

[Kowalski86]

6 hours ago, Saito2 said:

Me too. Those commercials were everywhere in the 80's early 90's. The Turbo Hopper was what most US kids probably pictured as an "off road buggy". Only the "cool" kids that went to hobby shops as opposed to toy stores got exposed to the kit-stuff in my area. 

Back in the day we had a slot car track with cars based off of a few Tyco buggys, unfortunately the tracks been long lost but I still have the cars. If there was a track near by I probably would have returned to slot cars.

[Pizza Frog]

Lunchbox is my favorite.

I recently built a Saint Dragon which I love but I can't run it on the road because the spikey tires will wear down and I can't run it on the beach because sand will go in the drivecups...I've been looking everywhere nearby for a patch of dirt but to no avail.   At least it looks great sitting on the shelf.   

I don't have that problem with the Lunchbox.   

[Kowalski86]

1 hour ago, Pizza Frog said:

Lunchbox is my favorite.

I recently built a Saint Dragon which I love but I can't run it on the road because the spikey tires will wear down and I can't run it on the beach because sand will go in the drivecups...I've been looking everywhere nearby for a patch of dirt but to no avail.   At least it looks great sitting on the shelf.   

I don't have that problem with the Lunchbox.   

Sounds like you'll have to find some street tires/wheels for your Saint Dragon.

[Pizza Frog]

1 hour ago, Kowalski86 said:

Sounds like you'll have to find some street tires/wheels for your Saint Dragon.

That's a very good idea, I'll look into getting some.

[Kowalski86]

22 minutes ago, Pizza Frog said:

That's a very good idea, I'll look into getting some.

Thanks, if they're 12mm hexes you might be able to get away with a cheap pair of touring car wheels/tires.

[BuggyDad]

On just the right surface I really love my rally car (XV-01). But, it does need just the right surface. It is easily overwhelmed, obviously. But I just love the balance of realism with playfulness but also with great drivability. 

What I love about buggies though is a sort of "let it all hang out" engineering on display no compromise off roader feel, both in driving and aesthetically. The arms and shocks take centre stage, and they do the work so why shouldn't they? Early buggies seemed to come from this no compromise idea. Some later 1/10 ones (not the modern race buggies though) still have, to me, enough of that feel, alongside a wide track to keep them on the ground. I know truggies and stadium trucks and whatnot can take more with more ground clearance and bigger wheels but they came later. And they'll tip over easier, all else being equal, so have to be so wide that even a tenuous grip on any scale realism is lost to me, or they've somehow departed a step too far. 

And in pure driving terms, a cornering roll stops you dead, so the low CoG vs width of buggies over anything taller is a trump card for me unless the surface demands more. I don't really love running on grass of a length that'd compromise a buggy anyway. 

So, I think buggies for me but subject to certain aesthetic constraints. 2 & 4WD both having their place. 

Thus far I don't own any trucks, monster or otherwise. It's just not an itch I've had yet, although likely one day that'll change. I have a sort of truggy but with a Beetle shell, which with some changes could be great, but I haven't got it right yet. 

[simalarion]

[Pizza Frog]

2 hours ago, Kowalski86 said:

Thanks, if they're 12mm hexes you might be able to get away with a cheap pair of touring car wheels/tires.

Yes I'm pretty sure they're 12mm (same as the thundershot), Thanks for the advice.  I will check out aliexpress and see if they have any.

[alvinlwh]

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